Agenda

Back to Calendar Return

Agenda Item 27.

City Council Meeting

Meeting Date:	10/06/2020
FROM:	Bill Gallardo

Subject:

Gas Mask Purchase for Police Department

RECOMMENDATION

Purchase 65 Avon C-50 gas mask first responder kits from Adamson Police Products of Los Alamitos at a cost of $34,108.27.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION

The Brea Police Department currently has gas masks that are defective and past their service life. The gas mask filters have been expired for more than five years, exceeding their shelf-life. The City of Brea has never purchased gas masks for its officers. The current gas masks were issued to the Brea Police Department, as well as all agencies in Orange County, by the Anaheim/Santa Ana Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) federal grant program in 2008. The masks were manufactured in 2006. Time and storage conditions have degraded the masks, rendering many of them unsafe or defective, and therefore unable to be issued to officers. The Anaheim/Santa Ana UASI has no plans to replace or purchase new gas masks or filters for Orange County law enforcement agencies.

Protests and incidents of civil unrest continue to be a concern for law enforcement, both nationally and locally. Officers from the Brea Police Department have been deployed to events in the City, as well as throughout Orange County for mutual aid requests in the past few months. In some of these events, chemical agents or "tear gas" have been used, requiring officers to wear gas masks to protect them from these chemical agents. With additional events anticipated in the upcoming months, the need for Brea Police officers to be protected will continue.

In addition, the Avon C-50 gas masks, also known as air purifying respirators (APRs), will provide limited protection against COVID-19. All Avon filters provide protection at a NIOSH P100 level of protection, where the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends 95% filtration efficiency, also known as NIOSH P95. The protection is limited in that the Avon filter will trap the COVID-19 virus, not kill it.

Requests for quotes were sent to four companies, each an authorized vendor of Avon Protective Products. The lowest quoted price was received from Curtis Blue Line of Oakland, CA. however, their stated delivery time of 60-90 days was problematic as the need to get the gas masks quickly is critical. Adamson Police Products quoted the second lowest cost, has them in stock locally in Los Alamitos and can deliver them within two business days. One vendor refused to provide a quote and the fourth vendor quoted the highest cost, but also has them in stock in Las Vegas, NV.

The recommendation to purchase the gas masks without a formal bid process is requested due to the time-sensitive need to acquire the masks prior to Brea Police officers being deployed again without this necessary protection.

COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

Finance Committee reviewed the item at their September 29th meeting.

FISCAL IMPACT/SUMMARY

The FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget includes funding of $37,109 for this purchase. The proposed cost of $34,108.27 results in a savings of approximately $3,000. The gas masks have an average life span of 5-7 years, with requirements to replace the filters every five years, unless exposed to chemical agents. Replacement filter costs will be requested in a Decision Package request in FY 2025-26.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

William Gallardo, City Manager
Prepared by: Kelly Carpenter, Lieutenant
Concurrence: Adam Hawley, Acting Police Chief

Attachments
Adamsons Quote
Botach Quote
Curtis Quote