Public Safety Committee
March 26, 2024
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: Damon Covington
City Administrator Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Fire Department Agreement with
Cobalt Equipment, Inc
DATE: February 20, 2024
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends The City Council Adopt A Resolution: (1) Authorizing The City Administrator To Enter Into An Agreement With Cobalt Equipment, Inc. For the Purchase Of Office Trailers And Related Equipment For The Mobile Assistance Community Responders Of Oakland (MACRO) Program At A Cost Of Three Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($375,000); And (2) Waiving The Fixed, Sealed Bid, Price-Based Bid Process And Local And Small Business (LBE/SLBE) Enterprise Program Requirements
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report provides a background and basis for the urgency and importance of securing this infrastructure which has been the headquarters of the MACRO Program since early 2022.
Adoption of the resolution and the approval of the purchase will ensure there is no disruption of MACRO services while the Fire Department works to identify a long-term secure site that is strategically located for the MACRO staff and program leadership to operate.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
On March 2, 2021, City Council directed the City Administrator to explore options for expediting the implementation of the 18-month pilot phase of the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) program, a community response program for non-violent, non-emergency 911 calls.
The Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) Program is a community response program for non-violent, non-emergency 911 calls. The purpose of MACRO is to meet the needs of the community with a compassionate care first response model grounded in empathy, service, and community.
Due to the urgency to launch the MACRO program, the Fire Department was tasked with identifying office space and/or available infrastructure in which to house the staff of responders involved in the pilot phase of the program. The equipment determined to be best suited to use on a temporary basis at the Fire Department are the trailers and restroom equipment provided Jestin Johnson (Mar 14, 2024 22:55 PDT)
Mar 14, 2024
Jestin D Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Fire Department Agreement with Cobalt Equipment, Inc Date: February 20, 2024 Page 2
Public Safety Committee
March 26, 2024
by Cobalt Equipment, Inc. which has agreements with agencies such as Cal Fire and the State of California Office of Emergency Services.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
Since April 2022, when the MACRO program began in earnest, the Fire Department has been paying for this critical infrastructure on a month-by-month basis at a cost of approximately $15,000 per month. To save money long-term, and because Cobalt Equipment, Inc. has suggested that they are seeking to do less long-term leasing business, Fire Administration inquired about an outright purchase of the equipment for a total amount of $375,000. This purchase option will allow OFD to spend less money over the life span of the products, continue using the materials, and potentially repurpose the infrastructure for other department needs once MACRO relocates to a permanent headquarters in the coming years.
Adoption of this resolution aligns with the citywide goals of advancing holistic community safety and responsive transparent government. MACRO's goal is to reduce responses by emergency services (Fire & Police), resulting in increased access to community-based services and resources for impacted individuals and families. This resolution is another positive step in the city’s effort to enhance the services provided by a program with broad community stakeholder support.
Waiver of Fixed, Sealed Bid, Price-Based Bid Process and the Local and Small Local Business Enterprise Program Provisions
Pursuant to Oakland Municipal Code Section 2.04.050.1.5, City Council may waive the advertising, the fixed, sealed bid award process upon a finding that it is "in the best interests of the city” to do so (Oakland Municipal Code Section);
Staff recommends that it is in the best interest of the City to the advertising, the fixed, sealed bid award process because the office trailers and equipment are already set up and in operation and there is an impending need for the services to continuing meeting the community need for physical and behavioral health support, while also reducing calls for service for front line police and firefighters. A bidding process will be conducted for the next recruitment. Staff also recommends that City Council waive the Local and Small Local Business Enterprise Program Provisions as Cobalt Equipment, Inc. is located in Pleasanton, CA.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total amount to purchase the trailer outright is $375,000. Funding for this proposed purchase is appropriated and available in the General Fund (1010), MACRO Organization (20914), MACRO Project (1005384), Fostering Safe and Healthy Communities Program (SC22).
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No outreach was needed for the adoption of this resolution.
Jestin D Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Fire Department Agreement with Cobalt Equipment, Inc Date: February 20, 2024 Page 3
Public Safety Committee
March 26, 2024
COORDINATION
Staff collaborated with the Budget Bureau in the production of this report. The Office of the City Attorney reviewed the Report and Resolution for form and legality.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: Purchasing this equipment outright will save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars per year over the lifetime of this equipment. The city is currently paying approximately $16,000 per month, and is being given an opportunity to purchase the equipment at a cost of what it would rent it for over a calendar year.
Environmental: No environmental impacts or opportunities are identified in this report.
Race & Equity: MACRO continues to aim to meet the needs of Oakland’s most vulnerable populations with the bulk of its incident responses being in community identified as being in greatest need based on myriad existing health disparities, and low educational and economic indicators.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends The City Council Adopt A Resolution: (1) Authorizing The City Administrator To Enter Inter An Agreement With Cobalt Equipment, Inc. For the Purchase Of Office Trailers And Related Equipment For The Mobile Assistance Community Responders Of Oakland (MACRO) Program At A Cost Of Three Hundred Seventy -Five Thousand Dollars ($375,000) And (2) Waiving The Fixed, Sealed Bid, Price- Based Bid Process And Local And Small Business (LBE/SLBE) Enterprise Program Requirements
For questions regarding this report, please contact Michael Hunt, OFD Chief of Staff, at [email protected].
Respectfully submitted,
Damon Covington
Fire Chief