E
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: Damon Covington
City Administrator Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Allstar Fire Equipment Agreement DATE: February 10, 2026
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution: (1) Authorizing The City Administrator To Enter Into A Purchasing Agreement With Allstar Fire Equipment For The Purchase Of Firefighter Protective Clothing (Also Known As Turnouts) For A Three Year Term In An Amount Not To Exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000), With Two One-Year Options to Extend Agreement For Up To An Additional Two Years In An Amount Not To Exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Per Year ($500,000), Without Returning To Council, For A Total Contract Amount Not To Exceed Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000); And (2) Waiving The Advertising And Competitive Bidding Process Requirements, And Local And Small Business (LBE/SLBE) Enterprise Program Provisions For The Proposed Purchase Agreement With Allstar Fire Equipment.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of this proposed Resolution will authorize the City Administrator to waive the competitive bidding requirements to establish a new contract with Allstar Fire Equipment and ensure firefighters have access to turnout gear for protection when operating in immediate dangerous to life and health (IDLH) environments. A local vendor supplying turnout gear ensures Oakland firefighters have National Fire Protection Association 1971 (Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting) compliant gear and meets the quantity requirement outlined in the Local 55 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Firefighter safety clothing is a mandated requirement by the California Occupational Safety and Health Association (CAL-OSHA) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Oakland and Local 55. OFD is required to provide ongoing replacement of damaged or sub-standard turnout clothing worn by sworn personnel responding to emergency situations, and protective clothing for firefighter recruits in the training academy. Each fire Jestin Johnson (Feb 20, 2026 09:26:18 PST)
Feb 20, 2026
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Allstar Fire Equipment Agreement
Date: February 10, 2026 Page 2
City Council
March 3, 2026
department member is required two have two sets of turnouts that meet the standard outlined in National Fire Protection Association.
On 5 July 2008 the City Council approved Resolution No. 81447 C.M.S., which authorized Allstar Fire Equipment to provide turnout gear for Oakland firefighters. Allstar Fire Equipment, located in Hayward, California, has been providing turnout gear for Oakland firefighters over the past 17 years.
The City of Oakland (City) currently has a valid cooperative purchasing agreement with Allstar Fire Equipment in the amount of $250,000 (remaining balance under $25,000) that expires August 4, 2026. This resolution seeks the approval of Council to enter into a new direct purchase agreement with Allstar to secure firefighter protective clothing over an initial three-year term with an option to extend for an additional two-years, ensuring Oakland Fire has a consistent source for safety gear.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
While there are no Oakland based businesses that offer this service, a local supplier of firefighting turnout gear ensures that Oakland firefighters have access to safety gear in a timely manner when such items are requested through the City’s procurement process. The incumbent vendor, Allstar Fire Equipment, has and continues to provide safety gear when requested by the Department.
A full-service turnout gear vendor provides the following essential items for a fire service organization:
• Turnout coat comprised of an outer shell, moisture barrier, and a thermal barrier • Turnout pants comprised of an outer shell, moisture barrier, and a thermal barrier
Since the incumbent is providing a full catalog of goods for the Department, the only alternative is to select another vendor to fulfill similar duties. There are no other vendors in the immediate area who can meet the turnout needs for the Department. Based on the longstanding relationship between the vendor and the Department, staff recommends Council approve an amendment to the current agreement for a three-year extension and an option to extend up to two additional years.
Adoption of this resolution is in alignment with the citywide goal of providing holistic public safety services to communities across the city.
Past Performance Evaluation and Follow-Up
The incumbent has continually provided turnout gear needs for the Oakland Fire Department since 2008 ensuring Oakland firefighters are equipped with proper and sufficient turnout gear for emergency operations. Over a 12-month period, the OFD Safety Clothing Committee evaluated available safety clothing products from various manufacturers to ensure that firefighting personnel have the most effective, technologically sound safety gear, and upon conclusion of the evaluation period, it was determined that the turnouts manufactured by Janesville Lion Apparel (distributed by Allstar Fire Equipment) continue to best meet the operational and safety needs of the Department. Continuing to utilize Allstar as the turnout gear provider ensures the Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Allstar Fire Equipment Agreement
Date: February 10, 2026 Page 3
City Council
March 3, 2026
Department remains operationally ready for all emergency types. The vendor has been a reliable equipment provider to fire departments across the United States.
Rationale for Waiver of Request for Advertising and Bidding
Oakland Municipal Code Section 2.04.050.1.5, authorizes the City Council to waive the City's standard advertising and bidding process upon a finding that it is in the best interests of the City.
Allstar Fire Equipment, as the only local distributer of the Janesville Lion Apparel turnout safety coats and pants, evaluated as the best turnouts gear product that meets OFD operational and safety needs, therefore is the only company capable of meeting the Department’s purchase needs.
FISCAL IMPACT
Initial funds for the purchasing agreement for Allstar Fire Equipment turnouts are available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 in the Fire Department’s Fund: General Purpose (1010), Project: Fire Academy Training Project (1004398), Organization: In-Service Training (20631), and Program:
Fire Department Safety, Education and Training (PS27). Funding for future fiscal years may continue to draw from these same sources or may be provided through separate appropriations during the Mid-Cycle FY 2026-27 budget process and the Biennial FY 2027-29 budget adoption.
Funding FY26/27 FY27/28 FY28/29 FY29/30 FY30/31 GPF 1010
Training
Academy
Project 1004398 $500,000
$500,000
$500,000
$500,000 $500,000
Total:
$2,500,000
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No public outreach is required for the acceptance of this resolution.
COORDINATION
The Fire Department coordinated with the Finance Department in the development of this report and resolution.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: By having access to a turnout gear vendor in Northern California, firefighters will have the appropriate gear for personal protection during emergency operations.
Environmental: There are no environmental impacts or opportunities associated with this report.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Allstar Fire Equipment Agreement
Date: February 10, 2026 Page 4
City Council
March 3, 2026
Race & Equity: By having access to a turnout vendor in Northern California, the Fire Department will continue to serve and ensure the safety to all the city of Oakland residents and particularly its most vulnerable populations.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution: (1) Authorizing The City Administrator To Enter Into A Purchasing Agreement With Allstar Fire Equipment For The Purchase Of Firefighter Protective Clothing (Also Known As Turnouts) For A Three Year Term In An Amount Not To Exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000), With Two One-Year Options to Extend Agreement For Up To An Additional Two Years In An Amount Not To Exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Per Year ($500,000), Without Returning To Council, For A Total Contract Amount Not To Exceed Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000); And (2) Waiving The Advertising And Competitive Bidding Process Requirements, And Local And Small Business (LBE/SLBE) Enterprise Program Provisions For The Proposed Purchase Agreement With Allstar Fire Equipment.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Deputy Chief Demond Simmons at [email protected]
Respectfully submitted,
Damon Covington
Fire Chief