REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 16, 2016
FROM: KERRI DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
Award a purchase agreement between City of Fresno and Vincent Communications, Incorporated for the purchase of emergency communications equipment.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council award an agreement between City of Fresno Fire Department (FFD) and Vincent Communications, Inc. for the purchase of emergency communications equipment as part of the Department’s eight year apparatus and equipment replacement plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fire Department completed a formal bid for the purchase emergency radio communications equipment. Vincent Communications, a local vendor, submitted the lowest bid at $571,692.61. This is part of the department’s scheduled replacement plan to replace radios that are over ten years old. The new radios will provide firefighters with current technology and greater capabilities to communicate during emergency situations.
BACKGROUND
As part of an eight year replacement plan of apparatus and emergency equipment, the Fire Department is purchasing updated radio communications equipment. These new radios are technologically advanced and allow for hexadecimal identification - which identifies users at the dispatch center and at the user levels.
Greater capability in frequency programming will provide firefighters the ability to communicate on Local, State and Federal frequencies statewide. The new radio also meets requirements of Narrow Banding and has the ability to increase tones from 16 to 32. In addition, the new radio is sealed from the environment which reduces damage due to water intrusion. The department’s older radios do not have this protection, resulting in several radios being damaged beyond repair due to water intrusion.
The purchase of this equipment is part of a five year lease that as previously approved by Council as part of the Fire Departments eight year apparatus, fleet and emergency equipment replacement plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Vincent Communications is a local business
FISCAL IMPACT
The annual lease payment will approximate $122,800 annually for five years and appropriated in the General Fund.
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