Consideration and Approval of Contract:  Cooperative Purchase Contract with LN Curtis & Sons for the purchase of specialized fire and safety equipment not to exceed $200,000 per budget year.

1. Approve the Cooperative Purchase Contract with LN Curtis & Sons for the purchase of specialized fire and safety equipment not to exceed $200,000 per budget year; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.

This would allow the Flagstaff Fire Department to purchase necessary specialized fire and safety equipment through LN Curtis & Sons by utilizing cooperative agreements or GSA type pricing when more than $50,000 of products are being purchased without having to take each purchase to City Council. The current timelines make it very hard to purchase needed safety equipment to ensure operational services are not delayed. The equipment the Flagstaff Fire Department is purchasing is typically a very specialized type or would be a replacement to match existing equipment for familiarity.

The Flagstaff Fire Department would only purchase equipment that is within the approved budget any given year. Utilizing the Cooperative Purchase Contract will allow the Flagstaff Fire Department to obtain better pricing through the underlying cooperative purchase contract.

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives
Safe and Healthy Community

Regional Plan
Goal PF.3. Provide high-quality emergency response and public safety services including law enforcement, fire, medical, and ambulance transport service. 
Policy PF.3.1. Maintain high-quality effectiveness and efficiency in law enforcement, fire, and emergency services to the extent that is consistent with governmental operations, plans, public policies, population served, and monies available.

N/A

1. Adopt the Cooperative Purchase Contract with LN Curtis & Sons not to exceed $200,000 per budget year; or
2. Direct the Flagstaff Fire Department to solicit and purchase each piece of specialized fire and safety equipment.

When equipment is needed in bulk for academies, updates, or replacement purposes, the Flagstaff Fire Department would have to add 1-3 months by having each purchase over $50,000 come before City Council for approval. 

City Purchasing Staff found that LN Curtis & Sons has a cooperative purchase contract as part of their Government Services Agreement #47QSWA18D009Y with the U.S. General Services (“GSA”) to supply materials. The City will be utilizing this cooperative purchase contract to ensure the best pricing when the Fire Department purchases important equipment. The Cooperative Purchase Contract will be valid for as long as the GSA contract is valid which will allow the Flagstaff Fire Department purchase as need arises.

Recently, the Flagstaff Fire Department held a regional hiring and 12-week academy process. Due to very tight timelines and a four-month hiring process, potential hires are met one month prior to an academy starting to receive measurements for specific sizing of numerous types of specialized equipment. Each piece of equipment is then special ordered. These orders are then put on a fast track for build out and even with this process, the Flagstaff Fire Department is pushing the process to get the equipment to new recruits before mid-academy. By allowing the Cooperative Purchase Contract, the Flagstaff Fire Department will speed up the process by not having to take orders for specialized fire and safety equipment over $50,000 to City Council for approval.

The Flagstaff Fire Department works to ensure that they are receiving the best pricing through the use of cooperative purchase contracts whenever possible.