City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 7, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: COREY SMEDLEY, FIRE CHIEF
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the 2023 Emergency Medical Services Grants Program, known as the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) through the Virginia Department of Health for Rapid Response Vehicles, and Associated Computing Equipment Purchases.
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the 2023 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grants Program, known as the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund through the Virginia Department of Health for rapid response vehicles, and associated computing equipment purchases.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the submission of an application for the RSAF grant for $332,952; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) is a multi-million dollar matching grant program for Virginia governmental, volunteer, and non-profit EMS agencies/organizations to provide financial assistance based on demonstrated need. The primary goal of this program is to purchase EMS equipment and vehicles. RSAF is a reimbursement grant that requires the grantee to make the purchase for the awarded item(s) and then submit an invoice for reimbursement.
DISCUSSION: This grant would fund the purchase of three rapid response vehicles and associated computing equipment.
Adding these vehicles will help the Fire Department evolve toward more efficient EMS response and improve overall response times. Use of these vehicles in the future would reduce call volume on heavier fire apparatus, subsequently reducing wear and tear, and would keep Advanced Life Support staff in the City while patients requiring basic life support are transported by ambulance. This equipment would also the fire department to partner with other jurisdictions in support of the Marcus Alert program which seeks to improve the response to mental health crisis supplementing our community paramedic programming.
These vehicles will operate on a five-year replacement cycle. Replacement funding would be requested in a future city Capital Improvement Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: The grant is a 50% funded project which requires a 50% cash match of $166,476 from the city. The match will come from currently unallocated balance and, if needed, deferral of currently planned vehicle purchases from the Fire Department Vehicles & Apparatus project in the Capital Improvement Program. Any vehicle deferrals related to the match will not have any adverse effect on response times.
The five-year replacement cost at 3% annualized inflation rate is $381,127 and $126,352 for the rapid response vehicles and computing equipment costs respectively, totaling $507,479 which would be requested in the future. If future budget approvals are not approved, the vehicles and equipment would not be replaced.
City staff will administer the grant. The City is also responsible for the general and administrative costs associated with this grant, including financial and reporting oversight provided by the Fire Department, as well as the Office of Management and Budget, and the Finance Department.
|
Item |
No. of Units |
Unit Cost |
Total Cost |
|
Rapid Response Vehicles |
3 |
$99,541 |
$298,623 |
|
Computing equipment including installation |
3 |
$11,000 |
$33,000 |
|
Computing equipment - annual wireless service |
3 |
$443 |
$1,329 |
|
Total |
$332,952 |
The Fire Department notes that no additional staff would be needed to operate the three rapid response vehicles, which are not expected to become available to the City for 18 to 24 months due to supply chain issues and vehicle availability. The department expects to improve its staffing availability due to targets set in the collective bargaining agreements.
STAFF:
Yon Lambert, Deputy City Manager