Title
Hazardous Materials Identification Equipment
Action
Action:
A. Approve the purchase of new Hazardous Materials Identification Equipment and First Defender RMX equipment, as authorized by sole source exemption of G.S. 143-129 (e)(6), and
B. Approve a unit price contract with Fisher Scientific for the purchase of Hazardous Materials Identification Equipment and First Defender RMX equipment for $128,896.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Reginald Johnson, Fire
Richard Granger, Fire
Sole Source Exemption
§ G.S. 143-129 (e)(6) provides that formal bidding requirements do not apply when:
- Performance or price competition is not available;
- A needed product is available from only one source or supply; or
- Standardization or compatibility is the overriding consideration.
§ Sole sourcing is necessary for this contract because there is only one supply source.
§ The City Council must approve purchases made under the sole source exception.
Explanation
§ The Charlotte Fire Department includes a Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) response team that operates out of two separate fire stations (stations 13 and 32, in Council Districts 2 and 7 respectively).
§ The state of North Carolina has seven Regional Response Team Divisions. Regional Response Team Division Seven includes eight counties in North Carolina: Mecklenburg, Union, Rowan, Cabarrus, Iredell, Lincoln, Gaston, and Cleveland.
§ Hazmat response teams are called to identify, mitigate, and decontaminate materials deemed to be hazardous within the state of North Carolina.
§ Equipment currently employed in Hazardous Materials Identification is over 12 years old and beyond the expected useful life.
§ This purchase will replace one handheld device that allows users to detect and identify hazardous materials as well as explosives. Fisher Scientific will also provide on-site training and technical support.
§ This equipment will be used in conjunction with a similar piece of equipment being purchased by the state to ensure that each Hazmat station is compatible.
Charlotte Business INClusion
This is a sole source contract and is exempt (Part A: Appendix 1.27 of the Charlotte Business INClusion Policy).
Fiscal Note
Funding: 2016 Urban Area Security Initiative Grant