With auditors’ blessing, DeKalb commissioners are moving forward with a new contract for security officers despite costs increasing from $6.1 million over five years to $10.5 million.
A review by the Office of Independent Internal Audit found no problems with the procurement process, saying it was consistent and fair. Auditors also did not take issue with All N One Security Services receiving the award and said its proposed costs are reasonable.
All N One is the current provider of armed and unarmed security officers in DeKalb, and it was tapped for the new contract after beating out five other companies. Even though All N One did not submit the lowest costs, auditors said, it won the overall competitive process.
The contract provides for security officers at various county-owned facilities, including senior centers, utility payment centers and buildings where employees are housed.
All N One made about $6.1 million under its existing five-year contract, but over the next five years stands to make about $4 million more.
Read more: DeKalb almost doubles budget to hire outside security guards
The rise in costs is the result of more departments requesting armed security guards, said Lt. Phillip Albritton, commander of the DeKalb Police Department’s security unit.
Unarmed officers will continue to make $14.75 an hour under the new contract. Armed officers’ pay will increase from $17.43 an hour to $21.94. That makes sense given inflation and how costs have risen since the contract was last negotiated, the audit report said.
Initially, the county’s procurement office said the contract would be worth $11.3 million over five years. That amount was reduced after the auditors discovered that security hours at the Human Services Center was overstated by more than threefold. When the correction was made, projected costs were reduced by nearly $800,000.
The commission’s Employee Relations and Public Safety Committee recommended approval of the new security contract during a meeting this week. The full DeKalb County commission is expected to vote at its meeting on Tuesday.
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