Public Safety Committee
November 19, 2024
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: Damon Covington
City Administrator Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Alliance Laundry Systems Contract DATE: October 16, 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 Alliance Laundry Systems For Commercial Grade Washing Machine And Appliance Services For The Fire Department, From June 1, 2024 Through June 30, 2028, At A Cost Of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) With The Option To Extend The Agreement For One Additional Year, Without Returning To Council, At A Cost Of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), For A Total Amount Not To Exceed Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000); And (2) Waiving The City’s Competitive Request For Proposals/Qualification (RFP/Q) Process And Local And Small Local Business (L/SLBE) Enterprise Program Requirements For The Proposed Agreement.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Firefighter personal protective gear (PPE) is worn by Oakland firefighters while working at the scene of an emergency: fires and hazardous material responses. International fire service best practice is that all PPE items are washed in a commercial extractor/washing machine immediately after a fire incident. This best practice reduces the likelihood of an Oakland Fire Department (OFD) member being exposed unnecessarily to contaminants that could lead to the individual contracting occupational cancer.
Approval of this proposed Resolution will authorize the City Administrator to establish a contract with Alliance Laundry Systems for extractor purchasing, servicing, and yearly maintenance.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
At its core, an extractor is a device used to remove harmful fumes and compounds from the gear used by firefighters. OFD has been using this proven safety equipment for over 25 years.
The vendor which supplied the service before Alliance was Taylor Houseman, which was subsequently purchased by Alliance Laundry Systems in 2023.
Jestin Johnson (Nov 7, 2024 09:56 PST)
Nov 7, 2024
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Alliance Laundry Systems Contract
Date: October 16, 2024 Page 2
Public Safety Committee
November 19, 2024
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
The Fire Safety Research Institute
(FRSI) reveals that occupational cancer continues to be a significant concern in the fire service: the composition of items found in residential and commercial structures that burn are highly toxic. The City of Oakland and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 55 have jointly agreed on a plan that will require an extractor to be placed in every fire station.
Adoption of this proposed resolution is in alignment with the citywide priority of holistic community safety, as it directly benefits the health, safety, and wellbeing of Oakland Firefighters by removing hazardous toxins from firefighting uniforms and gear.
OFD Support Services Division is responsible for the procurement of PPE and appliances used to clean the gear after it has been contaminated. The acquisition of appliances used to clean PPE items ensures the City and the Fire Department remain compliant with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1851 (Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates.
PPE is an important item that allows OFD firefighters to perform their job responsibilities during emergency situations. The ability for firefighters to wash/clean their PPE after a fire or hazardous material response incident is imperative. Each firefighter in the firehouse has two sets of turnout (firefighting) gear. Routine cleaning of PPE provides a high level of protection from carcinogens that can lead to occupational cancer. Cleaning the turnouts using the extractor system takes approximately 3-4 hours.
Fire department members in the Operations Division respond to over 70,000 emergency calls for service each year. These call types include emergency medical aid, vehicle accidents, hazardous material releases, structure fires, and vegetation/wildland fires. The extractors provided by Alliance Laundry Systems will allow firefighters to readily clean their PPE at one of the City’s 26 fire stations. Failing to purchase extractors places firefighters in a position to suffer from medical complications that could impact their ability to perform work—equally damaging, a severe medical ailment could lead to an adverse financial strain on the member’s family if the individual could no longer work.
Oakland Municipal Code Section 2.04.051.B. permits the City Council to waive the request for proposal/qualifications (RFP/Q) requirements upon a finding that it is in the best interest of the City to do so. The Fire Department is also seeking to waive the local and small business enterprise program requirements for the proposed agreement due to the fact that Alliance Laundry Systems is the only provider in Northern California that can supply extractors for department use and conduct repairs/maintenance in a timely manner.
The following benefits will accrue from adopting this proposed resolution:
Proven Reliability: Alliance Laundry Systems has demonstrated consistency and reliability with supplying needed fire equipment items to the Oakland Fire Department in the past.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Alliance Laundry Systems Contract
Date: October 16, 2024 Page 3
Public Safety Committee
November 19, 2024
Public Safety Measure: Adopting this proposed resolution will allow the OFD to operate while wearing the required protective gear that has been properly cleaned.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed resolution will authorize the City Administrator to enter into a four-year agreement in an amount not to exceed $500,000, with an option for a fifth year not to exceed $100,000 from June 1, 2024 through June 30, 2028. Funding for the current year is included in the approved FY 24-25 midcycle budget located here: General Purpose Fund (1010), Fire: Support Services Organization (20816), DP200 Administrative Project (1000009), Emergency Response Support Services (PS26). Funding for the future years of the contract are contingent on funding availability and approval in future budget cycles.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No public outreach is required for the acceptance of this resolution.
COORDINATION
The Fire Department coordinated with the Finance Department and the Oakland City Attorney in the development of this legislation.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic:
Environmental: There are no environmental impacts or opportunities associated with this report.
Race & Equity: There are no racial or equity impacts from the passage of this legislation.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Alliance Laundry Systems Contract
Date: October 16, 2024 Page 4
Public Safety Committee
November 19, 2024
REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends The City Council Adopt A Resolution: (1) Authorizing The City Administrator To Enter Into An Agreement With Alliance Laundry Systems For Commercial Grade Washing Machine And Appliance Services For The Fire Department, From June 1, 2024 Through June 30, 2028, At A Cost Of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) With The Option To Extend The Agreement For One Additional Year, Without Returning To Council, At A Cost Of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), For A Total Amount Not To Exceed Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000); And (2) Waiving The City’s Competitive Request For Proposals/Qualification (RFP/Q) Process And Local And Small Local Business (L/SLBE) Enterprise Program Requirements For The Proposed Agreement.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Demond Simmons at [email protected]
.
Prepared by Deputy Chief Demond Simmons
Respectfully submitted,
______________________________
DAMON COVINGTON
Fire Chief
Oakland Fire Department