Council approves sole-source contract for new fire training facility with Taylor Systems

Deputy Chief Bill DeRider explained the city's plan for a new fire training facility built from modified shipping containers and recommended sole-sourcing fabrication to Taylor Systems LLC (referred to in the transcript as Taylor Canisters/Systems). He said the new facility will integrate multiple training props (ventilation, forcible entry, garage-door, burn room) into a compact footprint, mirror modern apartment/residential construction for realistic training and offer lower maintenance compared with some alternatives. DeRider said the facility will supplement, not replace, the existing five-story training tower built as part of a 2005 bond project and that the new prop would be ready for use by next October.

A councilmember moved to declare that only one vendor was reasonably available and to award the contract to Taylor Systems LLC in the amount of $373,820. The motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote recorded in the transcript as affirmative by English, Wood, Gabriel, Evans and Miller; the motion carried.

Council members praised the utility of updated training facilities and thanked voters for support of the bond measures that funded prior training assets. Staff noted the procurement was being processed under the cited Idaho procurement code language (the transcript references Idaho code 67-2808 subsection 2) when discussing sole-source justification.