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Redevelopment commission clears RFP to seek 80 kW generator for Whiteland fire station
Summary
The Whiteland Redevelopment Commission voted 5–0 to move forward with an RFP to procure an approximately 80 kW natural‑gas generator and associated electrical upgrades for the fire station, with staff to return next month with a recommendation.
The Whiteland Redevelopment Commission voted unanimously March 14 to begin an RFP process for a new generator and related electrical upgrades at the town’s fire station, aiming to ensure the building can operate as a season‑round emergency shelter during outages.
Staff presented findings from an electrical engineer who inspected the facility and concluded the existing 40 kW generator currently powers less than half the station. The engineer estimated an 80 kW unit would be sufficient to power the entire building, including bays and living quarters, while leaving auxiliary capacity for surrounding needs in a disaster, the presentation said. Armando, the town technical lead who summarized the engineer’s work, said, “for everything to be on generator, this is operating the fire department solely on a generator,” and recommended upgrades to transfer switches and some wiring to tie the new unit into the building’s electrical system.
Commissioners and staff debated fuel type and procurement approach. The meeting record shows the existing generator and proposed unit would use natural gas; participants noted a natural‑gas hookup is in place and that natural gas is preferable for the town’s circumstances. Commissioners stressed serviceability, warranties and lead time when weighing bids. Staff cited an approximate 18‑week backlog for generators and about 23 weeks for automatic transfer switches, which will factor into the RFP schedule.
Legal counsel and staff recommended avoiding brand‑exclusive specifications in the public RFP while requiring bidders to disclose lead times, service plans and warranties. Commissioners agreed the RFP should allow a competitive pool but include clear requirements for responsiveness and responsible performance.
The motion to proceed with an RFP describing an ~80 kW natural‑gas‑capable generator, to be returned for commission approval next month, carried on a 5–0 roll‑call vote. The commission directed staff to include lead‑time and service‑plan information in the RFP and to work with legal counsel on appropriate responsiveness language.
Next steps: staff will draft the RFP, solicit bidders and return to the commission with bid results and a recommendation at the next monthly meeting.
