To: Board of Supervisors
From: David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Report Title: Purchase Order Amendment - Linde Gas & Equipment Inc.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent to execute, on behalf of the Sheriff-Coroner, a purchase order amendment with Linde Gas & Equipment Inc., to increase the payment limit by $461,010, to a new payment limit of $661,000, and to extend the term date from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2026, for the purchase of compressed gases used with laboratory equipment for forensic analysis.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this request will result in up to $461,010 in expenditures and will be funded 100% by the County General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. provides specialty gases that are used with the analytical instrumentation which includes the Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer instruments used in the Controlled Substances unit, the Heated Headspace Dual Column Gas Chromatograph instruments in the Alcohol unit, and the Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometer instruments in the Toxicology unit within the Forensic Services Division. The gases that are provided to FSD must be of ultra-pure quality, need to be in stock, and deliverable in a timely manner. Linde can provide gases that meet these requirements and ensure continuity of operations.
The extension and increase of the purchase order is needed because the prices and usage for compressed gas have increased.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the Board does not approve then the laboratory will be unable to use the analytical instrumentation and would result in suspension of controlled substances, alcohol and toxicology testing.