HomeMy WebLinkAboutmemosSEP-14-2004 18:51
CITY MANAGERS OFFICE 305 416 1019 P.02
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
7O ' Joe Arriola
Chief Administrator/City Manager
FROM,
ireetor
nt Officer
DATE
SUBJECT:
REFERENCES
ENOL08URSS:
August 18, 2004
Acquisition of First -In® Fire Station
Alerting System
An r "lotion was conducted by staff to determine whether Westnet, Inc., a Non-Minority/Non-Looa1 vendor,
located at 16581 Burke Lane, Huntington Beach, C. 92647, is the sole source provider for the purchase and
installation of the First -In® Fire Station Alerting System ("Alerting System"), for the Department of Fire -Rescue,
on a contract basis for one (1) year, or until there is successful implementation and a Rally operational System
throughout the remaining tire stations.
On July 20, 2000, following a sole source finding by the Chief Procurement Officer and City Manager, the City
Commission adopted Resolution No. 00.605 as a sole source, which authorized and approved the acquisition and
installation of the First -In® Fire Station Alerting System from Weetnott Inc., the sole source provider, for an
amount not to exceed $30,000, on a trial basis for Fire Station No. 3.
Following sucoessful implementation of the Alerting System at Fire Station No. 3, the Department orFire.Rescue
at this time is seeking authorization to acquire and execute a Service Agreement for the purohase and installation
of said Alerting System throughout the remaining stations, and to upgrade Fire Station No. 3. The Alerting
System proved to minimize emergency response time, and enhanced the firefighters' safe response within the fire
station. This Alerting System is set by the Firefighter to alert himlher only when the apparatus they are assigned
to has an alarm. It is further linked to the Computer Aided Dispatch ("CAD") System, which automatically
notifies the fire atations rather than being notified on a manual basic. The First -Inds Fire Station Alerting System
eliminates any potential communication delays, and streamlines the method of deploying firefighters and
apparatus, thereby shortening response time.
According to Westnet, Inc., its system is unique and contains response and safety features not found on other
systems. It is the inventor, manufacturer, and sole provider of its system, and holds the patents grid registered
intellectual property rights. Staff was unable to locate any other systema with the same unique features.
Therefore, I am recommending that the requirements for formal competitive sealed bidding be waived, and these
findings be approved: Westnet, Inc., a Non-Minority/Non-Local vendor, located at 1658I Burke Lane,
Huntington Beach, Ca. 92647, is the solo source provider for the purchase and installation of the First -In® Fire
Station Alerting System, on a contract basis for ono (1) year, or until there is successful implementation and a
folly operational System throughout the rernitining fire stations and the upgrade of Station No. 3. Funding, at an
estimated post of $1,065,536.65, with a contingency reserve of 5159,830.50, for a total amount not to exceed
$1,225,367.15, is available fiom the Capital Improve ante Project ("OP") Nos, 313303 and/or 313302, Account
Coda No. 289401.6.840, B-72806, Euti "Fire S Alerting & RMS." (Funded by the Fire Assessment Fee
and FEMA Assistance to 'refighters r Award is el Year 2003).
APPROVED BY: 6
DATE:
JA/LMH/GM/PE13
Joe thole
Chic Administrator/City Manager
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
Glenn Marcos, Director
Department of Purchasing
elf
Chief William W. Bryson, Director
14
Department of Fire -Rescue
DATE :
August 3, 2004 FILE :FM-050.doc
SUBJECT : Request Sole Source finding;
Westnet Alerting System;
Fire -Rescue
REFERENCES:
ENCLOSURES:
This memorandum serves to request that you approve a finding that Westnet, Inc., located at 16581
Burke Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, is the sole source provider for a First -In Fire Station Alerting
System utilized by the Department of Fire -Rescue at Fire Station No. 3 and originally acquired from
Westnet, Inc.
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
a the remaining fire stations.
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 journey to the
response vehicle. The Westnet First -In Alerting System is the first such system that obviates the need
for station firefighters to constantly move gear and equipment from one area in the station to another
when responding to an alarm. In an emergency unit, rapid response time is of the essence and the time
and motion expended in equipment transfers prior to leaving the station, is time wasted and potentially
life -threatening. 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 received 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.
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 Ca•'tal Improvements Project No. 313303.
Approved:
WWBIMLK/T
FM.050.doc
rchasing Director
Date:
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO : Glenn Marcos, Director
Chief Procurement Officer
FRO
amela Bums, CPPB
Sr. Procurement Contracts Officer
DATE :
SUBJECT:
REFERENCES:
ENCLOSURES:
August 18, 2004
FILE :
Acquisition of First -In® Fire Station
Alerting System
I conducted an investigation to determine whether Westnet, Inc., a Non-Minority/Non-Local vendor, located at
16581 Burke Lane, Huntington Beach, Ca. 92647, is the sole source provider for the purchase and installation of
the First -In® Fire Station Alerting System ("Alerting System"), for the Department of Fire -Rescue, on a contract
basis for one (1) year, or until there is successful implementation and a fully operational System throughout the
remaining fire stations.
On July 20, 2000, following a sole source finding by the Chief Procurement Officer and City Manager, the City
Commission adopted Resolution No. 00-605 as a sole source, which authorized and approved the acquisition and
installation of the First -In® Fire Station Alerting System from Westnet, Inc., the sole source provider, for an
amount not to exceed $30,000, on a trial basis for Fire Station No. 3.
Following successful implementation of the Alerting System at Fire Station No. 3, the Department of Fire -Rescue
at this time is seeking authorization to acquire and execute a Service Agreement for the purchase and installation
of said Alerting System throughout the remaining stations, and to upgrade Fire Station No. 3. The Alerting
System proved to minimize emergency response time, and enhanced the firefighters' safe response within the fire
station. This Alerting System is set by the firefighter to alert him/her only when the apparatus they are assigned
to has an alarm. It is further linked to the Computer Aided Dispatch ("CAD") System, which automatically
notifies the fire stations rather than being notified on a manual basis. The First -In® Fire Station Alerting System
eliminates any potential communication delays, and streamlines the method of deploying firefighters and
apparatus, thereby shortening response time.
According to Westnet, Inc., its system is unique and contains response and safety features not found on other
systems. It is the inventor, manufacturer, and sole provider of its system, and holds the patents and registered
intellectual property rights. Staff was unable to locate any other systems with the same unique features.
Therefore, I am recommending that the requirements for formal competitive sealed bidding be waived, and these
findings be approved: Westnet, Inc., a Non-Minority/Non-Local vendor, located at 16581 Burke Lan;
Huntington Beach, Ca. 92647, is the sole source provider for the purchase and installation of the First -In® Fire
Station Alerting System, on a contract basis for one (1) year, or until there is successful implementation and a
fully operational System throughout the remaining fire stations and the upgrade of Station No. 3. Funding, 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, 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).
APPROVED BY:
, CPPB
nt Officer