Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Fire Medical

To:	Dave Corliss, City Manager
From:	Mark Bradford, Fire Chief
Date:	September 6, 2007
Re:	Protective Clothing Replacement & Repair Funding Request

Background:

The Fire Medical department issues and maintains one protective coat and pant to each uniformed member of the department in addition to other related items to complete a full protective clothing ensemble.  Protective clothing has generally been utilized until it was worn to a point that is no longer serviceable and was in immediate need of replacement.  The department implemented an inspection program for personal protective clothing to meet safety requirements established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).  Complete inspections of all department personnel were completed in June 2007.  All Garments were rated overall as needing Replaced, Repaired or Operational. 

Current Status:

Inspection results revealed 67 coats and pants in need of replacement and 60 in need of repair.  The total cost for all repairs and replacements total $51,950.  The current budget line item has approximately $ 32,000 for replacing all firefighting safety equipment including gloves, helmets, boots, hoods, etc.

Estimated expenditures on items other than protective coats and pants for 2007 total $9,000 leaving a balance of $23,000 for protective clothing replacement and repairs. 

Total funds needed to bring our protective clothing into immediate safety compliance are $51,950.  Our FY 2007 budget remaining for these items is $23,000 leaving a budget deficit of $28,950. 

Action Request:

The Fire Medical department request additional funding for replacement and repair of personal protective clothing totaling $28,950.  Due to the immediate need we request sole source purchasing as the lead time to fit garments will be a minimum of 60 days.  Globe manufacturing is the manufacturer of coats and pants the department Health and Safety Project Team (a labor-management team) selected to meet our requirements in 2005.  They have an exclusive dealer network in Kansas and have identified Municipal Emergency Services (MES) as the sole distributor that may sell to us.