To: Board of Supervisors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Purchase of Chainsaws, Circular Saws and Parts for CCCFPD’s Wildland/Saw Program through a Sourcewell Participating Addendum
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Acting as the governing board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to execute a Participating Addendum for Stihl Incorporated, subject to the terms and conditions of the Sourcewell Services Master Agreement #112624, in an amount not to exceed $250,000 for the purchase of chainsaws, circular saws, parts, and other supplies as needed for the Fire District’s Wildland/Saw Program, for the period February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2029.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Budgeted. 100% CCCFPD General Operating Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Fire District’s Wildland/Saw Program provides essential tools and equipment for vegetation management, structure protection, and fire suppression. Chainsaws and circular saws are critical for cutting fire lines, clearing access routes, and performing rescue operations during emergencies.
The District previously acquired these tools and parts through an existing Blanket Purchase Order (032327) with Furber Saw, Inc., a local vendor in Martinez, CA. This vendor is no longer in business, thus the District needs to change its procurement.
Several fire stations currently operate saws that have exceeded their recommended service life, resulting in increased maintenance requirements and downtime. As part of the Fire District’s annual equipment replacement cycle, these aging tools will be replaced to ensure consistent reliability and performance across all operational stations.
Procurement through the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing agreement with Stihl enables the Fire District to standardize its equipment, streamline maintenance and training, and secure competitive pricing without a separate bid process. This purchase will ensure that each station maintains a full complement of functional, safe, and dependable saws to support daily operations and large-scale wildland fire response.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without this action, the Fire District will be required to identify alternative means of acquiring saw tools and parts.