Item:
Title
Approval of Contract with Stryker for the Purchase of fifty-five (55) Stryker LIFEPAK 35 cardiac monitor units in the amount of $2,739,043.70, twenty-six (26) LIFEPAK CR2 AEDs in the amount of $40,525.68 for a total purchase price of $2,779,569.38
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: April 13, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve a contract with Stryker for the purchase of fifty-five (55) Stryker LIFEPAK 35 cardiac monitor units in the amount of $2,739,043.70 and twenty-six (26) LIFEPAK CR2 AEDs in the amount of $40,525.68 for a total purchase price of $2,779,569.38. The Office of Emergency Services (OES) will utilize existing capital budget funds for EMS equipment replacement in the amount of $2,779,569.38 utilizing sole source exemption.
In 2021, the Durham County OES-EMS Division procured new cardiac monitors as part of its standard five-year replacement cycle. The 2021 cardiac monitors have now reached the end of their planned service life and are scheduled for replacement to ensure continued compliance with current cardiac monitoring standards and the highest level of patient safety.
As we entered the 2026 replacement phase, the EMS Division conducted a formal market evaluation of the two primary cardiac monitor platforms currently available. This review focused on functionality, interoperability, vendor support, technological advancements since the previous purchase, and alignment with system wide clinical workflows. Based on this assessment, the LIFEPAK 35 cardiac monitor from Stryker is the recommended selection. The LIFEPAK 35 continues to offer the most comprehensive feature set, the strongest continuity of care within the Durham County EMS System, and full compatibility with receiving hospitals, including Duke Health System facilities, which also utilize Stryker LIFEPAK technology.
Stryker equipment aligns with other clinical tools used throughout the Durham County EMS System and within Duke Health System emergency departments, further enhancing interoperability. For example, the defibrillation pads used with the LIFEPAK 35 are interchangeable at Duke facilities, and the ETCO₂ monitoring components remain compatible across systems.
Additionally, the selected AEDs for this purchase include Wi Fi connectivity that allow event data to upload automatically into the LIFENET system. This modernizes and streamlines data collection by eliminating the previous manual process, which required staff to locate the device, download data in person, and then upload it into the patient care report.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This item aligns with Durham County Strategic Goal: Safe and Resilient Community.
Resource Persons: Mark Lockhart, OES Director, Seth Komansky, OES-EMS Chief Paramedic, and Marc Ferguson, OES Business Operations Officer.
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the BOCC approve the contract with Stryker in the amount of $2,739,043.70 and authorize the County Manager to sign and execute all contract documents for the purchase of fifty five (55) Stryker LIFEPAK 35 cardiac monitor units in the amount of $2,739,043.70 and twenty six (26) LIFEPAK CR2 AEDs in the amount of $40,525.68 for a total purchase price of $2,779,569.38.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________