Item - 2019.EC7.2

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council grant authority to the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services to negotiate and execute a non-competitive contract with Zoll Medical Canada Inc. for the supply, delivery, and installation of 200 Zoll AED3 BLS Semi-Automatic defibrillators, related supplies, training equipment, and data management software licenses/subscriptions in the amount of $754,806, net of HST ($768,090, net of HST recoveries) on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council authority for the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services (TFS) to negotiate and enter into a non-competitive agreement with Zoll Medical Canada Inc. (Zoll), for the supply and delivery of 200 Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to replace the existing equipment used by TFS' Operations, Training, and Technical Operations Divisions.

Each year TFS responds to approximately 1,300 suspected cardiac arrest patient incidents. The optimal life cycle of AEDs is generally 7-10 years of service. The current units are due for replacement as they are past their optimal life span of 10 years.

The purchase of Zoll branded defibrillators will maintain consistency with the equipment being used by Toronto Paramedic Services (TPS). The introduction of dissimilar equipment would result in delays in the transition of patient care from TFS to TPS. Maintaining standard equipment supports joint operations and emergency response by both TFS and TPS.

Further, continuing with Zoll branded equipment avoids additional costs that would arise as a result of compatibility issues with TFS' existing equipment (e.g. defibrillation pads, mannequins for training, data management software and licenses, etc.), also manufactured by Zoll.

City Council approval is required in accordance with Municipal Code Chapter 195 - Purchasing, where the current request exceeds the Chief Purchasing Official's authority of the cumulative five year commitment limit for each vendor under Article 7, Section 195-7.3 (D) of the Purchasing By-Law or exceeds the threshold of $500,000 net of HST allowed under staff authority as per the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71- Financial Control, Section 71-11A.