STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
July 7, 2026
CONSENT
12 SUBJECT: AWARD OF PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO ALLSTAR FIRE EQUIPMENT FOR
THE PURCHASE OF FIREFIGHTER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute a purchase agreement with AllStar Fire Equipment (AllStar) for the purchase of firefighter personal protective equipment in an amount not to exceed $250,000, with an initial term from July 1, 2026, through March 27, 2028, and the ability to extend the agreement through March 27, 2031, subject to the continued availability of Sourcewell Contract No. 010424, or any renewal, extension, replacement contract; and
2. Find that the recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 because it does not constitute a project.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
The Laguna Beach Fire Department regularly replaces firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) as part of its ongoing equipment replacement program. The proposed purchase agreement with AllStar Fire Equipment, an authorized distributor of LION First Responder PPE, will provide turnout gear and related protective equipment for replacement of aging gear and issuance to new personnel.
The proposed agreement establishes a not-to-exceed purchasing authority of $250,000 for the purchase of turnout gear and related personal protective equipment. The initial term of the agreement will run from July 1, 2026, through March 27, 2028, consistent with the current term of Sourcewell Contract No. 010424.
Subject to the continued availability of the cooperative purchasing contract, or any renewal, extension, replacement contract, the City may extend the agreement through March 27, 2031. The agreement utilizes Sourcewell Contract No. 010424, a competitively awarded cooperative purchasing contract for firefighting personal protective equipment, consistent with the City's purchasing policies.
DISCUSSION
Firefighter turnout gear is subject to wear from routine use, exposure to heat and hazardous environments, repeated laundering, and contamination from carcinogens and other toxins. Over time, these factors diminish the protective qualities of the gear, requiring periodic replacement to maintain compliance with applicable standards and ensure firefighter safety.
The Laguna Beach Fire Department issues each sworn firefighter a frontline set of turnout gear and a reserve set. Consistent with Department policy, frontline gear is placed into reserve status after approximately five (5) years of service and replaced with new equipment. This replacement cycle helps ensure personnel have access to serviceable protective equipment while gear is being inspected, cleaned, repaired, or decontaminated.
AWARD OF PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO ALLSTAR FIRE EQUIPMENT FOR THE
PURCHASE OF FIREFIGHTER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
July 7, 2026
The Department has standardized on turnout gear manufactured by LION First Responder PPE. AllStar Fire Equipment is the authorized distributor of LION products within Southern California and provides the equipment and related services required by the Department.
Laguna Beach Purchasing System Ordinance, Section 2.30.050(c), authorizes the City to purchase against contracts awarded by another public agency, master agreement, or cooperative agreement where the source contract is current, the vendor and scope are consistent with the award, and use is in the City's best interest.
Sourcewell Contract No. 010424 was competitively solicited by Sourcewell in January 2024. Thirty (30) responses were received, and LION First Responder PPE was awarded a contract for firefighting personal protective equipment. The contract is currently active and expires on March 27, 2028. Pricing was reviewed and determined to be fair and reasonable based on the cooperative contract's competitively solicited pricing structure offering 10-35% discount off the list price available to participating agencies. AllStar Fire Equipment, as the authorized regional distributor for LION First Responder PPE, will provide the equipment and related services required by the Department under the Sourcewell contract. Fire Department staff also contacted Sourcewell regarding Contract No. 010424. Sourcewell advised that the official contract documents posted on its website are the governing source of information for participating agencies. Staff reviewed and relied upon those official contract documents in preparing this report.
The initial term of this Agreement shall commence on July 1, 2026, and shall continue through March 27, 2028, unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement. The Sourcewell Contract may be extended by mutual agreement by the original contracting parties. The City may renew the term of this Agreement for up to three (3) additional one-year periods, provided that any such renewal is contingent upon, and shall not extend beyond, a corresponding extension of the Sourcewell cooperative agreement, which is currently set to expire on March 27, 2030.
The total compensation payable under this Agreement, including any extensions exercised pursuant to this Section, shall not exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) without further City Council approval.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The proposed agreement establishes a not-to-exceed purchasing authority of $250,000 for the purchase of turnout gear and related personal protective equipment over the life of the agreement, including any authorized extensions. The initial term of the agreement will run from July 1, 2026, through March 27, 2028, consistent with the current term of Sourcewell Contract No. 010424. Subject to the continued availability of the cooperative purchasing contract, or any renewal, extension, replacement, or successor contract, the City may extend the agreement through June 30, 2031. Funding for turnout gear and related personal protective equipment will be included in the Fire Department's annual operating budgets. No additional appropriation is requested as part of this action.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
AWARD OF PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO ALLSTAR FIRE EQUIPMENT FOR THE
PURCHASE OF FIREFIGHTER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
July 7, 2026
The recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 because it does not constitute a "project" as defined by CEQA. The proposed action authorizes the purchase of firefighter personal protective equipment to support ongoing Fire Department operations and maintain firefighter safety. The purchase of equipment does not have the potential to result in either a direct physical change or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Accordingly, the action is not subject to CEQA review.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Cooperative Purchase Agreement (Pgs. 4-44)
2. Sourcewell RFP and Addendums-Fire PPE 010424 (Pgs. 45-64) Submitted By:
. Approved: .David A Kiff
Niko King, Fire Chief Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Kirsten Gallacher, Senior Administrative
Analyst