Memorandum 09-73

To: Walt Wrede, City Manager

From: Bob Painter, Fire Chief

Date: May 14, 2009

Re: Code Blue Grant

In December of 2007 we applied for a Code Blue Grant through Southern Region EMS Council (SREMSC) to replace our two LifePak 12 cardiac monitor/defibrillators/Pacemakers. In 2008, after going through the state review process we were notified that our request had been approved contingent on SREMSC receiving funding through the State of Alaska and USDA (Code Blue partners). Local organizations requesting Code Blue Funding must also provide a cash match, which at the time of the grant request amounted to $8,000. The assurance of the cash match was approved by the City Council by resolution.

Last week I was officially notified by SREMSC that the other funding partners (State of Alaska and USDA) had approved the funding and they were ready to proceed with the acquisition pending our final approval of the local match fund availability. During the time of the original grant request and product quote (2007), PhysioControl, the manufacturer of the LifePak 12 introduced a new product to replace the LifePak 12 that we had originally priced at $36,860, including $3,500 trade-in value for each of our two old LifePaks. The new product, called the LifePak 15, which just received FDA approval, is of course priced higher than the almost two year old quote for the LifePak 12s. The new quote from PhysioControl for two new LifePak 15s and required accessory equipment (battery charging station, cables etc.) is $47,137.35. This price still includes a total of $7,000 trade-in value to our old LifePak 12s. SREMSC is still held to the original amount approved which totals $28,860 ($23,331 from the State of Alaska and $5,529 from USDA). In order to approve the purchase we now have to come up with a match which totals $18,277.35.

Due to the need to replace our old monitors (which were refurbished demonstration models) with new technology I recommend approval of the additional funds to proceed with the purchase of the new LifePak 15s. The estimated life of these new units is 10 years.