To: Board of Directors
From: Lewis Broschard, Fire Chief, Contra Costa Fire Protection District
Report Title: Platform Subscription Agreement with Hummingbird Drones Inc., d/b/a Nova Software Company Inc.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to execute a Platform Subscription Agreement with Hummingbird Drones Inc., d/b/a Nova Software Company Inc., in an amount not to exceed $8,000 for access to the Nova cloud-based mapping, analytics, and live-streaming platform, for the period May 1, 2026 through May 1, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Budgeted. 100% CCCFPD General Operating Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Hummingbird Drones Inc., doing business as Nova Software Company Inc., provides a cloud-based platform that integrates mapping, analytics, thermal detection, and live streaming capabilities to support emergency response and situational awareness operations.
The agreement provides the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District access to several Nova platform features including:
• Nova Pro - operational mapping and platform access
• Nova Hotspots - hotspot detection and thermal analytics
• Nova Live Stream - real-time video streaming capability
• Nova Color finder - visual analytics tools for identifying heat signatures and anomalies
These tools can enhance the District’s ability to monitor incidents, particularly wildland fires, vegetation fires, and large-scale incidents, by integrating aerial data feeds and real-time analytics into operational decision-making.
The Nova platform supports improved incident command situational awareness, enabling command staff to visualize live aerial feeds, track heat signatures, and coordinate suppression or mitigation activities more effectively. The software also allows for improved data sharing and operational coordination between field resources and command staff during dynamic incidents.
The agreement includes platform subscription services only and does not include any professional services under the order form.
Nova’s Terms of Service include an indemnification provision from the Fire District to Nova for claims based on the Fire District’s use of the platform, as well as a limitation of liability capping Nova’s liability at the amount of fees paid in the 12 months prior to the claim arising.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the Fire District will not be able to implement the Nova platform tools, which may limit the District’s ability to leverage emerging technologies that support enhanced real-time situational awareness, aerial data integration, and operational intelligence during emergency incidents