Consideration and Approval of Contract: Contract for Services to Brian Martin Crandell (aka Crandell Research Solutions) in the amount of $184,899.00 for Instruction for the Greater Flagstaff Regional Fire Officer Leadership Program.

1. Approve the Contract for Services to Brian Martin Crandell (aka Crandell Research Solutions) in the amount of $184,899.00 for Instruction for the Greater Flagstaff Regional Fire Officer Leadership Program; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.

This Contract is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 2022 Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) grant to provide Fire Officer 2 education to members of the Greater Flagstaff Regional Partners. There are various intergovernmental agreements that provides for partner participation in this education.

The contract is funded through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The grant award is in the amount of $615,293.09 (90%), and the match is $61,529.31 (10%). The $61,529.31 (10%) match will be split between all of the partnering agencies.  

The Budget team has approved the 10% match, and regional partners are in agreement as well. The cost shared by all for this purchase is $61,529.31. This grant is budgeted in the General Fund, Fire Grant Section for $450,000 (account number 001-03-052-6297-2-4290).

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives
Be an employer of choice through inclusive recruitment & by providing employees with the necessary tools, training, support & compensation

Carbon Neutrality Plan
HS-3 Adequately fund services for disaster preparedness.

Regional Plan
Goal PF.3. Provide high-quality emergency response and public safety services including law enforcement, fire, medical,
and ambulance transport service.

On August 28, 2023, the City Council approved the Grant Agreement from the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program. On November 7, 2023, authorization to expend grant funds and for the Greater Flagstaff Regional Partners to participate in regional training of emergency services personnel was agreed upon.

The training offered under this Contract would provide Greater Flagstaff Regional Partners training with Blue Card, Fire Officer 1, and allow for Fire Officer 2 to be added while attending in town. Currently, if Greater Flagstaff Regional Partners membership attempted to get Fire Officer 2 certified (which is only one component of this training) they would have to travel out-of-state. Between per diem, travel, and lodging costs (TLM), and paying an average of $1,650 per student for out-of-state tuition, the total estimated cost would be $216,150. It is more financially beneficial to the City for this $184,899 Contract that will cover bringing the instructors to Flagstaff; include their TLM, expertise, one-on-one coaching, access to all their materials for current and future trainings. By having eight (8) train-the-trainers available to the Greater Flagstaff Regional Partners, there will be savings on all future costs associated with members wanting to become certified through this specific training method.    

Purchasing staff reviewed and approved the purchase as a sole source. The training provided is a customized training designed for the City of Flagstaff Fire Division's specific training needs and is only available through Brian Martin Crandell (aka Crandell Research Solutions).

All of the Greater Flagstaff Regional Partners' Fire Officers will be trained to a Fire Officer 2 level increasing safety and management capability of difficult in situations emergency and nonemergency events.