8.6 Sole Source Crime Scene Van
CITY OF SALINA
REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTION
DATE
12/17/01
TIME
4:00 P.M.
AGENDA SECTION:
NO. 8
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT:
APPROVED FOR
AGENDA:
Police
ITEM
NO.
6
BY:
Chief James D. Hill
BY:_~
Item:
Consider authorizing sole source purchase of a self contained, comprehensively
equipped, forensic evidence collection/crime scene investigation vehicle.
Backqround:
On 10/22/01, the Board of Commissioners formally accepted the federal FY2001
Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG), awarded to the City of Salina in the
amount of $25,851. The local match required was $2,872, making the total
project $28,723. The Commission also approved the recommendation of the LLEBG
advisory board that grant funds be expended for the purchase of a self
contained, comprehensively equipped, forensic evidence collection/crime scene
vehicle (which would replace the police department's current 1985 vintage crime
scene van), and authorized the co-mingling of LLEBG funds with city funds
($37,500) already earmarked for the acquisition.
Staff found the Vehicle Division of Sirchie Finger Print Laboratories, Medford,
New Jersey, to be the single, sole source, turnkey manufacturer that provides
vehicles that are 1) specifically manufactured for evidence collection, 2)
comprehensively stocked with forensic evidence collection equipment and
products, and 3) complete with training for police agency crime scene
technicians relative to the use of the specialized vehicle and its forensic
equipment and products.
Sirchie has quoted a price of $66,038 for their Model MCL-I00, a comprehensively
equipped, turnkey, crime scene/evidence cargo van, which is under the $66,223
available (grant amount of $28,723, co-mingled with the budgeted amount of
$37,500) by $185.
Staff believes that this sole source purchase is prudent, affordable, and
preferable to the alternative, which consists of purchasing a van, seeking
vendors for the custom design and construction of the interior, completely
stocking it with forensic equipment and supplies, and training the crime scene
technicians.
Recommendation:
Authorize the purchase of one MCL-I00 evidence collection/crime scene
investigation van from the Vehicle Division of Sirchie Finger Print
Laboratories, the sole source provider, at a quoted price of $66,038.