DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Hazmat Rigaku Progeny Handheld Chemical Analyzer
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a contract with FarrWest Environmental Supply, Inc. to provide the San Antonio Fire Department with the purchase and delivery of a Hazmat Rigaku Progeny System for chemical identification and detection in the amount $66,400.00. Funding is available from the 2018 State Homeland Security Program Grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Submitted for City Council consideration and action is the bid submitted by FarrWest Environmental Supply, Inc. to provide the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) with a Hazmat Rigaku Progeny System for chemical identification and detection in the amount of $66,400.00. Currently, the Fire Department has one Rigaku Progeny System chemical analyzer assigned to the Hazardous Material team located at Fire Station #34. This purchase will provide additional capabilities to the Hazardous Material team located at Fire Station #1 and allow interoperability between both Hazmat Teams.
The City of San Antonio has two Hazardous Material (Hazmat) Teams made up of 27 technicians located at Fire Stations #1 and #34. During Hazmat incidents, the teams are required to identify, classify or mitigate unknown solids, liquids or pastes. The Rigaku Progeny System uses technology that works in conjunction with instrumentation currently in operation. The different technologies analyze unknown compounds in different manners that allow more conclusive identification and comparison. In addition, the library of chemicals referenced by the Rigaku Progeny System is approximately 15,000 known chemicals, including Chemical Warfare Agents, Toxic Industrial Chemicals and Illicit Narcotics. This instrument is also capable of identifying unknown compounds through containers, preventing potential exposure or contamination.
Included with the cost of the purchase, the vendor will provide three 8 hour training sessions to all shifts at Fire Station #1 and annual refresher training on use of the equipment. The equipment will be covered by a five year warranty.
ISSUE:
The City of San Antonio has two Hazmat Teams made up of 27 technicians located at Fire Stations #1 and #34. During Hazmat incidents, the teams are required to identify, classify or mitigate unknown solids, liquids or pastes. The instrument utilizes laser technology to identify unknown compounds encountered on hazardous material incidents and will be assigned to the Hazmat Team located at Fire Station #1.
This contract is within the scope of the SBEDA Program. However, due to lack of available firms and/or subcontracting opportunities, the Goal Setting Committee was unable to apply a SBEDA tool to this contract.
There were no bids submitted from local bidders for this contract; therefore, the Local Preference Program was not applied.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program Ordinance does not apply to goods/supplies contracts, so no preference was applied to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
Currently, the Fire Department has one Rigaku Progeny System chemical analyzer assigned to the Hazardous Material team located at Fire Station #34. Should this contract not be approved, the Hazardous Material Team assigned to Fire Station #1 may have to request the equipment assigned to Fire Station #34 to identify an unknown substance. This could cause a delay in access to cutting-edge, effective detection technology that is critical to the safety of firefighters and the community when responding to hazardous material incidents.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a contract with FarrWest Environmental Supply, Inc. to provide the San Antonio Fire Department with the purchase and delivery of a Hazmat Rigaku Progeny System for chemical identification and detection in the amount $66,400.00. Funding is available from the 2018 State Homeland Security Program Grant.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of this one-time purchase of the Hazmat Rigaku Progeny System chemical analyzer for a total cost of $66,400.00. Funding will be provided from the 2018 State Homeland Security Program.
This contract is procured by means of low bid and a Contracts Disclosure Form is not required.