HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 - Utililize Assistance to Fire Act GrantCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 11
April 24, 2007
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Fire Department 1?✓
Steve Lewis, Fire Chief, 644 -3101, slewis(a)city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: Utilize Assistance to Fire Act Grant (AFG) Funds to Purchase SCBA
(Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) Equipment
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve a sole source contract with AIIStar Fire Equipment Inc. with an amount not to
exceed $238,843.00 for the SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) equipment.
DISCUSSION:
Background: In FY 2006, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Grants
and Training announced the availability of grants for fire agencies to enhance their
abilities with respect to fire and fire- related hazards.
In analyzing the Fire Department's needs for operational equipment, it was determined the
Department is in need of replacing its antiquated SCBA (Self Contained Breathing
Apparatus) system. Currently, the NBFD is using SCBA units that are almost twenty (20)
years old, having been purchased as far back as the mid- 1980s. As a result, the existing
SCBA units are out of compliance with NFPA 1981 (2002 edition) standards. One of the
requirements of these standards is the use of the Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) universal
adapter couplings (for rescue "buddy breathing "), and the "heads up" air pressure display that
enables firefighters to continuously monitor their available air supply. RICs provide breathing
air to a downed firefighter in case of entrapment or during a rescue. This is an essential tool
in ensuring the safety and survivability of rescue personnel as they perform the most critical
of tasks in the search for victims of a fire. This is also important because of a proposal by the
Orange County Fire Training Officers' Association for all county fire agencies to have "buddy
breather' compatibility to provide supplemental air. Our current air packs lack this ability.
In responding to a fire, hazardous material, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or
explosive (CBRNE) event, the use of these new NFPA 1981- compliant air packs will
increase our firefighters' margin of safety and effectiveness during a rescue. As the new air
bottles contain 45 minutes of air (our existing bottles contain only 30 minutes of air), the
increase of 15 minutes of available air will provide firefighters more valuable time during
Agenda Item No.
April 24, 2007
Page 2
crucial search and rescue operations. Additionally, the CBRNE regulator is the latest in
particulate protection for the wearer. The SCBA with CBRNE regulator, new air bottle, and
pack alert combined will provide a system -wide improvement providing greater total air
supply with continuous monitoring capability, improved protection from particulate
penetration at the regulator, and a fail -safe supplemental method of breathing air support
for the firefighters during a rescue. This new system will improve the survivability, safety,
reliability and confidence of our firefighters during the search phase of emergency
operations.
On January 9t', Council accepted the AFG grant and approved matching funds with a
budget amendment for a total of $277,380. These funds will be used to purchase the
SCBA equipment that has been outlined above. We recommend Council to approve a sole
source contract with AIIStar Fire Equipment Inc. with an amount not to exceed $238,843.
Prepared by: Submitted by:
atie Freeman
Emergency Services Coordinator
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S e Lewis
Fire Chief