Fall River County commissioners approve purchase of body scanner for jail, contingent on bid rules

Fall River County commissioners voted to purchase a new body scanner for the county jail, approving the purchase contingent on legal review about whether the county must run a competitive bid process.

The scanner under consideration is a full-body imaging unit with a two-year manufacturer warranty option; the vendor quoted a price of about $155,250 for the unit that includes a two-year warranty and training. Commissioners were told extended service-plan options range from about $12,000 to $14,950 per year for ongoing maintenance after the warranty period. The motion that passed included a friendly amendment to direct the remainder of the county's opioid-settlement funds toward upkeep and ongoing warranty/maintenance costs if that was permitted.

Why it matters: commissioners and law-enforcement staff described the scanner as a tool to help detect contraband and improve safety and operational efficiency at the jail. County staff noted that the county currently receives recurring opioid-settlement money and proposed using that fund to buy the machine and to set aside remaining funds for future warranty and maintenance costs, rather than relying solely on the general fund.

Board discussion and conditions: the sheriff's office presented four vendor quotes showing wide price and service-plan variation. Commissioners pressed staff to confirm whether the purchase must go through a formal bidding/procurement process given the funding source and price; the motion that passed was explicitly contingent on that legal check. Commissioners also asked staff to specify warranty and training inclusions in the specifications should the county be required to advertise and bid the purchase. The motion also asked staff to develop bid specifications that would include the preferred two-year warranty and training package if a formal bid is required.

Vote: the board passed the motion with an expressed roll-call-style voice vote: Commissioner Waller and Commissioner Russell voted in favor, Commissioner Allen voted in favor, Commissioner Hope opposed, and Commissioner Volgenberg voted in favor; the chair announced the motion carried.

Next steps: staff will confirm procurement rules for purchases purchased with opioid-settlement funds, draft specifications (including the two-year warranty and training), and either proceed with the purchase if bidding is not required or solicit bids with the required warranty and training included if a competitive process is necessary. The board also asked staff to return with a clearer accounting of opioid-settlement balances and a plan for allocating any remainder to scanner upkeep.