Committee approves new gate contract for Police Headquarters after repeated failures

The Norwalk City Land Use and Building Management Committee on Monday approved an agreement authorizing Mayor Barbara C. Smith to execute a contract with Integrated Technical Systems Inc. to replace the automated gate at Police Headquarters on South Main Street for a not-to-exceed amount of $479,937.46, with change orders authorized up to $47,993.75. The vote to approve the contract was unanimous.

Police Chief Walsh told the committee the building’s hydraulic gate system — installed roughly 21 years ago — has “began to fail severely” and described repeated incidents in which the gate closed on police vehicles and officers’ personal cars. “Over the past 5 to 10 years, in the winter, mostly when it gets cold and the sensors fail and the hydraulic system fails, we're averaging probably 15 to $30,000 a year in repairs,” Chief Walsh said. He told the committee staff from building management reviewed proposals and recommended Integrated Technical Systems, which specializes in secure automated gates for government buildings.

Committee members asked about longevity and procurement. Chief Walsh said the selected product appeared “a lot more beefier” than the current system and that the vendor had experience on federal and large government projects. Jan Degenstein asked whether other bidders were close on price; Chief Walsh said he did not have the competing bid amounts available at the meeting but that staff recommended the selected offer on the basis of product demonstration and references.

The item passed on a unanimous voice vote. The contract will be processed through the city’s procurement and building management offices and paid from the accounts noted in the committee packet.