Council approves new fire-department air packs, rejects lower bid as nonresponsive

Summary

After reviewing two quotes for 35 self-contained breathing apparatus packs, council rejected a lower Draeger quote as nonresponsive and approved the supplier matching existing Scott-brand equipment to maintain compatibility and safety; costs discussed were approximately $274,008.61 for the Scott quote and about $270,008 for the Draeger quote.

The borough council voted to purchase 35 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) packs for the fire department and to reject a lower bid that staff said did not meet bid specifications.

Council reviewed two quotes: a Scott-brand package quoted at about $274,008.61 and a Draeger quote at roughly $270,008.00. Fire and operations staff recommended staying with the Scott-compatible equipment now in use, saying compatibility reduces retrofit and long-term replacement costs for fittings and fill-station gear. "We prefer Scott. It's reliable. It's trustworthy, and we feel safe wearing them," one fire staff member said.

Council members noted that if the lower-priced vendor did not meet the specifications, the borough was justified in rejecting that bid. The council voted to reject the lower Draeger/Gregor quote as nonresponsive and to proceed with the Scott (MES) quote by voice vote.

The council directed staff to finalize contract details and return with payment authorization. The purchase is funded in part by CDBG resources cited elsewhere in the meeting packet and will be completed according to the vendor proposal.