Hobbs approves purchase of new Scott Vision C5 face pieces and regulators for fire department

The Hobbs City Commission on a unanimous vote approved an HGAC contract to buy 85 Scott Vision C5 face pieces and 73 EZ Flow C5 quick-connect regulators for the Hobbs Fire Department, City Fire Chief Mark DePorto said. The purchase, through an HGAC cooperative contract with MES, totals $183,792.38 and was budgeted in this fiscal year from fire funds.
DePorto told the commission the department’s previous masks and regulators were purchased 12 years ago and are at end of life for warranties and maintenance. He described the Scott Vision C5 as offering wider peripheral vision, bone-conduction audio and integrated microphones and Bluetooth capabilities compatible with the department’s Scott air packs. “It has a bone conduction headphone, automated voice prompts, and integrated volume switch,” DePorto said, adding those features can provide visual and audio exit prompts for firefighters inside structures.
The purchase was moved by Commissioner Calderon and seconded by Commissioner Mills. Miss Fletcher called the vote: Commissioners Smith, Mills, Fields, Calderon and Girth and Mayor Cobb all voted yes; the motion passed.
The chief said the new components will replace aging equipment and argued compatibility with the existing air packs will simplify deployment across engines and ladders. The commission did not attach further conditions to the purchase; DePorto said the contract vehicle guarantees the vendor price point under the HGAC agreement.
The commission’s approval authorizes the city to complete the purchase and proceed with procurement under the HGAC contract. No delivery schedule was given during the presentation.