Label
FirstDefender RMX Handheld Chemical Identification
Fire & Rescue Operations
John Kaminski (x2647)
(Revised)
Title
Authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of $62,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund for the purchase of A FirstDefender RMX Handheld Chemical Identification Analyzer for the Department of Fire and Rescue; waiving the competitive bid requirements of Chapter 187 of the Toledo Municipal Code; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
Responder and community safety are critical when analyzing potentially hazardous materials. Military and civilian first responders need to quickly identify unknown solid and liquid chemicals down range including explosives, toxic industrial chemicals, chemical weapons, narcotics, precursors, white powders and more. The Thermo Scientific™ FirstDefender™ RMX Handheld Chemical Identification Analyzer can be used as a handheld instrument or integrated onto a tactical robot, providing more flexibility and increased safety in incident response situations that call for rapid, accurate chemical identification.
The Toledo Fire and Rescue Department has a Type I Hazardous Materials Team that is part of the Northwest Ohio Region One Hazmat Team that protects the citizens of Toledo and Northwest Ohio from many inherent chemical and biological threats. Of the many requirements to remain a Type I team, one is the mandate to have the ability to detect and measure known and unknown industrial chemicals using advanced detection equipment. Due to the primary meter that performs this task being damaged beyond repair on a recent hazardous materials incident, the team is forced to utilize the backup equipment that is over 20 years old, which brings its reliability into question. If this antiquated piece of equipment becomes inoperable, TFRD would be in danger of losing its Type I status, that could not only prevent it from responding, but could jeopardize current and future grant funding.
Summary
NOW THERFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor is authorized to enter into a contract with FirstDefender Inc to purchase one FirstDefender RMX Handheld Chemical Identification Analyzer.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds it in the best interest of the city to waive the competitive bidding requirements of TMC Chapter 187 for the purchase of one FirstDefender RMX Handheld Chemical Identification Analyzer for the reason that the Fire department is required to utilize a FirstDefender RMX Handheld Chemical Identification Analyzer in order to maintain certification as a Type I Hazardous Materials Team and be eligible for certain grant funding.
SECTION 3. That an amount not to exceed $62,000 is appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the Capital Improvement Fund to Account Code 5040-53000-8CP1837FSTDEF and the expenditure of same is authorized for the purchase of one FirstDefender RMX Handheld Chemical Identification Analyzer for use by department hazardous materials technicians to identify unknown chemicals.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Finance is authorized to draw his warrant or warrants against the above account code in an amount not to exceed $62,000 in payment of the obligation upon presentation of the proper voucher or vouchers.
SECTION 5. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that same is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason that the Ordinance must be immediately effective to improve fire ground safety among fire personnel.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas _____, nays _____.
Passed: ___________________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: __________________________ ______________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: _____________________ __________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance passed by Council ________________________.
Attest: ________________________
Clerk of Council