Agenda Item Wording:
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Fire Department personal protective equipment (PPE) contract - Authorize the City Manager to enter a one-year contract with All Star Fire Equipment for structural firefighting turnout gear in an amount not to exceed $120,000 annually, with four additional one-year options to renew.
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Agenda Date: 07/20/2026
Prepared by: Dan Griswold, Fire Chief dan.griswold@visalia.gov, 713-4220; Shaun Spradling, Fire Captain shaun.spradling@visalia.gov, 713-4239; Cris Balderama, Senior Administrative Analyst crissy.balderama@visalia.gov, 713-4513
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter a one-year contract with All Star Fire Equipment Inc. for structural firefighting turnout gear in an amount not to exceed $120,000 annually, with four additional one-year options to renew, for RFB 25-26-20.
Summary:
The City of Visalia issued request for bid (RFB) 25-26-20 for structural firefighting turnout gear. The bid solicitation closed on June 11, 2026, and the City received two responsive bids.
All Star Fire Equipment Inc. submitted the lowest responsive and responsible bid at a total cost of $3,819.96 per turnout gear set. The second bid was submitted by MES Service Company, LLC at a total cost of $4,097.60 per turnout gear set. Based on bid pricing, responsiveness, and compliance with bid specifications, staff recommends award of the contract to All Star Fire Equipment Inc.
During Fiscal Year 2025/26, the Fire Department purchased approximately 31 turnout gear sets. Purchasing thirty-one sets of turnout gear is an abnormally high amount for one year and includes replacements for current personnel and initial gear for new recruits Based on the awarded unit pricing, and anticipated and potential staffing and replacement needs, staff recommends establishing an annual contract authority of up to $120,000. This amount is expected to adequately support turnout gear replacement for existing personnel as well as purchases for future recruit firefighter paramedic academies.
Background Discussion:
The Fire Department provides structural firefighting protective clothing to all suppression personnel. Structural firefighting turnout gear is a critical component of firefighter safety and is required to meet current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for protection against thermal exposure, moisture intrusion, and other hazards encountered during emergency operations. Turnout gear has a service life of ten years from the date of manufacture. Each firefighter is assigned two sets of gear. The second set is available when gear becomes contaminated, and decontamination is required before further use or when the gear is damaged and requires repair. Each set of turnout gear is inspected to NFPA specifications and Cal Osha requirements twice a year by fire department personnel trained in advanced inspection. Repair for turnout gear is required to be completed by an authorized repair facility requiring the gear to be shipped to a company out of the area.
The Department currently utilizes the LION V-Force turnout gear system and solicited bids for the continued purchase of turnout coats and pants to maintain consistency in firefighter safety equipment, training, maintenance, and operational performance. The Department's turnout gear configuration includes standardized features such as the bi-swing coat design, integrated Drag Rescue Device (DRD), magnetic storm flap closures, radio and microphone pocket placement, and collar-to-liner interface system. These components function as a coordinated system and are integrated into firefighter training and emergency operations.
Firefighters frequently operate in zero-visibility environments and rely on muscle memory to locate equipment, deploy rescue devices, and operate closures and interfaces while wearing gloves. Consistency in turnout gear design helps reduce hesitation during emergency operations, including firefighter rescue and MAYDAY incidents. Additionally, maintaining a standardized turnout gear platform reduces training requirements, supports existing inspection and maintenance procedures, and minimizes long-term lifecycle costs.
The Fire Department previously utilized turnout gear manufactured by another manufacturer and experienced increased repair frequency, component failures, and early retirement of gear. After transitioning to the LION turnout system, the personnel observed improved durability and reduced repair needs while maintaining compatibility with existing operational procedures.
Turnout gear is purchased and issued to newly hired personnel and purchased to replace gear that has reached the end of its service life or if the gear fails advanced inspection due to the condition no longer complying with applicable safety standards. The proposed annual contract will provide the Fire Department with a reliable source for turnout gear purchases when replacements are necessary. Based on historical purchasing activity, the requested annual contract amount is sufficient to support both existing personnel and future recruit firefighter paramedic hires.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs: Funding for turnout gear purchases for existing personnel is included in the Council-approved Fire Department operating budget. Turnout gear purchases for recruit firefighter paramedic positions will be funded through salary savings associated with vacant positions. The proposed contract establishes a not-to-exceed annual purchasing authority of $120,000 for an initial one-year term, with four additional one-year renewal options, for a potential total contract value not to exceed $600,000 over five years.
Prior Council Action: N/A
Alternatives:
1. Authorize the contract as recommended.
2. Reject all bids and direct staff to rebid the project.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
I move to authorize the City Manager to enter a one-year contract with All Star Fire Equipment for structural firefighting turnout gear in an amount not to exceed $120,000 annually, with four additional one-year options to renew.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 07/20/2026
Attachments:
1. RFB 25-26-20 Structural Firefighting Turnout Gear.
2. All Star Fire Equipment, Inc. Bid Proposal.
3. MES Service Company, LLC Bid Proposal.
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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