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Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract for the Purchase of 560 Advanced Security Technologies Vehicle Mitigation Barriers and 7 Transport Trailers for $1,635,684
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Department: |
City Manager |
Meeting Date: |
9/22/2026 |
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Contact Name: |
Thom Moton, Jr. |
Public Hearing: |
No |
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Contact Phone: |
910.341.7800 |
Advertising Date/Advertised By: |
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Attachments: |
1) Resolution 2) NCSA Procurement Program Letter 3) Advanced Security Technologies Proposal 4) MSD Special Meeting Presentation |
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this resolution is to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Advanced Security Technologies, LLC (AST) for the purchase of a vehicle mitigation barrier system.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Wilmington has hosted special events downtown and the number and scale of those events has grown. Wilmington and its Central Business District (CBD) are becoming an increasingly popular special event hosting site for event organizers, which helps promote economic activity in the CBD. Events that draw people into the public right of way and roadways expose the public, event organizers, and city staff to risks. Those risks include motor vehicle operators driving intentionally or accidentally into unsuspecting people and possibly severely injuring people or worse.
City administration recognized those risks and determined that the traditional wooden sawhorse barriers were an inadequate means of traffic management and pedestrian safety. City staff have analyzed the risks associated with continued use of the sawhorses and consider the threat to the public’s safety can be reduced. Consequently, administration issued an administrative directive requiring all special events occurring in the public right of way must use approved vehicle mitigation barriers. Vehicle mitigation barriers are physical security structures designed to stop unauthorized, accidental, or attacking vehicles from entering pedestrian zones or sensitive areas.
To identify best practices, staff from several departments, including the police department, worked together to identify viable barrier system options. The AST system was deemed to best meet the expectations of the city and to offer superior user experience when deploying and storing the barriers.
The AST barriers can be deployed by staff easily, and the barriers cannot be removed or repositioned by unauthorized people. The barrier design allows one person to close a single lane of traffic within seconds and are designed to quickly open a lane to traffic in the event of an emergency response need. Unlike bollards or sawhorses, the AST motor vehicle mitigation barriers have no gaps in coverage that will allow small recreational vehicles or two wheeled vehicles to circumnavigate a closed roadway.
These barriers carry a lifetime warranty and do not require any maintenance. The city purchase will also include LED lighting that can be attached to the barriers. The purchase includes 560 barriers and seven transport trailers. Eighty barriers and one trailer will be dedicated to the Municipal Service District (MSD) and will be purchased using MSD fund balance. The remaining 480 barriers and six trailers will be stationed strategically in the city. Staff expect the CBD will require the use of nearly all the 560 barriers and seven trailers for high profile events.
Mobilizing staff and deploying barriers consumes staff capacity and other resources. A new fee will be proposed later to cover some of the costs associated with the use of the barrier system by special event organizers.
City staff reported on August 20, 2026, to the MSD Advisory Committee of staff’s plans to recommend to City Council the purchase of the AST barrier system, including the use of up to $300,000 from MSD fund balance to purchase some of the equipment. To facilitate the Advisory Committee members’ understanding of the plan, a MSD Advisory Committee Special Meeting was held on August 31st, in which six of the seven seated members attended. Staff gave members a detailed presentation about the proposed plan, the selected vendor, and the financing plan, which included the purchase of one dedicated MSD trailer and 80 barriers using up to $235,000 in MSD funds. After some questions of staff and discussion by committee members, the committee passed a motion to support the proposed plan by a vote of 4-2.
budget
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is companion ordinance to appropriate funds for $1,635,684. Purchasing the AST vehicle mitigation barrier system from the North Carolina Sheriffs Association cooperative will enable the City to receive a discount off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Passage of this resolution and the companion ordinance are recommended.