TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Beth Beatty, City Manager
SUBJECT:
title
Purchase of Firefighter Turnout Gear from Air One Equipment, Inc. for the Years 2025 - 2027
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Joliet Fire Department outfits each department member with firefighter turnout gear. The City replaces the gear if it is beyond repair due to normal wear and tear, or the gear reaches its useful lifespan of ten years. The approved 2024 budget includes the purchase of forty sets of turnout gear.
The Fire Department currently utilizes Globe through its local vendor, Air One Equipment, Inc. The Fire Department has been using Air One Equipment, Inc. since 2020. The gear from Air One Equipment, Inc. meets specification requirements and has been well received by Fire Department personnel with no issues or concerns. In an effort to standardize the Fire Department’s equipment and provide turnout gear that personnel feel comfortable and confident while wearing, the Fire Department is requesting that Air One Equipment, Inc. furnish the turnout gear once again.
The Public Safety Committee will review this matter.
CONCLUSION:
Air One Equipment, Inc. is a long-time vendor of the City of Joliet. Sourcewell pricing will be utilized to secure pricing, as shown below. The Sourcewell contract, which is nationally bid, is 37% off the list price. HGAC Buy is another nationwide cooperative. The prices listed below are the 2024 pricing using the current list price, Sourcewell, and HGAC Buy (cooperative purchasing). There is no current pricing for these resources for 2025 as of yet.
Prices listed are for a Bunker Coat and Bunker Pants for 2024:
Sourcewell Price HGAC Buy Current List Price
Bunker Coat: $2,314.43 Bunker Coat: $3,275.13 Bunker Coat: $4,366.84
Bunker Pant: $1,826.07 Bunker Pant: $2,584.07 Bunker Pant: $3,445.52
Total Both: $4,140.05 Total Both: $5,859.20 Total Both: $7,812.26
Air One Equipment, Inc. has negotiated an Agreement with Globe that the City of Joliet will receive no more than a 5% increase for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027. At this time, forty sets of turnout gear are needed.
The Total for Bunker Coats and Pants for 2025, 2026, and 2027 are as follows:
Bunker Coat Bunker Pants Total for Both Total for 40 sets
2025 $2,022.00 $1,599.00 $3,621.00 $144,840.00
2026 $2,125.00 $1,680.00 $3,805.00 $152,200.00
2027 $2,235.00 $1,765.00 $4,000.00 $160,000.00
Section 2-438 of the City of Joliet Code of Ordinances states that purchases whose estimated cost is in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be awarded without written specifications or under certain circumstances. One (1) of these circumstances apply:
(f) Purchases when authorized by a concurring vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Mayor and City Council.
Sufficient funds have been requested in the 2025 budget to purchase forty sets of turnout gear in the Fire Department Administrative/Uniforms Fund (Org 07001000, Obj 536109, $144,840.00). Funds will also be requested in the 2026 and 2027 budgets.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council authorize the following:
1. Approve the purchase of forty sets of firefighter turnout gear from Air One Equipment, Inc. for 2025 at $3,621.00 per set, for a total of $144,840.00.
2. Approve the purchase of forty sets of firefighter turnout gear from Air One Equipment, Inc. for 2026 at $3,805.00 per set, for a total of $152,200.00.
3. Approve the purchase of forty sets of firefighter turnout gear from Air One Equipment, Inc. for 2027 at $4,000.00 per set, for a total of $160,000.00.
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