InformationProductsTrainingNewsContact IST
home / information / different

Why IST is Different

International Surveillance Technology (IST) respectfully requests you consider our surveillance solutions in lieu of any other potential supplier, on the basis of best value, rather than lowest cost. IST will never be the lowest cost for many reasons. We use superior components not found in any other solution; back those integrated solutions with the strongest warranty in the industry (36 months, next day onsite service) from our Deerfield Beach, Florida headquarters location, our Lorton, VA (Washington DC) facility, or our Phoenix, AZ service facility. Toll-free customer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We have officers and agents call us while they are “on the job” to ask “how do I…” questions. We have approximately 15,000 square feet of production and training space in Florida, 8000 square feet of service and training space in Lorton, VA and about 1000 square feet in Phoenix. No other company can support your investigative operation like IST.

Despite the claims of a few newcomers to our arena, IST is the leader in this industry. We are celebrating our 12th anniversary this year and produce more surveillance vehicles, law enforcement specialty vehicles, and surveillance solutions than the next two competitors combined. We currently have several federal contracts with the leading three-character federal law enforcement, investigative and intelligence agencies, exceeding ¼ of a billion dollars. No other company can claim, let alone prove, that level of pedigree. We will be happy to provide agency-specific contacts if requested.

IST, as the premier law enforcement specialty vehicle manufacturer, limits our business to law enforcement. The US Military, Federal, State, County and Local Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Agencies are our customers. We provide fixed installations of surveillance and CCTV systems to protect ports (Air & Sea), government buildings and other high-risk facilities. We do sell to international law enforcement customers approved by the Department of State. We do not sell to any private investigative/security customers; ever.

We invite you to visit our website at www.IST-NIA.com. You will get a good overview of our organization, but, unlike potential competitors, you will not be able to view pictures, drawings or technical specifications. The majority of our applications are considered classified, agency-specific sensitive or restricted, so we are very careful about disseminating information. In the event your solution is not considered restricted or sensitive, IST still maintains complete discretion, by ensuring all production is conducted in-house, by IST personnel, for the sake of officer safety. We do not want the description of the vehicle your department acquires to become public knowledge, counteracting its effectiveness.

The IST Consulting Team is comprised of former or retired high-level law enforcement officers who, at no additional charge, provide “been-there-done-that” consulting. Larry Winston is a retired Detective II from LAPD’s Special Investigative Section (SIS); Steve Grilli is retired DEA and his last assignment was Chief of DEA’s worldwide electronic surveillance operations, among others.

An added benefit to customers of IST is our dedicated full time training facility, the National Intelligence Academy (NIA). Upon completion of the vehicle manufacturing process and strict quality control checks, end users will take delivery of the vehicle at our Florida or Virginia facilities, and undergo a comprehensive training course in the use and care of the surveillance platform. A certificate of completion is issued upon successful completion of this training by the National Intelligence Academy. NIA has trained Army Special Forces, Naval Special Forces, Agents and Officers from every federal agency and law enforcement departments from around the country and the globe.

The following is a summary of a few of our exclusive features, making a sole source award not only feasible, but commonplace for IST:

36 MONTH LIMITED WARRANTY
ACCESS TO TECHNICIANS/CUSTOMER SERVICE 24 HOURS A DAY-7 DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR (this is an IST exclusive)

-Patented features incorporated into our products are protected by U.S. Patent laws and not legally available from any other vendor. This is an IST exclusive.

-IST vehicles are manufactured at our worldwide headquarters and never leave our facility until completion. All of our surveillance solutions are proprietary in nature and manufactured in-house. This is an IST exclusive.

-We are the only company to offer the advanced motorized periscope which rotates 360 degree continuously, without locking up, tangling wires, or causing damage to components. This is an IST exclusive.

-Our field tested, silent running and proven compressed gas climate control system is specifically designed for use within a surveillance platform. It is not a remanufactured, off-the-shelf unit offered by other manufacturers, who are unable to provide an in-house solution. We offer these units as options in all vehicles. These units operate in total silence and very effective in cooling and heating the interior compartment. This is an IST exclusive.

-IST utilizes the strictest material control policy regarding framing, conduit, junction boxes, batteries, and termination points in the industry. This insures quality performance from all electronic components. Careful consideration is given to controlling RFI, EMI, and environmental factors which may have an adverse effect on the platform. Our cabinets are either hand made from plywood or fabricated steel. We never use press-board, particle board or other substandard materials. These are IST exclusives.

-Two (2) part polyurethane sprayed insulation process provides acoustic and environmental features for agency safety and climate control.

-State of the art technology continually upgraded and tested to keep up with legal decisions affecting admissibility of evidence for court proceedings.

-Vehicles are designed for field upgrading (Technical refreshment) as new technology becomes available, or upgrades or enhancements are desired. This is an IST exclusive.

-IST offers preventative maintenance programs and long term service/storage agreements which can be tailored to specific agency requirements to keep your surveillance equipment operating at peak efficiency. No other supplier can offer our level of support.

-Officer safety/security system provides perimeter protection of the platform by using 4 hidden cameras and 4 secreted microphones which are undetectable from the outside of vehicle. These images can be continuously recorded or monitored by the vehicle operator.

-IST provides a Rear Area Security Package at no additional charge, unlike other companies, because of our firm belief in officer safety.

-IST is the only supplier who can document the award of federal procurement contracts classified as SENSITIVE information by agencies of the federal government. This SENSITIVE data and systems are used to construct your surveillance vehicle or other surveillance system. This is an IST exclusive.

-IST is the only supplier and the manufacturer of the mPEM. No other manufacturer of surveillance systems can provide the mPEM or any comparable functionality in a man-portable case; in addition, no other surveillance vehicle manufacturer can provide a vehicle powered by the mPEM allowing the use of the electronic surveillance “heart” of the vehicle to operate the IST designed vehicle or away from the vehicle in hotel/motel rooms (hotel kit), office buildings, etc. This is an IST exclusive.

I am certain you can appreciate our “best value” proposition. Discuss your investigative needs with my very experienced “law enforcement consultants”. They have a team of engineers at their disposal to help solve the most difficult of challenges.

Respectfully submitted,



Donald A. DiFrisco
Chief Executive Officer & President