(November 4, 2025)
Fire Department
DATE: November 4, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Aaron Osorio, Fire Chief
Rico Rincon, Deputy Fire Chief
Den Mark Marcelo, Admin Services Coordinator
Subject:
Standing Purchase Orders with LN Curtis & Sons for
Personal Protective Equipment and Firefighting
Equipment
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The expenditure(s) would be spread out over three budget cycles and will come from multiple account strings listed below. The proposed total expenditure of $850,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 is included within the Fire
Department budget. (Account Strings: 01204022-400382,
01204022-400384, 11702022-400603-2A101, 21301022-
400384).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
March 5, 2024
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Fire Department currently utilizes a Master Price
Agreement (piggyback purchase order) with National
Purchase Partners for firefighter personal protective
equipment (PPE) and fire equipment from LN Curtis &
Sons. This existing agreement is set to expire in March 2026. To ensure continuity of supply and operational
readiness, staff seek to establish two new standing
purchase orders under a new Master Price Agreement
with Sourcewell—one dedicated to firefighter PPE and
another to fire equipment from LN Curtis & Sons. The
need for this update is timely, as some the Department’s PPE inventory is reaching the end of its service life, and preparations are underway for a new Fire Academy in
2026, which will require additional equipment and gear.
AGENDA
REPORT
(November 4, 2025)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the first amendment to the standing purchase
order (Contract # 6948) with LN Curtis to increase the
limit by $250,000, for a total contract amount not to
exceed $1,000,000, under the Master Price Agreement
publicly solicited by National Purchasing Partners,
Government Division, to continue purchasing firefighting tools and equipment, personal protective equipment, and safety supplies; and APPROVE two (2) standing
purchase orders with LN Curtis & Sons using: (a)
Solicitation # 010424/Contract # 010424-LNC
(Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment/PPE), and
(b) Solicitation # 020124/Contract # 020124-LNC
(Firefighting Equipment), both under the Master Price
Agreements publicly solicited by Sourcewell, State of
Minnesota Local Government Unit, for the purchase of
firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) and
firefighting equipment, in an amount not to exceed
$900,000 per purchase order for a term ending March 15, 2028, with the possibility of two one-year extensions not to exceed $600,000 per purchase order – Fire
Department (Chief Aaron Osorio 510-307-8021/Deputy
Chief Rico Rincon 510-307-8041/Den Mark Marcelo 510-
307-8038).
DISCUSSION:
The Richmond Fire Department (“Department”) is a full-service all-risk department serving more than 115,000 Richmond residents during critical emergencies such as fire, medical, hazardous materials, and rescue incidents. Department staff use essential personal protective equipment (PPE) including turnouts, boots, helmets, gloves, and hoods, to ensure their safety and protection during incidents. In addition, personnel utilize a range of critical tools and fire equipment for emergency response, such as fire hoses, ropes, harness, rescue tools (cutters, spreaders, and hydraulic tools), and other safety equipment. Together, these resources ensure the department is fully equipped to handle a wide variety of emergencies, from structure fires to hazardous material incidents, all while prioritizing the safety and effectiveness of its personnel and the public.
National Purchasing Partners, Government Division Master Price Agreement
On March 5, 2024, the City Council approved a standing purchase order with LN Curtis & Sons (“Vendor”) for the purchase of firefighting equipment, PPE, and safety supplies.
However, the Master Price Agreement’s term is set to expire in March 2026. This amendment will allow continued purchases under the Master Price Agreement publicly solicited by National Purchasing Partners Government Division (NPP Gov), ensuring the ongoing availability of essential firefighting tools, PPE, and safety supplies until the term
(November 4, 2025)
expiration (Attachment 1). Consequently, Department staff recommend approval of the first amendment to this purchase order (Contract No. 6948) to increase the contract limit by $250,000, bringing the total not-to-exceed amount to $1,000,000.
Sourcewell Master Price Agreement
The Fire Department recommends that the City Council approve two standing purchase orders with LN Curtis & Sons (“Vendor”) through Sourcewell, a State of Minnesota Local Government Unit and Service Cooperative. The first standing purchase order would utilize solicitation #010424/Contract #010424-LNC for firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE), which was solicited from November 9, 2023, through January 4, 2024. This solicitation is valid through March 27, 2028, with three one-year extension options and will allow the Department to replace PPE that is nearing the end of its useful life and to equip recruits for the upcoming 2026 Fire Academy (Attachments 2 and 3). The second standing purchase order would utilize solicitation #020124/Contract #020124-LNC for fire equipment, which was solicited from December 14, 2023, through February 1, 2024. This solicitation is valid through April 4, 2028, with three one-year extension options and will ensure continued access to essential firefighting tools, apparatus, and equipment necessary for daily operations and emergency response. (Attachments 4 and 5).
LN Curtis & Sons (Vendor)
Over the past several years, LN Curtis & Sons has reliably supplied the Department’s turnout gear, serving as one of the few authorized distributors of Globe turnouts. In addition, the vendor has provided PPE cleaning, inspection, and repair services for the department’s structure and wildland PPE, as well as other protective gear, all in compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Justification for Procurement
The proposed purchase order amounts are based on historical spending over the past three years, projected operational needs, outfitting new recruits, and replacing equipment that has reached the end of its service life.
The Department intends to run both Sourcewell and NPP Gov standing purchase orders concurrently to leverage the best pricing available for the City. This procurement is in compliance with Richmond Municipal Code (RMC) Section 2.52.330, Piggyback Procurement. This provision allows the Finance Director to arrange for the City to enter into contracts for supplies and services at prices previously established by another public agency, including a nonprofit association or consortium of governmental entities (Attachments 6,7,8).
The City of Richmond’s utilization of piggyback procurement for these purchases is in the best interest of the City because, by relying on existing contracting and procurement efforts established in collaboration with other government agencies, costs the costs and
(November 4, 2025)
staff resources associated with obtaining multiple solicitations throughout the year are eliminated. The use of the piggyback agreements also reduces lead time in acquiring crucial firefighting equipment, PPE, and safety supplies and maximizes cost savings by providing discounted rates on PPE and equipment.
With the Department planning to conduct a fire academy in Spring 2026, it is necessary to outfit recruits with new sets of PPE to ensure their safety and compliance with national standards from the outset of their training. Additionally, a portion of the existing PPE currently used by frontline suppression personnel is approaching the end of its service life and must be replaced to maintain operational readiness and personnel safety. Any PPE or equipment that has exceeded its service life not only compromises the safety of personnel and the public but also exposes the City to increased liability and risk.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
Timely procurement of new PPE and equipment is critical, as lead times for manufacturing and delivery can span several months, particularly for customized gear such as turnouts. By approving these standing purchase orders, the City Council will enable the Department to plan ahead, avoid equipment shortages or delays, and ensure all personnel, both current and incoming, are properly equipped to perform their duties safely and effectively. Furthermore, the recommended actions also align with the goals and priorities set by the City Council to improve public safety and enhance operational efficiency.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – NPP Gov Contract
Attachment 2 – Sourcewell PPE Contract
Attachment 3 – Sourcewell PPE Master Price Agreement
Attachment 4 – Sourcewell Equipment Contract
Attachment 5 – Sourcewell Equipment Master Price Agreement Attachment 6 – NPP Gov Piggyback Justification Form
Attachment 7 – Sourcewell Piggyback Justification Form (PPE) Attachment 8 – Sourcewell Piggyback Justification Form (Equipment)