. Deputy Chief Karl Gerhard
Nashua Fire Rescue Group 3 Shift Commander
Administrative Office Nashua Fire Rescue
70 East Hollis Street, Nashua, NH 03060 (603) 594-3636
www.nashuafire.com GerhardK@nashuanh.gov
January 18, 2016
To: Dan Kooken, Purchasing Manager, City of Nashua
From: Deputy Chief Gerhard
RE: Thermo Fisher Scientific FTIR Grant purchase questions
Good day Dan,
I’m writing you today to provide some additional background pertaining to Nashua Fire Rescue’s recent
request to purchase a Thermo Fisher Scientific FTIR spectrometer (grant request notification 8/23/2015).
Nashua Fire Rescue houses and operates the regional hazmat team known as the Souhegan Mutual Aid
Response Team (SMART). SMART was established in the 1990's after the need for a regional hazmat
team was determined (Title III of the SARA Act of 1986, PL99-499 compliance). SMART is primary
hazardous materials team for 19 communities in the local area that is comprised the membership
communities that form the Souhegan Mutual Aid Association (SMAA). Nashua Fire Rescue was chosen
by these communities as the “Lead City” due to our staffing levels and ability to house the required team
équipment and apparatus.
Previously in 2013, Nashua Fire Rescue via SMAA, received grant funding to procure a Thermo Fisher
Scientific Raman Spectrometer. The Raman Spectrometer can identify approximately 60% of unknown
substances (aka “white powder calls”) via on scene chemical analysis and comparing that result to an
onboard chemical database. As excellent this is, there are limitation to this type of meter that do not allow
for sampling of some chemicals due to the color spectrum of certain substances (fluorescent or very dark
substances for example cannot be analyzed via Raman technology). The recently requested grant funded
FTIR meter serves as a companion meter to the Raman to provide almost complete spectrum chemicai
analysis coverage, closing the gap on the remaining 40% of unknown substance identification. While
there will still be a small gap due to the nature of chemicals, these two meters will allow us to identify
most chemicals as technology will currently permit.
Due to the nature in which the Thermo Fisher Scientific Raman and FTIR meters support each other, we
feel that in accordance with NRO SEC. 5-84 (A) (5), special purchasing procedures for sole source
procurements, we would like to contract with Thermo Fisher Scientific who is the sole source
manufacturer of the FTIR Spectrometer.
I hope this addresses any of your questions regarding this important grant funded purchase. If you have
any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at your convenience.
Karl Gerhard
Deputy Chief
Nashua Fire Rescue
SMART Team Manager
