REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the Issuance of a Purchase Order for the Purchase of Turnout Fire Protective Clothing for the Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Approval is requested to issue a purchase order in the amount of $401,679 to L.N. Curtis & Sons of Oakland, for 171 sets (87 sets released in 2017 and 84 sets released in 2018) of Structural Firefighting, Turnout Fire Protective Clothing for sworn staff assigned to DPS Fire Services.
EXISTING POLICY
Section 2.08.070(b)(3) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code exempts from competitive bidding those purchases in which solicitations of bids or proposals would be impractical, unavailing or impossible. L.N. Curtis provided the first set of DPS’s current brand of fire protective clothing, which was custom produced to meet Sunnyvale specifications, and this vendor provides immediate access to both the turnouts and repair thereof if needed.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The purchase of supplies does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is an administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Pursuant to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, fire services personnel should have a second set of structural firefighting ensembles (otherwise known as turnouts) to ensure a reduction in exposure to cancer causing contaminants. A survey of all fire departments in Santa Clara County, conducted by DPS staff in FY 2016/17, indicated Sunnyvale to be the only agency in the County that did not issue a second set of turnouts to their fire personnel. To come into compliance with the aforementioned recommendations, the addition of a second set of turnouts for all sworn personnel in DPS will be phased in over the next several years. Eighty-Seven (87) sets will be purchased in FY 2017/18 for sworn personnel assigned to fire and Eighty-Four (84) sets will be purchased in FY 2018/19 for sworn personnel assigned to police services. Five sets will be purchased in each of the fiscal years thereafter, for the next several years, for sworn personnel assigned to Special Operations and the Traffic Unit. A second set of turnouts allows our personnel to be able to launder their turnouts after a fire and immediately have another set available to wear to a subsequent call for service.
The department’s primary vendor for the turnouts is L.N. Curtis & Sons. L.N. Curtis & Sons is the only vendor in California that offers DPS’ select style of turnouts, “Globe Advance G-Xtreme”, and provides local service, measuring and repairs. Changing to a different style of type of turnout would not be financially feasible to the City, nor would it be desirable to mix a new style of turnout with current stock as this could present potential risk issues due to varying turnout protection.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the purchase of 171 turnouts has been approved and is included in the FY 2017/18 Adopted Budget in the Public Safety Equipment account. Funding for turnouts in FY 2018/19 and future turnout purchases are included in the City’s 20-Year Financial Plan.
Funding Source
The funding source is the General Fund.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize the issuance of a purchase order in substantially the same form as Attachment 1 to the report in the amount of $401,679 to L.N. Curtis & Sons.
Staff
Prepared by: Gregory Card, Purchasing Officer
Reviewed by: Timothy J. Kirby, Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Phan S. Ngo, Director of Public Safety
Reviewed by: Walter C. Rossmann, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Purchase Order