Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2019 Council Approved Budget and Accept and Appropriate the Rescue Squad Assistance Grant Awarded by the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services to the City of Hampton, Virginia
Purpose
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:
The Commonwealth of Virginia created the Virginia Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) for the purpose of providing financial assistance to emergency medical services organizations in the Commonwealth by providing the requisite training for emergency medical services personnel and for purchasing equipment needed by such organizations. Funds shall only be used for the specific items, services, or programs for which they are awarded and in accordance with any conditions placed on the grant award. Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue is requesting funding to purchase 16 iPads with accessories to be utilized for patient care reporting, 16 cradlepoints for Internet access in the medic units so that patient data can be transmitted to the hospital, and mounting devices to secure the iPads and cradlepoints in the medic units. Project includes installation fees.
Discussion:
The primary goal of the RSAF program is to financially assist governmental, volunteer and non-profit EMS agencies to purchase EMS equipment and vehicles and to provide needed EMS programs and projects. RSAF is primarily a reimbursement grant that requires the grantee to make the purchase for the awarded item(s) and then submit an invoice for reimbursement. Virginia Code requires EMS agencies to submit patient care reports to hospitals and data to the Commonwealth of Virginia, Office of Emergency Medical Services. The Fire and Rescue Division would like to purchase 16 iPads for use in our medic units to document patient care reports so that we can comply with Virginia regulations and so that we can collect information needed for patient billing. The platform that we currently use is the Panasonic Toughbook. The Toughbooks are 4 years old and will need to be replaced at an individual cost of $3,700 each. We hope to extend the life of the Toughbooks which are also used for the computer aided dispatch interface, by purchasing iPads that can be acquired at minimal cost. The cradlepoint purchase will allow multiple devices to reach the Internet from the same air card service. This grant will support placing new and improved technology in the hands of our medics.
Impact:
This grant will support placing new and improved technology in the hands of our medics which will make them more efficient. Efficiency will go far in caring for our citizens, visitors of the City of Hampton and those citizens of neighboring jurisdictions that we have a mutual aid contract. The funding source for the required cash match of $22,299.04 is the Fire and Rescue's FY 2019 operating budget.
Rec
Approve
Body
WHEREAS, the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services-Rescue Squad Assistance Fund has awarded the City of Hampton a Rescue Squad Assistance Fund Grant (“RSAF”) in the amount of $22,299.04;
WHEREAS, the RSAF Grant requires a cash match of $22,299.04;
WHEREAS, the combined funds of the RSAF Grant and the RSAF Grant Match, which total $44,498.08, will be used by the Fire and Rescue Division ("FRD") to purchase purchase 16 each Apple 9.7” iPads WiFi 128gb, 16 each cradlepoint wireless routers; 16 each Havis iPad mounting devices and 16 each installations for all 16 of FRD’s medic units; and
WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period of July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia hereby amends its Fiscal Year 2019 Council Approved Budget to accept and appropriate the RSAF Grant in the amount of $22,299.04, and any supplemental funding, to the Grant Fund; and (2) the transfer of $22,299.04 from Fire and Rescue Division's operating budget to the Grant Fund for the purpose of purchasing 16 each Apple 9.7” iPads WiFi 128gb, 16 each cradlepoint wireless routers; 16 each Havis iPad mounting devices and 16 each installations for all 16 of FRD’s medic units.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take any and all necessary actions to implement this grant award.