Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of eight contracts for public safety and firehouse supplies and equipment with Municipal Emergency Services, Inc.; Delta Fire & Safety, Inc.; Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists, Inc.; Rescuegear, Inc.; Casco Industries, Inc.; North America Fire Equipment Co. Inc.; Gt Distributors, Inc.; and August Industries, Inc., each for up to five years for total contract amounts not to exceed $26,895,000, divided among the contractors.
[Note: This procurement was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the goods and services required for this procurement, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established].
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department.
Client Department(s)
All City Departments.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $2,689,500 is available in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating Budget of various City departments.
Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Purchasing Language:
Multiple contractors within the cooperative purchasing program were reviewed for these goods and services. The Austin Fire Department determined these contractors best meet the needs of the client departments to provide these goods and services required for the City.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department - Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500.
Additional Backup Information:
These contracts will provide public safety and firehouse supplies and equipment for various City departments. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for public safety and firefighting supplies, such as personal protective equipment and apparel, water rescue gear, emergency equipment, and bunker repair services. The contracts will be used by the department's operations division, support units, and specialized trained staff within Austin Fire Department, Austin Police Department, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services, and other departments that respond to calls for emergencies. Department emergency responses that utilize this equipment include house fires, wildfires, flash flood rescues, accidents in industrial complexes, hike and bike trails, caves, and lakes. These contracts will ensure departments have round-the-clock readiness to respond to emergencies and the ability to protect our first responders.
These contracts will replace existing contracts set to expire on April 30, 2024. The requested authorization amount was determined using departmental estimates based on historical spending and anticipated future usage. Seven of the recommended contractors are current providers of these goods and services. Casco Industries, Inc. is a certified Minority Women Owned Business Enterprise.
The Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. (BuyBoard) cooperative is a cooperative purchasing association recognized under Texas procurement statutes. Cooperative associations, themselves or using a lead government, competitively solicit and award contracts that are eligible for use by other qualified state and local governments. Due to their substantial volumes, larger than any one government could achieve independently, cooperative contracts routinely include superior terms, conditions, and pricing. Use of cooperative contracts also results in lower administrative costs and time savings.