In a sign of the times, San Bernardino County is paying for an armored car to transport fine money to the county seat from the county’s various libraries.
On November 6, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, upon a recommendation by the director of the county’s purchasing department, Laurie Rozko, entered into a contract with Loomis Armored US, LLC to provide armored transport services to four county library locations, at fixed rates, from November 6, 2018 through March 8, 2022.
According to Leo Gomez, one of the county’s purchasing managers, annual expenditures with Loomis by the county library division are estimated at $22,960, with the rates based on the number of stops by location and day.
The arrangement with Loomis is an outgrowth of limitations with regard to other secure transport services the county is using.
On September 13, 2016, the board of supervisors approved a contract with Dunbar Armored Inc. to provide armored transport services to 60 of 110 county locations requiring service, from September 26, 2016, through September 25, 2021. On March 7, 2017, the board approved a contract with Garda CL West, Inc. to provide armored transport services to the other 50 County locations, from March 8, 2017 through March 8, 2022.
According to Gomez, “The four library locations are currently not able to obtain service by Dunbar or Garda, either due to location or time parameters. Those locations have been depositing cash and other monetary instruments directly at the bank, and have determined that armored transport services would be more safe and efficient. The purchasing department previously engaged in negotiations with Loomis to establish a contract for service, but an agreement on the contractual provisions could not be reached. The current contract contains certain industry standard provisions that are inconsistent with standard county contract language, but is recommended to meet existing operational needs. Specifically, there is no termination for convenience and the agreement may only be terminated upon bankruptcy of one of the parties or upon a breach of the terms of the agreement, after a thirty day cure period has elapsed. The indemnification provisions require the county to indemnify, defend and hold Loomis harmless from third party claims, suits, demands, garnishments or seizures of any of the property provided by the county. Loomis agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the county harmless for any and all claims, actions, losses, damages and/or liability arising out of their negligent acts or willful misconduct. Loomis’s liability is significantly limited under the contract provisions. Loomis will only assume liability for the loss of securely sealed containers while in their physical custody up to a designated maximum liability amount, unless the county purchases excess liability coverage.”