TITLE
Consider a memorandum/resolution authorizing the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment from NAFECO, in an amount not to exceed $264,645.
SUMMARY
DATE: October 17, 2023
TO: Kent Cagle, City Manager
FROM: Jim Kubinski, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS:
The Fire Department has a created a plan to replace 20% of our Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) every year to provide our firefighters with the safest equipment available and to stay in compliance with NFPA 1851 (National Fire Protection Association). Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the protective ensemble worn by firefighters which typically consists of the following garments: coat, trousers, boots, helmet, hood and gloves. These items help protect firefighters in environments immediately dangerous to life or health. Industry standard establishes a usable lifespan for PPE of 5 years for front line use and 5 additional years as reserve or training gear. The fire department must replace PPE that has expired or has been damaged and cannot be repaired. To buy these items as needed would create an inevitable hardship which could possibly exceed the reasonable budget for any given year. To avoid purchasing a large number of items in one year, the fire department has a plan to purchase approximately 20% of our current PPE inventory for our personnel annually. Our current quote will replace 55 full sets of PPE as well as a few individual items to replace currently damaged equipment and bolster our reserve for single items that are damaged in the future. North American Fire Equipment Company (NAFECO) is an authorized distributor for Lion's First Responders PPE Inc. who manufactures our PPE. These items of PPE will be purchased through the Lion's First Responders PPE Inc. Sourcewell contract #032620.
THE ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
1: Deny the request as written; or
2: Approve the request to utilize North American Fire Equipment Compan...
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