To: Board of Supervisors
From: David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Report Title: Night Flight Concepts, Inc.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Sheriff-Coroner, or designee, to execute a contract with Night Flight Concepts Inc., in the amount of $100,000 for authorized preventative maintenance, repairs, and support of night vision equipment for the Office of the Sheriff for the period January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2029.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this request will result in up to $100,000 in contractual service expenditures over a 4-year period and will be funded 100% by the General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit operates and maintains eight (8) dual-tube night vision devices manufactured by Night Flight Concepts. These devices are utilized by all assigned aircrew members to safely operate, fly, and navigate Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office helicopters STARR1 and STARR3 during nighttime operations.
This critical equipment enables the Air Support Unit to conduct law enforcement missions during all nighttime hours, ensuring the rapid response capability necessary to support countywide aerial law enforcement requests. To ensure proper performance, reliability, and compliance with manufacturer standards, the night vision devices are required to be returned to the manufacturer every six (6) months for inspection and maintenance.
Routine maintenance of this equipment is essential to enhancing both public and officer safety and ensures continued operational readiness. Properly maintained night vision systems allow the Sheriff’s Office to deliver faster, safer, and more effective aerial law enforcement services to the community it serves.
The department is requesting retroactive approval of this contract due to internal administrative delays.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the board does not approve, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office will be unable to properly maintain the mission-critical night vision devices currently in service. Without required manufacturer maintenance, these systems will degrade over time and ultimately become non-operational.
The loss or degradation of night vision capability would significantly increase operational risk and create serious safety concerns for aircrew members and the public during nighttime flight and law enforcement operations.