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D.7

To:	Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:	Lewis T. Broschard III, Chief, Contra Costa Fire Protection District
Date:	November 10, 2020

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Purchase Contract for two Type V Wildland Firefighting Apparatus

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 11/10/2020

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, Director
Candace Andersen, Director
Diane Burgis, Director
Karen Mitchoff, Director
Federal D. Glover, Director

Contact:

Lewis T. Broschard III, Fire Chief (925) 941-3300

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: November 10, 2020
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to execute a purchase contract with Golden State Fire Apparatus, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $625,000 for the manufacture and purchase of two (2) Type V Wildland firefighting apparatus.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Although funds were not appropriated in the current fiscal year for these capital equipment purchases (i.e., under capital autos and trucks), the District does have funds budgeted in the current fiscal year to pay for the vehicles without having to recognize new revenue. During the District's budget update to the Board on August 4, 2020, the District was still awaiting the tax roll letter. At that time, the District suggested some voluntary reductions to expenditures. For example, certain vacant positions are not being filled until January 2021 and some not critical building maintenance projects have been delayed. In addition, the District reduced planned expenditures to some of its non-capital equipment and supply budgets. Those funds -- which are still in the approved budget but under different major objects -- will be used to fund these capital vehicle purchases.

BACKGROUND:

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (District) is charged with fighting wildland fires as part of its primary mission of providing fire protection. The apparatus used for fighting wildland fires is
specialized and requires a configuration and specifications not common to the typical municipal fire department pumper. The apparatus used for fighting wildland fires require four-wheel drive, a short wheel base, the ability to carry a supply of specialized wildland firefighting equipment, and interior seating capacity for up to four firefighters. The District currently operates a fleet of twelve (12) Type III Engines and five (5) Type II Engines that have been reconfigured for wildland firefighting. With this purchase, the District can target a portion of its oldest wildland engines manufactured in 2000 for replacement.

The Type V Engines have a lower center of gravity and lower overall profile enabling the vehicle to access areas otherwise not accessible. They have a lower gross vehicle weight and may be able to access areas heavy vehicles cannot. They have a 400-gallon water tank, a 40-gallon foam tank, and a 175-gallon per minute pump. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends a maximum of 15 years for front-line service for these types of apparatus. The selected Type V engines are utilized by similar municipal fire departments, and staff recommends purchasing two of these units as part of the HGAC Cooperative Purchasing program. This system allows local government agencies to procure goods and services already competitively bid and awarded.

The District has a threat of wildland urban interface fires similar to the conditions found in last year’s North Bay fires in Napa, Sonoma, and Solano County. The acquisition of two engines will have a positive impact on District operations and public safety. Investing in the District wildland fleet will allow the District to have modern, more reliable equipment available for fires that occur in the wildland urban interface areas.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The District would continue to operate with 15-year-old vehicles as front line apparatus during fire season. Delaying this purchase will lead to future cost increases and a potential loss of critical coverage if apparatus is taken out of service due to maintenance and repair.