Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Central Maintenance Garage

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Steve Stewart, Fleet Manager
CC:	Charles Soules Director of Public Works
Date:	September 2, 2009
RE:	Vehicle Purchase by Police Department

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the September 8, 2009 meeting:

Background Information:

The Police Department has received a $180,000 grant from the Northeast Regional Homeland Security Council for the purchase of a post blast investigation vehicle which will consist of modular laboratory body mounted on a truck chassis. The grant requires no local match.

Current Status:

City staff has written specifications for a chassis and body configured to meet the operational requirements of the grant. Staff has reviewed state and GSA contracts for applicable vehicles. The current economic situation has reduced inventories and manufacturing causing some of these contracts to close. Specifications have been reviewed by Lawrence Police Department staff and the purchase approved by the regional Homeland Security committee.

Funding:  Purchase orders for this vehicle will be issued by Kansas Highway Patrol Partners Program acting as administrator for the Kansas Northeast Regional Homeland Security Council.

Action Request:

Central Maintenance staff request approval from the City Commission to set a bid opening date of September 22, 2009 for the vehicle chassis and a bid opening date of October 20, 2009 for the truck body.

Thank you for your assistance.  Please advise if you have any questions