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Board of Trustees Meeting June 10, 2008 |
Agenda Item: New Business
Discussion and/or approval to go
out to bid and purchase from the lowest responsible bidder four (4) Toughbook
laptops and four (4) Toughbook riser laptop mounts in an amount not to exceed
of $17,000 from Fund #8415.01.210– IT Capital Outlay.-
Background:
District Field Supervisors currently have no information available in the field other than photocopies of pertinent documents they take with them as they leave the District. Field quality, laptop computers would allow supervisors to immediately obtain current information while away from the District offices without having to rely on limited photocopied data. This availability of information will allow Field Supervisors to more rapidly respond to technician’s requests, to remotely access location and treatment history, and to perform field evaluations more effectively.
The Interim General Manager has asked that Field Supervisors spend more time in the field with their crews overseeing their activities. It is anticipated that these laptops will facilitate this change in procedure by enabling our Field Supervisors to complete some of their office paperwork out in the field while they are supervising their crews.
In addition, field computers will be valuable for testing and evaluating new techniques to capture data in the field utilizing mobile technology as the District develops the vector control database system. The Operations Department is requesting this equipment for both Red Imported Fire Ant and Field Operations Supervisors.
Staff Recommendation:
Approve the purchase of four (4) Toughbook laptops and four (4) vehicle rack mounts.
Fiscal Impact:
Current funds available from Fund #8415.01.210– IT Capital Outlay are $80,987.78 which is 90% of the budgeted amount for this line item. This expenditure is approximately 21% of the available balance.