Columbus City Council Authorizes Mobile Incinerator for Police Drug Evidence
The $83,772 contract with vPrime Tech Inc., funded through the contraband seizure fund, provides on-site disposal for narcotics held in the police property room.
The Columbus Division of Police Headquarters in downtown Columbus.
Credit: Wiki Historian N OH / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Image source
The Council of the City of Columbus has authorized an $83,772.90 purchase of a mobile narcotics incinerator from vPrime Tech Inc. for use by the Division of Police.
The approval took place during council's regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 26, on the consent agenda. Mayor Andrew Ginther signed the ordinance on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and the Columbus City Clerk attested the measure on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
According to city records, the mobile incinerator will provide a safe alternative for the disposal of narcotics currently held at the police property room. Law enforcement agencies face significant safety and logistical hazards when storing and handling bulk drug evidence, particularly potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl that present severe exposure risks to officers and evidence technicians. An on-site mobile unit allows police to destroy confiscated narcotics directly rather than transporting hazardous contraband to distant commercial incinerators or industrial facilities.
The expenditure is funded by the Law Enforcement Contraband Seizure Fund. Funding for the mobile incinerator was appropriated and authorized on March 30, 2026. The municipal seizure account utilizes assets confiscated during criminal investigations, meaning no general city tax revenue is expended for the purchase.
A formal competitive bid was opened on August 27, 2026, receiving four bids from vendors including Nassau Trading Inc., One Nation Distribution LLC, Noor Technology Inc, and vPrime Inc. The Division of Police reviewed the bids and recommended awarding the contract to vPrime Tech Inc. as the lowest and most responsive bidder. According to city procurement records, the vendor is not debarred or prohibited from receiving contracts, while renewal of its contract compliance certification remains pending.
City records do not detail where the division will operate the mobile unit, how emissions will be monitored to protect surrounding neighborhoods, or the current volume of the property room's narcotics backlog.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (8)
The Council of the City of Columbus has authorized an $83,772.90 purchase of a mobile narcotics incinerator from vPrime Tech Inc. for use by the Division of Police.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: SECTION 1. That the Director of Finance and Management be and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with vPrime Inc. for the purchase of a Mobile Narcotics Incinerator. SECTION 2. That the amount of $83,772.90 is hereby authorized in the Law Enforcement Contraband Seizure Fund for this purchase in object class 06 per the accounting codes in the attachment of this ordinance.
The Council of the City of Columbus has authorized an $83,772.90 purchase of a mobile narcotics incinerator from vPrime Tech Inc. for use by the Division of Police.
Read supporting passage
BACKGROUND: This legislation seeks to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a contract with vPrime Tech Inc. for the purchase of a Mobile Narcotics Incinerator for use by the Division of Police.
According to city records, the mobile incinerator will provide a safe alternative for the disposal of narcotics currently held at the police property room.
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The Mobile Narcotics Incinerator provides a safe alternative for the disposal of Narcotics held at the Police Property Room.
The expenditure is funded by the Law Enforcement Contraband Seizure Fund.
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This expenditure is funded by Law Enforcement Contraband Seizure Fund (2219)
Funding for the mobile incinerator was appropriated and authorized on March 30, 2026.
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The funding for the Mobile Narcotics Incinerator has been appropriated and authorized by Ordinance 0366-2026 passed on March 30, 2026.
A formal competitive bid was opened on August 27, 2026, receiving four bids from vendors including Nassau Trading Inc., One Nation Distribution LLC, Noor Technology Inc, and vPrime Inc.
Read supporting passage
Formal Bid RFQ033393 was opened on August 27, 2026. Four bids were received from the bid process. The four vendors were: Nassau Trading Inc., One Nation Distribution LLC, Noor Technology Inc, and vPrime Inc.
The Division of Police reviewed the bids and recommended awarding the contract to vPrime Tech Inc. as the lowest and most responsive bidder.
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The Division of Police reviewed the bids and recommended the lowest most responsive bid for $83,772.90 submitted by vPrime Tech Inc. be awarded the contract with the City of Columbus, Division of Police
According to city procurement records, the vendor is not debarred or prohibited from receiving contracts, while renewal of its contract compliance certification remains pending.
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This company is not debarred according to the Federal excluded parties listing or prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State unresolved findings for recovery certified search. Contract Compliance No: CC035714, vPrime Tech, Inc. Expires 5/7/2023 renewal pending