Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to enter into contract for Turnout Gear for the Division of Fire from Lion First Responder PPE, Inc. The Division of Fire has a reoccurring need to replace sets of gear for current personnel that is beyond its useful life and has high maintenance costs. Turnout gear is the very outer layer of a firefighter’s uniform and is their first line of defense. This gear has particulate blocking barriers that are designed to further protect the fire fighter from carcinogenic materials and gases. It is also referred to as personal protective equipment or PPE and includes their jacket and pants.
Bid Information: Request for Proposal, RFQ009448, was advertised and proposals were opened on July 19, 2018. One hundred (100) suppliers were notified of the Request for Proposal. Three (3) responses were received.
An evaluation committee consisted of three (3) representatives from the Division of Fire, one (1) from the Department of Public Safety Director’s Office and one (1) from the Department of Finance and Management. All three vendors that submitted proposals were selected and invited to present their proposals to the committee for scoring. Of the three, two (2) offerors were selected for further evaluation. The evaluation consisted of inspections conforming to the bid specifications and hands-on combative testing of the turnout gear. Both finalists were invited to submit pricing. The scoring was reevaluated/revised to include the pricing. The Department of Finance and Management, Purchasing Division, negotiated with highest scored offeror, Lion First Responder PPE, Inc., and received revised pricing and escalation terms, as well as, a longer contract term that will provide Turnout Gear through September 30, 2022 with the option to extend for two (2) additional one (1) year periods.
An RFP process was used for this purchase and a competitive bid waiver is requested for this pur...
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