Board approves sole-source contract and grant support to repair regional burn building

The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 8 adopted two resolutions directing county staff to proceed with repairs at the Rappahannock Regional Fire Training Center’s burn building and to act as the municipal applicant for a Virginia Fire Programs reimbursement grant.

County staff presented a summary of an SRG engineering review that identified structural-integrity, life-safety, and maintenance items at the burn building on Brown School Road. The SRG firm — which staff said has specialized experience with burn-center equipment such as temperature sensors and liners — produced a package the county estimates at about $102,077.25 to address required items.

Because some components and repair methods are proprietary, the board authorized the county administrator to enter a contract with SRG as a sole-source provider under Virginia Code § 2.2-4303(e). The board then voted to support and submit a regional burn-building grant application to the Virginia Fire Programs Board to reimburse the county for the permitted repairs.

County officials emphasized the facility serves multiple Northern Neck volunteer fire departments and that a failure to submit required documentation by Jan. 28 could result in the facility’s being shut down for training. The resolutions passed by voice vote; staff will return with procurement documents and, if the grant is approved, will seek any required supplemental appropriations.

Next steps include finalizing procurement documents, submitting the grant application to the Virginia Fire Programs Board, and coordinating with partner departments across the Northern Neck to secure reimbursement if the grant is awarded.