The Airport recently purchased and replaced twelve sets of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA's) Ensembles for the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) Division.  This SCBA equipment is worn on the back of a firefighter and provides him/her with a supply of fresh air anytime a firefighter is working in a hazardous environment.  Safety for our Airport firefighters is a top priority when responding to an aircraft accident and this equipment was needed in order for the ARFF employees to successfully and safely perform their job. The fire fighting equipment was 15–20 years old, had outlived its useful life, no longer complied with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) safety standards, and needed to be replaced.  This SCBA Replacement Project was advertised, proposals were received, and Big Sky Fire Equipment, Inc. was chosen as the successful bidder and awarded the contract at the August 12, 2019 Regular City Council Meeting for a price of $123,367.07.  Unfortunately, Big Sky Fire would not accept the old SCBA equipment on trade-in; therefore, staff researched companies who could utilize/dispose of this surplus equipment. Although two companies were discovered that re-purpose old SCBA equipment, only one was willing to accept the entire ensemble that consists of the backpack and cylinder.  Subsequently, the Airport would like to sell the old SCBA equipment to Dalmatian Fire Equipment, Inc. who has agreed to purchase it for approximately $2,350, and will most likely remanufacture it or cannibalize the parts to repair other equipment.  Additionally, Dalmatian Fire will release the City and Airport from any potential future liability.  If the City chooses not to sell this equipment to Dalmatian Fire, the equipment will need to be cut up and discarded into the landfill as there are no other options available to safely dispose of this type of specialized equipment.                 
 

City Council may:

• Approve designating the SCBA equipment as surplus and authorize the sale and disposal of this old SCBA equipment to Dalmatian Fire Equipment, Inc. for approximately $2,350; or
• Decline the sale and subsequently scrap and dispose of the SCBA equipment into the landfill.

The 15-20 year old SCBA equipment was originally purchased with a combination of Federal and local funds.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has determined that the useful life of this fire fighting equipment has expired, it no longer meets NFPA safety standards, and cannot be used by another fire department in its current condition; therefore, it has little value.  The Airport will collect approximately $2,350 in revenue from the sale of this old equipment to Dalmatian Fire Equipment, Inc.
 

Staff recommends that the City Council declare the Airport's old SCBA equipment as surplus and approve the disposal, via a sale, to Dalmatian Fire Equipment, Inc. for the amount of approximately $2,350.