Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Safety to enter into the (1st) first year of a (2) two-year subscription contract with Laerdal Medical Corporation in the amount of $156,907.50 for the Division of Fire's Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) Program subscription. Year (2) two of the (2) two-year contract will be legislated in fiscal year 2025 and will be in the amount of $183,550.00. The Fire Division has a need to continue its subscription to Laerdal Medical Corporation’s Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program to manage the division's paramedic CPR certifications and associated training; a bid waiver is requested given the specialized and unique nature of these services. This program will continue to assist the Fire Division in managing the CPR certifications of personnel using American Heart Association (AHA) training/certification professionals and portable simulation stations. This program provides immediate feedback to improve performance, communicates metrics via tracking software that measures success, and will reduce the division's reliance on costly in-classroom recertification.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: Laerdal Medical Corporation #13-2587752 ~ Vendor 000614
Bid Waiver Justification: The Division of Fire has successfully implemented this specialized and unique program with Laerdal Medical Corporation to manage their CPR certifications via American Heart Association standards and does not seek an alternative solution at this time. The program has reduced personnel costs associated with backfilling positions once needed to manage these certifications in house, and done so in a more responsive manner given the portability of the technology used to manage these certifications.
Emergency Designation: The Fire Division is requesting this legislation be declared an emergency measure to make funding immediately available for the continuation of the Laerdal Medical Corporation Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program (RQI) so there is no interruption in this invaluable service.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $156,907.50 from the General Fund, where the expense for these services are budgeted. The Division of Fire expended $135,970.00 in 2023, $124,840.00 in 2022, $118,360.20 in 2021 and 2020 for this subscription.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into the first year of a two-year contract with Laerdal Medical Corporation for Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) for the Division of Fire; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes; to authorize the expenditure of $156,907.50 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($156,907.50)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Division of Fire has a need to enter into the (1st) first year of a (2) two-year contract with Laerdal Medical Corporation for a subscription to their Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program (RQI) which will manage the Division's paramedic CPR certifications; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Fire, to enter into the (1st) first year of a (2) two-year contract with Laerdal Medical Corporation; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of City Code Chapter 329 to enter into this contract given the specialized and unique nature of the services provided; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Safety on behalf of the Division of Fire to enter into the (1st) first year of a (2) two-year contract to prevent disruption of the vital Laerdal Medical Corporation Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program (RQI) for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety be and is hereby authorized to enter into the (1st) first year of a (2) two-year contract with Laerdal Medical Corporation for access to the Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program (RQI) on behalf of the Division of Fire.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $156,907.50, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be expended from the general operating fund 1000-100010 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this Council finds it to be in the best interests of the City to waive the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to Competitive bidding for this purchase, and does hereby waive the same.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.