HomeMy WebLinkAboutcover memoTO
FROM
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Honorable Ma �.
M ers of a C' Comm' . sion
CA,
iola
Administrator/City Manager
DATE
SUBJECT:
REFERENCES:
SEP 10 2004
FILE : FM•049.doc
Sole Source Purchase: Westnet
Alerting System; Department of
Fire -Rescue
ENCLOSURES: Resolution, Contract
B-72806
RECOMMENDATION
It is respectfully recommended that the City Commission adopt the attached Resolution ratifying,
approving, and confirming the City Manager's finding of sole source, waiving the requirements
for competitive sealed bids and authorizing the procurement and installation of a First -In Fire
Station Alerting System, including upgrade for Fire Station No. 3 and one year maintenance and
support services from Westnet, Inc., a Non-Local/Non-Minority vendor, located at 16581 Burke
Lane, Huntington . Beach, CA 92647, the sole source provider, for the Department of Fire -
Rescue.
The Resolution further authorizes the City Manager to execute a Services Agreement, in
substantially the attached form (s), with Westnet, Inc., setting forth the terms and conditions
concerning the purchase and installation of said fire station alerting system, at an estimated cost
of $1,065,536.65, with a contingency reserve of $159,830.50, for a total amount not to exceed
$1,225,367.15, on a contract basis for one (1) year, until there is successful implementation and a
fully operational First -In Fire Station Alerting System throughout the remaining fire stations.
Funding for this acquisition is available from the Capital Improvements Project ("CIP") Nos.
313303 and/or 313302, Account Code No. 289401.6.840, B-72806, Entitled "Fire Station
Alerting & RMS." (Funded by the Fire Assessment Fee and FEMA Assistance to Firefighters
Grant Award Fiscal Year 2003).
BACKGROUND
On July 20, 2000, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 00-605 as a sole source which
authorized and approved the acquisition and installation of a First -In Fire Station Alerting
System from Westnet, Inc., the sole source provider, for an initial period of one-year, in a total
contract amount not to exceed $30,000. This alarm communication system was installed in only
one Fire Station for initial testing to ensure that it meets all necessary requirements and
expectations of the City of Miami prior to installation at the remaining fire stations.
Honorable Mayor and
Members of the City Commission
Page 2 of 2
As a result, the Westnet First -In Fire Station Alerting System has proven to minimize emergency
response time and enhanced the firefighters' safe response within the fire station by means of a
low level lighting system, which reduces eyestrain and night blindness while permitting safe
passage to the response vehicle. The Westnet system is set by the firefighter to alert him/her only
when the apparatus they are assigned to has an alarm. This alert system further optimizes the
response scenario by using audio and visual cues, which decrease reaction time with a
corresponding decrease response time. An additional benefit is that Westnet is linked to the
Computer Aided Dispatch ("CAD") System, which automatically notifies the fire stations.
Under the current system, dispatchers receive the information, enter it into the CAD system and
then notify the stations manually. The timesaving of the Westnet system is significant in that.
automatic notification eliminates any potential communication delays, thus streamlining the
method of deploying firefighters and apparatus and thereby shortening response time.
After successful implementation of the Westnet alarm system, the Department of Fire -Rescue is
seeking to acquire the Westnet First -In Fire Station Alerting System to be installed throughout
the remaining fire stations.
Pursuant to Ordinance No. 12469, adopted January 8, 2004, the proposed aforementioned alarm
system is in accordance with said grant and is funded by the FEMA Assistant to Firefighters
Grant Award (FY 2003) and the Capital Improvements Project No. 313303.
Based on the above, I respectfully recommend that the City Commission ratify the City
Manager's finding of sole source and authorize the acquisition and installation of the Westnet
First -In Fire Station Alerting System; further authorizing the City Manager to execute the
Services Agreement with Westnet, Inc., the sole source provider.
Fiscal Impact: None — Funded by FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Award (FY 2003)
and the Fire Assessment Fee.
JAI r / LK/TF/'a am
FM.049.doc