Board approves sole‑source purchases for transport ventilators and battery extrication tools

Fire Rescue and EMS staff requested approval to proceed with sole‑source purchases for two types of equipment: Hamilton T1 transport ventilators and Genesis‑branded (eDrawix) battery extrication tools. Staff explained the department’s current ventilators are out of production and replacement parts have become prohibitively expensive; a Hamilton model would improve interoperability with area hospitals and provide durable parts and service. The staff presentation noted an example: charging cords for legacy ventilators are reportedly selling for more than $2,000 in secondary markets, increasing lifecycle costs.

For extrication tools, staff said evaluations of four manufacturers showed Genesis tools provided the best combination of power and battery ergonomics for vehicle rescue tasks; the county’s regional vendor is the authorized distributor. Commissioners asked about budget timing and potential grant offsets; staff said CIP adjustments and deferred purchases of other equipment will cover the acquisition in the current year and that some grant funds may be pursued to offset costs in future years. The Board approved the sole‑source notices and directed staff to proceed with procurement.