City of Boulder to launch competitive bid process to continue license plate reader technology

BOULDER, Colo. - The City of Boulder announced today that it will initiate a competitive bid process, inviting proposals from vendors who provide license plate reader technology. The city is taking this action as part of a multi-faceted strategy that reflects the community's interest in balancing important values around public and officer safety, use of technology, data collection and privacy.

City staff are working on a Request for Proposals, with plans to issue it publicly within the next month. The city looks forward to a transparent and competitive process, including a likely bid from Flock Safety - the city's current provider.

This announcement follows productive negotiations between the city and representatives from Flock, who agreed to significant revisions to the current contract, which was due for renewal this month. Renegotiated terms include an opt-out provision that allows the city to exit the extended contract with 30 days' notice without the financial penalties previously in place. The company also agreed to incorporate Boulder's updated data privacy and security requirements, which were not reflected in the original agreement, and to participate in regular monthly meetings with the city to review Boulder-related data, performance metrics and other relevant information to support transparency and oversight of data protection. Attorneys for both parties are currently drafting the specific provisions to bolster Boulder's data protections and other contract language.

In addition to launching the competitive process, City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde continues to move forward with the formation of a task force of data and technology experts to develop deeper policy guidance for city leadership to consider as Boulder continues to evolve its use of technology in public safety and other contexts. The city is currently reviewing potential candidates for the task force, but Rivera-Vandermyde hopes the group will convene in mid-April.

"I appreciate the responsiveness of our current provider as we evaluate our options," Rivera-Vandermyde said today. "I want to be clear that license plate readers have incredible value in protecting our public and officers as they prevent and respond to crime. There are many examples of successful outcomes since this technology was installed in our community."

"At the same time, concerns about privacy, data use and potential harm to vulnerable populations are not peripheral considerations. They are central to how we approach the use of safety technology in Boulder," she said. "This plan will help us ensure that the tools our officers depend upon to deliver excellent public safety service are procured and governed in a way that earns and maintains our community's trust."

Companies competing through the RFP process will be required to demonstrate strong adherence to Boulder's values and data-sharing principles, as well as compliance with Colorado law, as a condition of consideration. This process will result in a future contract with a vendor whose practices align best with those priorities, while preserving the city's ability to deliver the public safety services that community members need and deserve.

Current Flock cameras will remain operational throughout the bid process. The city currently includes 30 cameras that are deployed at key traffic areas within Boulder's main arterial network. Despite testimony at last week's City Council meeting, no cameras operated under the city's contract are located in commercial parking lots or on private property. Private companies and neighborhoods can and have purchased their own Flock cameras that are unrelated to the city.

The city will announce publicly when the RFP has been issued for bids.