Big Idea

• Leslie Horton requests approval to purchase mobile morgue/cadaver trailer for the Medical Examiner’s Office  
• The ME’s Office has had a need for increased cadaver storage for quite some time  
• The $65K will come from the America Rescue Plan Act funds  
• The BOS approved the purchase  
• Read more...

Why the County Needs a Cadaver Trailer

During a Special Public Meeting on December 15th, for the Board of Supervisors, Yavapai County Community Health Services (YCCHS) Director Leslie Horton requested approval to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to purchase a new 16' refrigerated mobile morgue/cadaver trailer for the Medical Examiner’s (ME) Office. 

Horton asked for an amount not to exceed $65,000.

According to Carol Lewis, the Assistant Director of YCCHS, Yavapai County has seen an increase in Covid-19 related deaths over the past 30 days (149 compared to 45 the previous 30 days), but the ME’s Office has had a need for increased cadaver storage for some time. This permanent addition to the ME’s facility will increase capacity by nearly 50% and better prepare the office for future emergency needs.

In the “Brief Explanation of Need” for the Board of Supervisors, Horton wrote that the ME’s Office has exceeded capacity in its current refrigerated space, due to the increased death rate as related to COVID-19.

Community Health Services (CHS) will be overseeing $5,000,000.00 of ARPA funds to facilitate Public Health related requests.  The Medical Examiner's Office (MEO) is requesting approval for an emergency purchase of a 16' refrigerated morgue/cadaver trailer using ARPA funds.  Increased death rates due to COVID-19 have caused the MEO to exceed capacity in its current refrigerated space.  The purchase request is not to exceed $65,000.00 and fulfills the "Emergency" purchase requirements under the County Procurement Policy 3.10.  The competitive purchasing process shouldn't delay a purchase using ARPA funds based on the reason "The public exigency or emergency will not permit a delay from publicizing a competitive solicitation”.

The supplier CHS/MEO has selected has two trailers that will be available in the next two weeks, with 6-8 weeks installation of the racks.  Otherwise, we are looking at an estimated 18 week lead time and then an additional 6-8 week installation.  The time delay may be too late to address the immediate need.

The request was to approve an “emergency purchase” because YCCHS had been informed that there were only two of these items remaining, available for purchase. Because of the “emergency clause” a two-thirds vote was required for approval.