Commodity Specialist’s Name: .us



Date: June 25, 2013

Commodity Specialist’s Name: LISA VEGA

Commodity Specialist’s Recommendation: APPROVED

Agency: Pennsylvania State Police (PSP)

Supplier Number: 399583

Supplier: Ring Power Corporation

Sole Source ID Number: 19609

Estimated Dollar Amount: $246,000.00

Federal Funds: Yes…This Equipment is being funded by Federal Forfeiture monies

QA Review: No

Materials:

NIJ Level IV Armored Caterpillar Multi-Terrain Loader (THE ROOK), with the following attachments, equipment, and electronics: Hydraulic Breaching Ram, Grapple Claw, Vehicle Extraction, 10 Ton 22' Flat Deck Trailer, Standard Electronics - 2 Infrared Camera's, 5 Low-light Camera's, 8-Channel digital video recorder.

Agency Summary:

Nij Level Iv Armored Caterpillar Multi-Terrain Loader, The Rook. The caterpillar 287c has a unique wide rubber track design and undercarriage to enable working on sensitive Surfaces and in soft underfoot conditions, a cab with a/c as well as a high flow, two-speed, self level, dual level suspension undercarriage, advanced machine information

and control system. The rook comes equipped with an electro/hydraulic implement control, rh; electro/hydraulic hydrostatictransmission control lh; hand and foot Throttle, 12 volt electrical system, 90 ampere alternator, gauges, operator warning system indicators, a vinyl seat with an ergonomically contoured armrest and a control interlock system. In addition, the machine carries a cat 3044cdit tier ii compliant diesel engine that has 82 net hp @ 2500 rpm, sos sampling valves, engine oil and hydraulic oil, tilt up radiator/hydraulic oil cooler, lockable engine enclosure, 4 machine tie down points. The rook is specially equipped with nij level iv armor cab reinforcement ballistic resistant glass and is scba compatible for hazardous material and wmd response. The equipment is specially designed and integrated to function with a variety of purpose built attachments to inlclude: hydraulic breaching ram device with 6500psi is fitted with four low-light video cameras attached to its face that allows for 360 field of view and one infrared camera for frontal view and tactical along with a non-lethal chemical agent delivery system, a grapple claw attachment that has over 4,000 pounds of lift capacity for debris removal and site preparation, vehicle extraction forks

Attachment used for vehicle removal and recovery, nij level iv armored personnel Platform which can be raised (with or without personnel) to heights that allows for second story entries/rescue operation or fortified positions. The platform also has video monitoring, self-contained lighting and shooting ports, this equipment is equipped with two infrared cameras,, five low light camera's, eight channel DVR, with all Equipment and attachments transported by a 10 ton all pro trailer with goose neck, 22' flat deck 5' dove tail, and electric brakes.

Procurement summary:

Ring Power Corporation is the sole source manufacturer and distributor for the rook Tactical Solutions Armored Vehicle, and its attachments. A sole source manufacturer and distributor letter from Ring Power Corporation is attached. Research by the Pennsylvania state police bureau of emergency & special response operations has

Not revealed any other armored equipment which is designed or operates with the Capabilities of the Rook, Nij Level Iv Armored Caterpillar Multi-Terrain Loader. A thorough search of the internet and vendors that offer armored vehicles provided no results that meet the needs and features being requested of this particular piece of equipment.

Compatibility requirements:

Yes, the purchase price includes one (1) year Manufacturer’s warranty and a ninety (90) day warranty on the cameras and electronic installations. The specially designed and integrated attachments are purpose fabricated by Ring Power Corporation for utilization by the rook.

➢ From Kelly L. Frederick, Purchasing Agent Supervisor, Pennsylvania State Police, Procurement & Supply Div.:

“Question for you regarding the “ROOK”.  What makes the “ROOK” different from the TAC-CAT offered by TACTICAL-?  In order to submit this as a sole source I have to be able to prove that there isn’t anything similar in design or performance and as much as I can tell the TAC-CAT is very similar.  Please elaborate on the differences or what makes the “ROOK” the only tactical armored vehicle of its kind.”

Response from Major Keith A. Stone, Director, Tactical Operations Division

Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Emergency & Special Operations:

“The TAC-CAT no longer exists as the references to it on the news web site Tactical are from back in 2007 and 2008 time period.  That model was built by a company called Protection Development International, Corp. which no longer exists. 

At that time (2007 / 2008) they (PDIC) took a Caterpillar Model 257B Multi-Terrain Loader, up armored it and then had another company which only makes attachments, a company called EZ Spot UR, provide a claw attachments.  That model (which is no longer manufactured) did not have the large Armor Deployment Platform that the Rook provides, nor the same camera systems mounted within the hydraulic ram, large front mounted ballistic armored deployment platform capable of carrying 5 SERT members and lifting them to a second floor entry point.

EZ Spot UR still exists but they do not build the machine, can only provide modified attachments as they are a company that builds similar claws for the logging industry.  They do not do any up armor or make the Caterpillar 287C vehicle.

  The Rook is also built on a much larger and more powerful platform, the Caterpillar 287C Multi -Terrain loader.

What you are seeing with the extinct TAC-CAT is an earlier version of what is now the Rook when it was first being developed utilizing the Caterpillar equipment as a base vehicle by another group that went out of business.

The Rook is built completely by Ring Power which is a very large Caterpillar dealer in Florida.

Bottom line is that the TAC-CAT and the company that built those couple early models no longer exists.”

➢ Additional info from Major Keith A. Stone, Director, Tactical Operations Division

Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Emergency & Special Operations:

“No problem at all.  I know they do not like sole source purchases but often times in our unique responsibilities with BESO, there are times where the equipment we use is so specialized and purpose built there are not a great deal of people who make this stuff. 

The people from Ring Power Tactical Solutions / Caterpillar who make the Rook are very aware of the history / development of the idea and how it has been developed over the years: what companies were involved, who the investors were, what rights were purchased and sold etc…  It all comes back to Ring Power being the current and only source, manufacturer and distributor for the Rook.

LENCO who makes are BearCat armored trucks does not offer / build anything close to this.

The Armored Group LLC does not offer or build / anything close to this.

John Deere – negative

BobCat – Negative”

In light of the research that has been performed, both by the requiring activity (PSP) as well as the Department of General Services’ Commodity Specialist, I recommend that this procurement action proceed, in an expedited manner, as a “Sole Source” procurement action.

LISA A VEGA (YT4)

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