October 10, 2026 · Breaking · City of Starbase

Starbase wants bids on 10 police Cybertrucks, plus options for up to 30 more for patrol and fire

The City of Starbase put out a request for proposals today for ten police patrol vehicles, and it names one truck: the Tesla Cybertruck. The city already runs two police Cybertrucks. The new ones have to work with them and wear the same wrap.

What the city wants:

• 10 trucks, ready for duty. The winning bidder supplies new Cybertrucks, fully equipped and wrapped, delivered to Starbase. The contract also gives the city the option, not the obligation, to buy up to 20 more patrol trucks in the two years after the award.
• Maybe fire trucks too. The city "places significant importance" on bidders who can also build fire department Cybertrucks, such as fire command, fire and EMS first-response, or beach rescue vehicles. It may add an option for up to 10.
• Tesla is the only brand it requires. Every part can be swapped for an equal or better one except the truck itself, which the city specifies so the new trucks work with the ones it has. A documented direct or authorized partner relationship with Tesla is worth up to 10 of 100 points.
• The build: a push bumper, a prisoner partition and molded rear seat, two locking long-gun mounts, a roof light bar, two remote-controlled spotlights, a low-frequency siren built to carry into other cars, pursuit-duty brakes, and a mount for a roof satellite internet terminal. Speed radar, window tint, all-terrain tires and sand recovery boards are optional.
• On a deadline: the first truck is due by Nov. 20 and all ten by Jan. 1, 2027. Delivery speed counts for 15 of 100 points, and price counts for 30.

The schedule: written questions are due Monday, Oct. 19, and proposals Monday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m. Central. The city's target for a commission vote on the award is Wednesday, Oct. 28. The RFP gives no budget or cost estimate. It says the purchase is over $100,000, which is why it goes out for competitive proposals under state law. The city says it will post the names of everyone who bids within one business day of the opening.

Also posted today: the Highway 4 annexation hearings.

• The highway: the city set two public hearings on annexing the State Highway 4 right-of-way, 123.17 acres of it. Per the notice, it starts at the city limits about 1.2 miles east of Kingston Avenue and runs to about the road leading to the Brownsville VORTAC, an aircraft navigation beacon east of the Brownsville airport. By our measurement on OpenStreetMap, that is about 8 miles of highway, heading west toward Brownsville. The commission adopted its resolution of intent to annex the highway Sept. 21. That night's results. The notice doesn't say when the commission will vote on the annexation itself. The draft minutes of the Sept. 21 meeting say the resolution "sets a proposed annexation date of November 18, 2026."
• The 2-acre parcel: the same hearings cover the 2.01 acres on the north side of Highway 48 that SpaceX gave the city for emergency services. The notice calls it a city-owned tract. Background.
• When and where: Friday, Oct. 23, and Wednesday, Oct. 28, both at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 48491 State Highway 4. Both are listed as special meetings. That settles the Oct. 28 time and place the Oct. 7 agenda had left marked "CONFIRM." Oct. 28 is also the city's target date for the Cybertruck award.
• Have your say: anyone can speak for or against at either hearing, or send written comments beforehand to the City Clerk at cityclerk@starbase.texas.gov.

Sources: City of Starbase, RFP 26-03 Police Patrol Vehicles (issued Oct. 10) · City of Starbase, public hearing notice, 2-acre parcel and SH 4 right-of-way · City of Starbase, ordinances and notices (read Oct. 10) · City of Starbase, Oct. 7 commission packet (draft Sept. 21 minutes, p. 9) · OpenStreetMap, Kingston Avenue · OpenStreetMap, Brownsville VORTAC

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