Law Enforcement and Security Poised for Growth in 2019

You know the old saying, “crime doesn’t pay.” Well, most U.S. governments understand you have to pay to fight crime. As busy as it was for law enforcement and security in 2018, our researchers and analysts are predicting the coming year will be even more active. If early January 2019 is any indication, their forecasts will prove to be accurate.

As longtime challenges persist and new threats emerge, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies have correspondingly continued to invest in manpower, services, solutions, and equipment. In comparing 2017 to 2018, our analysts reported a noteworthy increase in procurement activity, to include relatively new technologies such as body worn cameras, drones, and cybersecurity tools.

With protection of people, assets, and places on their minds, akin to their private sector counterparts, public sector entities are also leveraging security and guard services and associated technologies and instruments.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

While many are still tabulating the final crime statistics for 2018, there appears to be good news showing an overall decrease in crime rates. For example, back in December 2018, the Brennan Center For Justice released their ‘'Crime in 2018: Updated Analysis'. In regards to crime, the report includes, “Crime: The overall crime rate in the 30 largest cities in 2018 is estimated to decline slightly from the previous year, falling by 1.8 percent. While this conclusion is based on preliminary data, if the trend holds, the crime rate will fall to its lowest since at least 1990.”

With that kind of news in hand, is there a possibility that local, state, and federal agencies will lower their guards? Zero chance. Based on that bid / RFP activity we have seen already in 2019, the focus will continue to be a proactive approach to policing. Investment, such as the following examples, a small fraction of the current, active solicitations, will be included in the strategy for continuing any downward trends achieved last year.

Active Related Bids/RFPs

Law Enforcement

TACTICAL UNITS

SWAT, rapid response, special forces, special response unit, agencies use a variety of names to describe their specialized tactical units. Regardless of the title, these units have been around for decades and have experienced expansion in their job descriptions over the years.

As their responsibilities vary from others in law enforcement, their equipment needs differ from other officers, as well. These units have special needs in terms of uniforms, weaponry, vehicles, and other resources. With approximately 100 SWAT-specific raids a day in the U.S., not to mention other operations and challenging assignments, means agencies have to invest to properly equip these units. Over the past twelve months, we identified 219 bid requests with the keyword, “tactical”, in the title, 79 solicitations with “SWAT” in the bid name. These figures don’t include other specific, and general, services and solutions.

Active Related Bids/RFPs

SWAT

TECHNOLOGY

As with most other industries, implementation of technology solutions have aided law enforcement professionals in their efforts. Along with increasing the speed and thoroughness of delivery, solutions, such as, body cameras, Next Gen 911 systems, drones, and facial recognition, have allowed more efficient deployment of manpower.

In the case of body worn and in-car camera technology, it has provided a level of transparency and efforted to increase public confidence in law enforcement agencies. Back in 2017, Assistant Chief Ely Reyes, from the Austin Police Department, discussed law enforcement use of body worn cameras. Among the topics, Chief Reyes covered the reasons for use, what some police officers are saying, privacy issues, definition of “private space”, storage, cloud security, costs, and more. Watch 'Body Worn Cameras: Law Enforcement Use'.

When discussing technology and law enforcement, the reality is that agencies have unfortunately been forced to tackle the cybersecurity problem. As the Department of Homeland Security points out on their website, “Law enforcement performs an essential role in achieving our nation’s cybersecurity objectives by investigating a wide range of cyber crimes, from theft and fraud to child exploitation, and apprehending and prosecuting those responsible.” From the looks of activity in our database, many LE agencies are taking that newfound responsibility to heart. To review applicable cyber-related bids, go to BidPrime.

SECURITY

While the public safety professionals are hard at work helping to keep the peace, numerous government-type agencies are requesting, identifying and outsourcing for security and guard services and solutions. Along with actual boots on the ground, in the form of guards, we have seen a substantial rise in procurement of CCTV, access control, and other surveillance applications.

We have taken note that the largest private security companies in the world pursue and earn U.S. government security work, as well as, small business security firms are winning contracts. Back in Sep ‘18, Brandon Gaille released a report, “22 Security Guard Industry Statistics and Trends” that is full of interesting notes and tidbits related to the security guard industry.

Active Related Bids/RFPs

Security

As we each continue to be threatened by those who ignore the rule of law, to include the ever present risk of terrorism, local, state, and federal agencies will be challenged with how to keep everyone safe. For law enforcement, this includes onboarding, training, deploying and retaining the right people. For lawmakers and others in leadership positions, they will be tasked with ensuring the essential services, solutions, and tools are purchased, made available, and put into action.

To see more about bids / RFPs related to law enforcement and security, and to view the bid documentation, call us at 888.808.5356 or visit BidPrime.