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DATE: |
May 24, 2022 |
03 |
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TO: |
Board of Supervisors |
SUBJECT
Title
SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE - REQUEST FOR SINGLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT OF FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION (CAL FIRE) (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
Over the past two decades, the Board of Supervisors (Board) has taken a series of important actions to improve fire protection and emergency medical services in the unincorporated areas of the county. On September 20, 2005 (1), the Board approved the negotiation and award of contracts with existing fire service entities in order to establish year-round fire protection and emergency response services in areas where services were lacking. This effort included a contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). This agreement allowed CAL FIRE to provide fire protection and emergency medical services on behalf of the County and integrate career and volunteer-reserve firefighters into one system of responders.
The County’s current contract with CAL FIRE was approved by the Board on June 21, 2016 (5), effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022. Since the implementation of the current contract, San Diego County Fire (County Fire) has more than doubled in size while increasing the number of first responder personnel, the number of career-staffed fire stations, and the level of services provided within the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD). This was accomplished through the implementation of a cohesive pre-fire strategy focused on public education, defensible space inspections, structure hardening, fuels management projects and protecting evacuation corridors. The new contract will include service provisions to reflect the expanded fire protection and emergency medical services provided in the SDCFPD and the Board’s commitment to improving fire and emergency response services in the region.
This is a request to authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, to enter into a single source contract or contracts with CAL FIRE for fire protection and emergency medical services and operating goods.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. In accordance with Board Policy A-87, Competitive Procurement, approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting to enter into negotiations with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and subject to successful negotiations and a determination of a fair and reasonable price, award a contract for fire protection and emergency medical services and operating goods, effective July 1, 2022, for up to three years and two option years through June 30, 2027 if needed, and to amend the contract(s) as needed to reflect changes to requirements and funding and to execute any related agreements or documents.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
More than 80 percent of the San Diego County Fire Protection District’s (SDCFPD) jurisdictional area qualifies as a disadvantaged unincorporated community, based on a San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) report on the funding, administration, and performance of the former County Service Area No. 135 (now SDCFPD). San Diego County Fire continues to engage communities through the Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Division, established in 2019. The CRR Division strives to build, enhance, and maintain resilient communities within the SDCFPD’s jurisdictional area through involvement with the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County, various community outreach opportunities, and by promoting local events aimed at creating safe and livable communities to improve the health and quality of life of residents.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 CAO Recommended Operational Plan for San Diego County Fire in the amount of $36,393,306 and San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD) in the amount of $5,727,200. If approved, this request will result in costs and revenue of $42,120,506 in Fiscal Year 2022-23. The funding sources are General Purpose Revenue ($32,869,341), revenue from service agreements ($2,183,365), revenue from Assistance By Hire ($1,000,000), revenue from Wildfire Mitigation Grant ($340,600), revenue from SDCFPD ($3,127,200), and available SDCFPD fund balance ($2,600,000). There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
On April 18, 2022, with four advisory board members being present, the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD) Fire Advisory Board voted unanimously in support of contracting with CAL FIRE for fire protection and emergency medical services on behalf of the County of San Diego.
BACKGROUND
Over the past two decades, the Board of Supervisors (Board) has taken a series of important actions to improve fire protection and emergency medical services in the unincorporated areas of the County. On September 20, 2005 (1), the Board approved the negotiation and award of contracts with existing fire service entities in order to establish year-round fire protection and emergency response services in areas where services were lacking. This effort included a contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). This agreement allowed CAL FIRE to provide fire protection services on behalf of the County and integrate career and volunteer firefighters into one system of responders.
Since the expiration of the original 2005 contract, the Board has approved three additional contracts with CAL FIRE for fire and emergency services, establishing the state agency as a core partner of San Diego County Fire (County Fire) for over 15 years. Together, along with other partner agencies, County Fire delivers high quality, coordinated and effective fire protection and emergency medical response services using an Integrated Cooperative Regional Fire Protection System. On June 21, 2016 (5), the Board approved the negotiation and award of the current CAL FIRE contract, Agreement Number 3CA03182, effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022. The current contract between the County of San Diego and CAL FIRE includes a range of fire protection and emergency medical services. These services include 200 CAL FIRE staff positions that provide emergency fire protection, Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) first responder services, dispatch services, station specific services and staff coverage, in addition to the 84 County Fire personnel.
Since the implementation of the current contract, County Fire has maintained an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 3/3x and increased in size through consolidation of fire services in Pauma Valley and Julian, now delivering fire protection and emergency medical services to 45 communities through 35 fire stations and a fleet of more than 75 fire apparatus. The increase in first responder personnel and career-staffed fire stations has allowed the County to improve the level of services provided to communities through the implementation of a cohesive pre-fire strategy focused on public education, defensible space inspections, structure hardening, fuels management projects and protecting evacuation corridors. Recent fire service improvements and enhancements include three-person CAL FIRE career staffing at all County fire stations and the addition of an ALS paramedic on a fire-rescue helicopter.
In 2018, the County Charter was updated to include the responsibility for fire suppression. Two years later, the extensive growth of the organization led to the reorganization of the governance structure from a County Service Area No. 135 to a fire protection district. On July 7, 2020 (1), the Board approved the necessary actions to form the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD)and on December 7, 2020, the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) finalized its formation. Most recently, the Ramona Municipal Water District filed a proposal with San Diego LAFCO to transfer their fire protection and emergency medical service powers in the Ramona region, which will result in an annexation of approximately 46,005 acres of affected territory to the SDCFPD.
The proposed CAL FIRE contract will include service provisions to reflect the expanded fire protection and emergency medical services provided across the 1.54 million acres of the SDCFPD service area and reflect the Board’s commitment to improving fire protection and emergency medical response services in the region. In addition, a new contract will provide capacity to add staffing and equipment in the event of an increase in the level of service or an expansion of the SDCFPD boundary, such as to include the community of Ramona. If today’s request is approved, a new contract will allow for future decisions that may include adding one new career station per year, if housing and/or commercial development within the SDCFPD warrants a new career-staffed fire station and if funding is available. A new contract would also include the capacity to add operating goods such as nozzles, hoses, fuel, and other firefighting equipment. These enhancements reflect the Board’s commitment to improving fire protection and emergency medical response services, delivered by County Fire, and its partners, to residents in the unincorporated area.
Today’s request will authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting to enter into a single source contract or contracts with CAL FIRE for fire protection and emergency medical services and operating goods.
Justification for Single Source Procurement
In accordance with Board of Supervisors Policy A-87, Competitive Procurement, County Fire requests approval for single source procurement of fire protection and emergency medical services and operating goods from CAL FIRE. There is no alternative agency at the local level that is equipped with the amount and scope of resources of CAL FIRE and capable of providing the level of service needed to ensure community coverage.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to authorize an agreement between the County of San Diego and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for fire protection and emergency medical services and operating goods supports the Community Strategic Initiative in the County of San Diego’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan by supporting safety for all communities by enhancing the delivery of fire protection and emergency medical services throughout the region.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
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