To: Board of Directors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Purchase Order for Portable Radios
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent to execute, on behalf of the Fire Chief, a purchase order with Red Cloud, in an amount not to exceed $205,000, for the purchase of fifteen (15) portable radios.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This expenditure will be 70% funded by the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and the remaining 30% balance will be funded by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District's General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
On October 27, 2019, Contra Costa County experienced a significant wind event leading to several wildland fires and dozens of wind-related incidents in rapid succession. All in all, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CCCFPD) recalled or held over 100 firefighters and staffed 21 additional fire engines (over minimum staffing). These unprecedented actions saved lives and property. One of the findings in the after-action review was a determination that there was a shortage of portable radios for upstaffing due to disaster response activities. These additional portable radios will need to operate on the East Bay Regional Communications System (EBRCS).
On February 4, 2020, the CCCFPD Board of Directors authorized the Fire Chief, or designee, to apply for and accept grant funding in an amount not to exceed $141,600 for the purchase of portable radios. CCCFPD has successfully obtained the grant funding.
This action authorizes the purchase of a cache of additional portable radios for engines that are upstaffed during disaster response activities, thus providing seamless communications across all incidents within the County.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Firefighters using radios that do not operate on the EBRCS system may not have access to communications for all incidents that may occur in the region.
I hereby certify that this is a true and...
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