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Whitestown Fire Board approves SCBA replacement, cites $213,000 savings using Sourcewell contract
Summary
The Whitestown Fire Board voted to approve a near-$420,000 purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) using Sourcewell pricing, with town capital funds identified as the source and a trade-in allowance noted.
The Town of Whitestown Fire Board voted to approve a purchase proposal to replace the department's self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), adopting a purchase amount set near $420,000 and identifying town capital funds as the source for the purchase.
The board approved the proposal unanimously. The chief told the board the Sourcewell contract price for the SCBA package was $419,309 and that buying through Sourcewell produced roughly $213,000 in savings compared with list pricing the department had seen. The proposal included a $35,000 trade-in allowance for the department's existing units and a package of components including face pieces, buddy-breathing fittings and monitoring software. The chief said the vendor quote expiresFeb. 13 and stressed the time-sensitive nature of the pricing.
Board members discussed equipment life and interoperability. The chief said the department's current packs dated to 02/2015 — roughly nine to 10 years old — and that maintenance issues had increased, with multiple packs returned for repairs and leaks. The chief also said the town currently cannot use “buddy breathing” with neighboring departments because the older models are incompatible with newer equipment. He described improvements in the new systems, including lighter weight and improved field of vision in masks.
Dan Patterson (chair) and other board members asked technical questions about service life, hydrostatic testing intervals and telemetry functionality for the pack monitors. The chief said SCBA assemblies have a 15-year design life subject to NFPA versioning caveats and noted the importance of staying on current technology for safety and mutual-aid compatibility.
The motion before the board was to approve the SCBA purchase proposal with an amount stated in discussion as not to exceed roughly $420,000. The motion passed unanimously, recorded as five votes in favor and no votes opposed. The chief and town staff said the purchase would be funded from town capital funds.
The board recorded the action as an approval to proceed to purchase under the Sourcewell pricing. The chief and staff said they would move quickly because vendor quotes have short expiration windows.
The board adjourned after final business.
