Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Fire Medical

To:	Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager
From:	Mark Bradford, Fire Chief
Date:	January 7, 2016
Re:	Thermal Imager Request

Background:

Our initial thermal image cameras were purchased in the early 1980's. They are no longer manufactured and repairs are very limited. The batteries are no longer manufactured and reconditioned batteries are difficult to locate.

As part of our 2016 Operating Budget, we requested funding for the purchase of additional Thermal Imaging Cameras.  The cameras are used in several operational areas, including interior fire attack (searching for victims) and hazardous materials incidents (determining the level of liquid in tanks).  It is imperative that we continue to purchase Thermal Imaging Cameras for fire fighter safety and to aid in the search of victims in structural fires.

In 2015, a thermal image project team was created to evaluate every manufacturer of thermal image cameras and the findings of the evaluation resulted with the FLIR brand as the best in operation, efficiency, and cost.

Request:

Purchase 18 FLIR K-55 Thermal Imaging Cameras from Jerry Ingram Fire and Rescue as the regional distributor and therefore as a sole source purchase.

Action Request:

The Fire Medical department requests authorization to purchase 18 Thermal Imaging Cameras and 18 vehicle chargers from Jerry Ingram Fire and Rescue in the amount of $100,269.00.  The cameras will be funded from the 2016 Capital Improvement Reserve Fund.