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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Purchase of personal protective equipment – turnout gear for the Glendale Fire Department.
1. Resolution adopting Fire-Dex products as the City’s standard for specialized personal protective equipment and turnout gear and dispensing with competitive bidding for the procurement of Fire-Dex products and related services from Municipal Emergency Services, Inc. (MES).
2. Resolution of Appropriation to appropriate $147,000 from the Fire Mutual Aid Fund for the purchase of personal protective equipment – turnout gear.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for November 7, 2023 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Glendale Fire Department and Southern California Area PPE Consortium Group (SCAPPEC) agencies have utilized Morning Pride turnout gear, manufactured by Honeywell since the early 2000’s. SCAPPEC agencies include The Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Long Beach Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department, and the Glendale Fire Department. SCAPPEC agencies and Glendale Fire Department staff all conducted extensive independent testing and found Fire-Dex turnouts to be the most suitable and most all-inclusive option for replacement.
The goal of SCAPPEC has always been to leverage purchasing power and reduce fiscal impacts when purchasing vital safety equipment, while simultaneously meeting the needs of each agency’s requirements.
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RECOMMENDATION
Approve resolution of appropriation in the amount of $147,000 from the Fire Mutual Aid Fund, adopt equipment standardization, and dispense with competitive bidding for the purchase of specialized personal protective equipment – turnout gear, in conjunction with Fire-Dex products and related services from Municipal Emergency Services, Inc. (MES).
ANALYSIS
Turnout gear must meet the specifications in NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. The consequences of equipment failure are serious and may result in employee injury and/or fatality.
The turnout ensemble is composed of two principal elements, a pant and jacket. Following the NFPA 1851 Standard ensures the Fire Department adheres to comprehensive criteria for protective ensembles to reduce health and safety risks associated with improper maintenance, contamination, or damage. Each member is outfitted with two sets of turnout gear, with a life cycle of 10 years per set.
Significant improvements continue to be made in turnout gear because of ongoing threats facing firefighters and based on improvements in textiles and manufacturing.
Improvements that have been made include:
• Weight reduction in gear for improved firefighter mobility to combat fatigue and heat stress, which can have serious impacts on firefighter health and safety. • Cancer causing particulate blocking designs in the coat/pant interface area and at the boot junction.
• Installation of drag rescue devices to assist with removing downed firefighters.
• Emergency egress and bailout systems.
• Improvements to the thermal liner, moisture barrier, and outer shells.
Fire Department personnel have conducted a thorough evaluation of the three major brands of firefighter turnout gear on the market. A matrix of evaluation criteria was established rating the following factors:
• Manufacturer’s background
• Ability to develop a specification that provides a seamless transition • Wear test results
• Delivery timeframes from point of order for academies and replacement gear cycles 3{{section.number}}a
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• Cost and Warranty
Over the past year GFD conducted extensive field testing consisting of common fireground operations to ensure that the gear performs as designed and have found the performance to meet or exceed expectations.
Following the result of thier evaluation and conferring with other agencies in the SCAPPEC group, staff contacted the manufacturer of the highest rated turnout gear, Fire- Dex, and began writing a spec for the features and options we require. After several meetings and revisions, we have a finalized spec and recommend that Fire-Dex be the standardized turnout gear that we purchase for the next 10 years.
For the aforementioned reasons, it is respectfully recommended that Council adopt Fire- Dex turnout gear as the City standard for firefighter turnout gear.
The Glendale Purchasing Policy promotes the standardization of commonly used items, vehicles, and equipment. The Policy only applies to items, such as turnout gear, which have been tested and proven satisfactory on the job. This process will eliminate repetitive future approvals by the City Council for similar equipment. Standardized items need to be reviewed by the Departments at least every five years and need to be approved by City Council at least every ten years.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT
The turnout gear purchase will cost $147,000, which was not included as a part of the FY 2023-24 approved budget. Therefore, staff is requesting for an appropriation of $147,000 from the Fire Mutual Aid Fund balance. The appropriation request is outlined below:
Requesting Appropriation
Amount From (Account
String)
To (Account String) Funding Source
$147,000 24241-2660-GFD-
000-
51000-2660-GFD-
4000-P0000-
Fire Mutual Aid
Fund
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
N/A
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
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Alternative 1: Adopt the appropriation, standardization, and dispensing with competitive bidding for the purchase of specialized personal protective equipment and turnout gear for the procurement of Fire-Dex products and related services from Municipal Emergency Services, Inc. (MES).
Alternative 2: Do not adopt the appropriation, standardization, and dispensing with competitive bidding for the purchase of specialized personal protective equipment and turnout gear for the procurement of Fire-Dex products and related services from Municipal Emergency Services, Inc. (MES). of specialized equipment in conjunction with Fire-Dex turnout gear, manufactured by Fire-Dex.
Doing so would delay the procurement of this critical piece of firefighter safety equipment.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Tim Ernst, Fire Chief
Prepared by:
Jeffrey Brooks, Fire Battalion Chief
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS