DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Chemical Identifier System
SUMMARY:
This ordinance accepts the bid from FarrWest Environmental Supply, Inc., to provide the San Antonio Fire Department with the purchase and delivery of a Chemical Identifier System for a total cost of $78,114.00. Funding is available from the 2017 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) 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 the one time purchase of a Chemical Identifier System for a total cost of $78,114.00.
The City of San Antonio has two Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Teams made up of 27 technicians assigned to Fire Stations #1 and #34. During Hazmat incidents, the teams are required to identify, classify or mitigate unknown solids, liquids or gases, sometimes present in trace-level amounts. Acquisition of this handheld MX908 Chemical Identifier System will enhance current capabilities by providing trace-level detection for multi-mission threats, to include drugs such as: fentanyl and fentanyl-analogues, along with other high priority drugs-of-abuse; detection of priority threats from military and commercial grade explosives, and detection of priority chemical warfare agents.
Currently, Fire Station #34 has a benchtop, trace-level detection device for the identification of narcotics (opioids such as Fentanyl and its many analogues), explosives, chemical warfare agents and certain toxic industrial materials. With the increasing threats of illicit opioids and chemical weapons, acquisition of this MX908 Chemical Identifier System will enhance the capabilities of Fire Station #1 for trace-level detection of chemicals and eliminate the need to request equipment from Fire Station #34.
The recommended vendor will provide three eight hour training days consisting of one (1) eight hour training class for shifts A, B and C.
ISSUE:
The acquisition of a MX908 handheld chemical identifier will enhance the capabilities of Fire Station #1 for trace-level chemical detection and identification. This additional equipment will also eliminate the need to request equipment from Fire Station #34 when responding to hazardous materials incidents.
The Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) Ordinance requirements were waived due to the lack of small, minority, and/or women businesses available to provide these goods and services.
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 SAFD Hazmat Team only possesses one instrument located at Fire Station #34 that can perform trace-level detection of emerging threats. If this purchase is not approved, equipment will have to be requested for Fire Station #1 resulting in longer incident scene times, increased disruption to the community and commerce, and potential delayed treatment and countermeasures to threats encountered.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance accepts the bid from FarrWest Environmental Supply, Inc., to provide the San Antonio Fire Department with the purchase and delivery of a Chemical Identifier System for a total cost of $78,114.00. Funding is available from the 2017 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of the one-time purchase of the Chemical Identifier System for a total cost of $78,114.00. Funding will be provided from the 2017 Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant.
This contract is procured by means of low bid and a Contracts Disclosure Form is not required.