DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Purchase of Half Mask Respirator Filters
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with Abatix Corporation to provide the San Antonio Fire Department with 225 cases of half mask respirator filters for a total cost of $105,948.00. Funding is available through the 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Submitted for City Council consideration and action is the bid submitted by Abatix Corporation to provide 225 cases of half mask respirator filters for the Fire Department. These filters will provide the firefighters with respiratory protection against gases and vapors by removing particulates, mists, fumes, and aerosols from the airway. The half mask respirator filters are required for the City’s firefighters to properly respond to emergency calls.
All Fire Operations personnel assigned to Fire Suppression and all EMS personnel were issued respirators early on during the COVID pandemic. The filters last at least 30 days, however, the manufacturer recommends a reduced filter use life for safety reasons due to COVID. The Fire Department chose for a fifteen-day replacement for these filters. The exterior of the filter can be decontaminated and then reused safely for a period of fifteen days and is effective against COVID.
ISSUE:
This contract shall provide the City of San Antonio Fire Department with 225 cases of half mask respirator filters. Filters are packaged 144 filters/case for a total of 32,400 filters. These filters have a 1-year warranty from the date of manufacture.
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.
This contract is an exception to the Local Preference Program.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program does not apply to goods/supplies contracts, so no preference was applied to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this contract not be approved, the half mask respirators for the firefighters would be inadequately equipped which could negatively impact the safety to the firefighters as well as citizens and property. Proper safety equipment is required to prevent disruption to the City’s continuity of operations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes a purchase with Abatix Corporation to provide the Fire Department with 225 cases of half mask respirator filters for a total cost of $105,948.00. Funding is available through the 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of this purchase with Abatix Corporation for half mask respirator filters for a total cost of $105,948.00 for the Fire Department.
This contract is procured on the basis of low bid and a Contract Disclosure form is not required.