To: Board of Supervisors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Dispatch Furniture Consoles - Russ Bassett Corp.
☒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, on behalf of the Fire District, a Participating Addendum with Russ Bassett, Corp., in an amount not to exceed $750,000, for the purchase of dispatch furniture in conjunction with a previously approved board order (24-2169) for console radios and sixteen mobile backup radios all required for the new fire communications center, during the period of December 17, 2024 through June 30, 2025, under the terms of the Master Contract awarded by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC).
FISCAL IMPACT:
Budgeted. 100% CCCFPD EMS Transport Fund
BACKGROUND:
This purchase agreement is being executed pursuant to the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) cooperative purchasing contract #EC07-23 in an amount not to exceed $750,000. The purchase agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the H-GAC 9-1-1 Equipment & Emergency Notification Software & Services Agreement. The Board previously approved the purchase of the necessary console radios and 16 mobile backup radios in a prior agenda item (24-2169) that will be installed in the furniture being purchased under this action.
As the fire district has initiated a major project to establish a new fire communications center in an existing building at 2010 Geary Road. This new center will feature 16 dispatch positions, an increase from the current thirteen positions. The additional dispatch consoles are necessary due to the fire district's ongoing rise in call volume, the addition of new dispatch services (Contra Costa County A3 program), and potential future staffing increases within the communications center. The construction contract intentionally excluded dispatch furniture consoles with the understanding that the fire district would provide these. Therefore, the new fire communications center will require the acquisition of 16 new dispatch furniture consoles.
After extensive research conducted by the fire district’s communications staff and the district’s information technology consultant, in collaboration with the project architect, it was determined that the dispatch furniture consoles designed and manufactured by Russ Bassett in Los Angeles are the best fit for this project. The consoles from Russ Bassett meet the project's overall requirements, including cost, functionality, ergonomic adjustments for dispatchers, adjustable focal lengths for display monitors, console-specific task lighting, and dedicated heating and air conditioning. They are also designed for easy serviceability by the fire district's telecommunications and information services staff.
The proposed Russ Bassett dispatch furniture consoles are competitively priced and available for purchase by the District through the H-GAC cooperative purchasing contract #EC07-23.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the Contra Costa County Regional Fire Communications Center (CCRFCC) must identify an alternate method for procuring this equipment. This could lead to delays in the project and cost impacts.