REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 25, 2020
FROM: KERRI L. DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Fresno Fire Department’s Firefighting Turnouts
1. Award a 3-year sole source contract, not to exceed $566,900 to LN Curtis for the purchase of Globe firefighting turnouts as a sole-source provider based on unique features only available with Globe turnouts.
2. RESOLUTION - Adopt Resolution authorizing the Fire Department Chief or designee to enter into a three year contract with LN Curtis without advertised competitive bidding.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council award a 3-year contract, not to exceed $566,900 to LN Curtis, exclusive regional distributor for the purchase of Globe turnouts as a sole-source provider based on unique features and overall test results of major manufacturers.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fire Department, as part of its ongoing personal protective equipment (PPE) replacement plan for turnouts, projects up to 200 sets will need replacement between fiscal years 2021 and 2023, utilizing base-budget funding for those years. With the expiration of its current supplier contract in fiscal year 2020, a new contract is required starting in fiscal year 2021. Turnouts are intended to have a 10-year life span. Turnouts from major suppliers were tested and evaluated by a committee of members of the Fresno Fire Department. The Globe Turnouts rated most favorable from composite test scores related to safety, heat resistance, insulation materials, and mobility factors among others.
BACKGROUND
Turnouts are the most essential part of firefighters PPE. It is the equipment that separates and protects firefighters from heat, smoke, and flame. Turnouts must provide firefighters with heat protection as well as mobility and ventilation for rescue situations.
Each of the Fire Departments 302 firefighters has two sets of turnouts. Turnouts typically have a 10-year life depending on wear and tear (the NFPA recommends turnouts be replaced after 10 years maximum). Due to the life expectancy of turnouts and higher rates of structure fires in Fresno, the fire department expects to replace nearly 200 sets over the next 3 fiscal years. The majority will be replaced in Fiscal Year 2023.
An existing contract with LN Curtis, who is the area’s exclusive distributor for Globe turnouts, expired in Fiscal Year 2020. With a new contract pending, members of the Fire Department’s PPE Committee contacted distributors from California’s three main turnout manufactures: Globe, Morning Pride, and Lion. Prices, excluding sales tax, from the two tested manufactures were materially similar (Lion $2,431; and Globe $2,625) Morning Pride’s turnouts were priced at $1,983 but their turnouts did not meet all specifications related to material and particulate protectants to reduce exposure to cancer-causing carcinogens. Globe and Lion provided their turnouts with all essential specs for testing and evaluation purposes. Therefore, the department moved forward with testing the Globe and Lion turnouts.
The turnouts from both manufacturers were put through a series of tests and evaluation scores were derived based on a number of important criteria. The comprehensive evaluation report accompanies this staff report.
The key area that made Globe turnouts unique, was that the tailoring and flexibility materials in the garment gave firefighters greater overall wear - range of motion (agility) and breathability. These are extremely important factors when considering that during fires, members carrying heavy hoses, possibly retrieving victims, climbing ladders, and moving about in tight spaces. In addition, Globe introduced a technology called Globe Guard, which provides increased protection against cancer causing carcinogens. Because these attributes could not be matched by the competing manufacturer, the Fire Department deems Globe turnouts to have unique safety characteristics that only their garments offer. As such, they are the only manufacturer to offer these resources within their turnouts.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
This contract would be awarded as a sole source, meaning local preference would not apply since there is a single provider of the specified equipment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no fiscal impact in Fiscal Year 2020. The funding for Turnouts is already included in the department’s annual base budgets for the duration of the contract. In fiscal year 2021 and 2022, approximately 45 turnouts will be purchased each year with the balance of turnouts purchased in fiscal year 2023.
Attachments:
Curtis Quotation
LN Curtis Contract Reso