NewCityLogo-August2008

Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager

 
 

Date

November 09, 2009

 

Agenda Item No.        39A

Roll Call No.               09-

Communication No.   09-790

Submitted by: Judy Bradshaw, Chief of Police

 

 

 

AGENDA HEADING:

 

Purchase of the Ahura Scientific - FirstDefender chemical detector for use by the Des Moines Bomb Squad and Des Moines Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team, as part of the 2008 Infrastructure Protection Grant Program - Buffer Zone Protection Program.  

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

 

Recommend approval of the purchase of the FirstDefender from Ahura Scientific, Inc in the amount of $39,000

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

Amount: $39,000

 

Funding Source:  City of Des Moines FY 09-10 Operating Budget, POL985330 (2008-BZ-T8-0005). The grants were received after the budget document was printed.

 

This purchase is part of the equipment acquisitions approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management in the 2008 Infrastructure Protection Grant Program - Buffer Zone Protection Program, which authorized expenditures totaling $193,030 dollars.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division identified key assets and critical infrastructure of national significance, in accordance with the federal Buffer Zone Protection Program criteria. The Des Moines Police Department participated in the preparation of two Buffer Zone Protection Plans for the sites identified by U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the Des Moines area.

 

The Ahura Scientific - FirstDefender chemical detector is part of the equipment acquisitions identified in the Vulnerability Reduction Purchasing Plan and approved for purchase by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, from the federal Approved Equipment List (AEL). 

 

The Procurement Administrator and the Des Moines Police Department determined the FirstDefender chemical detector is only available from Ahura Scientific, Inc., 46 Jonspin Road, Wilmington, MA, 01887, who is the manufacturer and sole world-wide distributor.

 

 

After reviewing the Police Chief’s request to bid this equipment, it was determined by the Procurement Administrator that it was in the best interest of the City to purchase this equipment from the manufacturer and sole worldwide distributor of the product.

 

This is in compliance with Municipal Code Section 2-726(a)(7) that provides for non-competitive procurement  of goods and/or services that are of such a nature that they are the only goods and/or services which will fit and comply with the required use, or are an integral part of a total system so as to be uniquely compatible with existing city need, materials or equipment to be cost effective.

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):

 

Date: June 08, 2009

 

Roll Call Number:  09-999

 

Action:              Acceptance of Grant Agreements from Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division for 2008 Buffer Zone Protection Program and Vulnerability Reduction Purchasing Plan.  (Council Communication No.  09-382) Moved by Vlassis to adopt.  Refer to City Manager, Legal and Police to review oversight of homeland security programs and communication to Council.  Motion Carried 7-0.

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

 

 

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:

 

The Police Department will coordinate equipment purchases with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division and the City of Des Moines Finance Department in accordance with the City of Des Moines purchasing policies and ordinance. 

 

The Police Department will receive and inventory the equipment, submit documentation and report activities to Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division and the Finance Department, to facilitate payment of vendors and support grant audit requirements.

 

 

 

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive.  Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting. Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.