Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Fire Medical

TO:	Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager
CC:	Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Mark Bradford, Fire Chief
DATE:	August 6, 2015
RE:	Authorize the purchase of SCBA equipment and Items from Feld Fire Equipment

Background – New NFPA Standard

In January 2013, the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) released the 2013 edition of NFPA standard 1981 (Standard on Open Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). The 2013 edition replaced the previous 2007 edition. Currently none of the department’s SCBA meets the standard. The new 2013 standard is a substantial change from previous requirements which addresses causation of firefighter deaths over the past few years. The requested SCBA will bring the department into 100% 2013 NFPA compliance.

Goal 4 of our departments Strategic Plan states – Acquire and utilize the most current and integrated technology systems available to use in the management of the department.  Objective 4D states – Evaluate and implement technologies and make revisions.  In April of 2014, the Fire Medical department requested a critical operations project necessary to ensure the delivery of our core capabilities (fire suppression), to ensure the health and safety of firefighting personnel, and to provide a continuum of support for emergency responders during fire, medical and all hazard events. The replacement of outdated Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and Personal Accountability and Safety Systems (PASS) will enhance the effectiveness of service delivery to our citizens by allowing the firefighter safe breathing air and accountability during emergency operations.

Current SCBA Program

Our current SCBA’s were purchased beginning in 1999.  We have maintained and updated the SCBA’s through our in-house manufacturer certified technicians.

The replacement of outdated SCBA/PASS equipment utilized on a daily basis will significantly reduce the risk to personnel health and safety by protecting firefighters from the atmospheric hazards during fire operations and allowing command personnel to maintain accountability of each person involved in fireground operations.

Our current separate PASS system, also implemented in 1999, receives maintenance from the vendor, but no system improvements have been made since 2007. The current system has not been supported since 2007 and therefore needs to be replaced to meet the 2013 standards.

Program Funding and Open Bid for Purchase

Initially the 2008 multi-year sales tax program projected $500,000 annually for fire equipment replacement. The SCBA replacement plan anticipated that total equipment replacement costs could be satisfied by the sales tax proceeds.

These items were place on an open sealed bid and the city received two bids. 

Staff Recommendation

The City Finance Department has reviewed all the bid documents and associated bids and has determined that Feld Fire Equipment met all the bid specifications and was open to the public and met all City of Lawrence bidding procedures.

Action

Authorize the Interim City Manager to award Feld Fire Equipment a total of $141,179.00 for the purchase of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus miscellaneous equipment/items.