City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JULY 15, 2025 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: MEASURE Z — AWARD OF BID NO. 8170 TO ALLSTAR FIRE EQUIPMENT, FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF NFPA 1981 SCBA CONVERSION KITS IN THE AMOUNT OF $296,851 AND A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN THE MEASURE Z FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $371,284– SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Award Bid No. 8170 to Allstar Fire Equipment, of Arcadia, California for the purchase and installation of NFPA 1981 SCBA Conversion Kits in the amount of $296,851 and approve a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $371,284 of Measure Z funds.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Award Bid No. 8170 to Allstar Fire Equipment, of Arcadia, California for the purchase and installation of NFPA 1981 SCBA Conversion Kits in the amount of $296,851;
With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or his Designee to record a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $371,284 from the Measure Z fund balance to the Measure Z Fund, Fire, Clothing Linen and Safety Supplies account; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee to approve the purchase order.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
The Budget Engagement Commission convened on February 13, 2025, to review and consider recommending that the City Council approve a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $506,284 for Self-Contained Breather Apparatus and Personal Protective Equipment. Following discussion, the Commission unanimously voted to support the recommendation.
BACKGROUND:
On April 4, 2025, City Council approved a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $135,000 to be recorded. Staff would return to request an additional supplemental appropriation once competitive bidding was completed.
The NFPA, in collaboration with manufacturers and end-users, develops standards to enhance the safety and protection of first responders. Since 1986, the NFPA has released updates to these standards every five years, aiming to mitigate the inherent risks associated with fire and other emergencies.
In 2018, the NFPA released an update to NFPA 1981, revising the standards for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) to improve interoperability, safety, and performance. The Universal Emergency Breathing Safety System (UEBSS), introduced as part of this update, incorporates standardized Rectus-type fittings to ensure compatibility between SCBA models from all NFPA-certified manufacturers. The UEBSS is now recommended for all SCBAs, and all new SCBAs must comply with the latest NFPA standards.
The City of Riverside Fire Department currently uses the Scott Air-Pak X3, equipped with an Emergency Breathing Safety System (EBSS). The EBSS is an accessory designed to facilitate “buddy breathing” between two users with compatible SCBAs. To align with the 2018 NFPA 1981 standards, Scott offers an EBSS hose and manifold assembly with Rectus-type fittings for use with Air-Pak X3 certified to the NFPA 1981, 2013 Edition standard. This solution ensures compatibility with SCBAs certified to the 2018 Edition and equipped with the UEBSS.
DISCUSSION:
The 2018 NFPA 1981 standards introduced the UEBSS with standardized fittings to enhance firefighter safety and interoperability during emergencies. RFD’s current SCBAs need conversion kits to comply with these standards, ensuring compatibility with other manufacturers and improving operational safety during mutual aid responses.
Request for Bid (RFB) No. 8170 was posted on the City’s online bidding system, PlanetBids, on April 14, 2025, seeking bidders to provide Fire Department SCBA Conversion Kit purchase and installation services.
The solicitation notification is summarized in the table below:
Action
Number of Vendors
External Vendors Notified
100
City of Riverside Vendors Notified
8 Vendors who downloaded the RFB
10 Proposals received
1 RFB No. 8170 closed on May 13, 2025, with a total of 1 response. The response was found to be responsive and responsible. The bid result is listed in the table below:
Vendor
Location
Total Cost
ALLSTAR FIRE EQUIPMENT
Arcadia, Ca
$296,851.00
Purchasing sent out a questionnaire to receive feedback from the Prospective Proposers/Bidders on why the RFB was downloaded but failed to provide a proposal/bid submission. Purchasing did not receive any responses to their email request.
Purchasing Resolution 24101, Section 508 Awards states, “Contracts procured through Formal Procurement shall be awarded by the Awarding Entity to the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder.” The Purchasing Services Manager concurs that the recommended actions comply with the City of Riverside’s Purchasing Resolution No. 24101, Section 508.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
Items contributing to the Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal No. 2.6 -Strengthen community preparedness for emergencies to ensure effective response and recovery.
This project aligns with the Cross-Cutting Threads of the City’s Strategic Plan as follows:
Community Trust – This project demonstrates Riverside's commitment to investing in public safety, reflecting the priorities established in the Measure Z Spending Plan.
Equity – The Fire Department is dedicated to delivering equitable fire and life safety services to all Riverside residents. This initiative will ensure that all fire firefighters are equipped to respond promptly to emergencies.
Fiscal Responsibility – Competitive bidding will be conducted per Purchasing Resolution 23812, ensuring that the department secures the best pricing while maintaining transparency.
Innovation – The acquisition SCBAs that meet current industry standards, enhances the department’s ability to respond effectively to various emergency incidents. These upgrades ensure firefighter safety, interoperability, and operational readiness while keeping the department aligned with the latest technological advancements in the fire service industry.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The acquisition of SCBA ensures the department maintains operational readiness and firefighter safety. These investments enhance the department's ability to respond effectively to emergencies while extending the lifecycle of essential equipment, ensuring compliance with current industry standards.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this purchase of SCBA equipment is $371,284. Following the February 8, 2025, Budget Engagement Commission (BEC) meeting, a placeholder amount of $506,284 was added to the Measure Z spending plan, pending City Council approval. The item did not move forward to Council as a standalone funding request; rather, the department opted to request Council approval of the supplemental appropriation alongside associated purchase requests. On April 4, 2025, City Council approved a supplemental appropriation of $135,000, leaving a remaining placeholder balance of $371,284 to cover the remaining SCBA equipment purchases. Staff recommends formally appropriating the balance at this time, to accommodate this, and future purchases of ancillary equipment related to the SCBA gear that may fall within the City Manager’s approval authority. There are sufficient Measure Z funds to accommodate the appropriation.
Upon Council approval, a supplemental appropriation of $371,284 will be recorded in the Measure Z Fund, Fire Clothing/Linen/Safety Supplies account 8006501-426200 to complete this purchase in the amount of $296,851, with the remaining balance of $74,443 available for other ancillary equipment purchases related to the SCBA gear.
Prepared by: Brian Guzzetta, Deputy Fire Chief
Approved by: Steve McKinster, Fire Chief
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
Bid No: 8170 – Final Bid Packet
Award Recommendation
SCBA Conversion Kit Bid Award ● Page 2