DEPARTMENT: Fire
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Professional Services Contract - Hazard Zone Incident Commander Certification
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with Across the Street Productions to provide a web based incident command training system (Blue Card) for the San Antonio Fire Department for a period of three (3) years with two (2) additional one-year options to renew for an estimated annual amount of $149,220.00. Funding for FY 2019 is available in the FY 2019 General Fund Budget with additional funding for future fiscal years subject to the appropriation of funds.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Submitted for City Council consideration and action is a contract with Across the Street Productions to provide a web based on line training system (Blue Card) for the San Antonio Fire Department. The State Fire Marshal’s report had 11 findings and recommendations concerning the Line of Duty Death of firefighter Scott Deem. Out of the 11 recommendations 9 can be addressed through the implementation of the Blue Card program. Prior to the Blue Card program, the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) had no formal education and training concerning incident command. SAFD has a requirement to have members take National Incident Management System (NIMS) training courses; however, these courses do not prepare an incident commander to assume command of a fast-moving emergency at the local government level.
Blue Card addresses this deficiency head on through online interactive scenario training as well as in the 4-day course in which all participants will be required to sit in the different command positions. Each student is evaluated in the role of the initial arriving Incident Commander (E-1 officer) and as the second arriving Incident Commander (BC-1 response chief) during the evaluation process. The student will have to fill both of the Incident Commander rolls for each of the programs 5 basic building types. The 5 basic building types are: residential, multi-unit residential, strip malls, commercial buildings, and big box structures. By the end of the course, participants are more prepared and confident to take command of fires and emergency situations. The Blue Card program also comes with Standard Operating Guidelines to ensure consistency in regards to fire-ground organization, terminology, methodology, as well as tactics and strategies concerning dangerous occupancies like high-rise and commercial fires.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with Across the Street Productions to provide a training and certification solution that teaches Incident Commanders and other officers how to standardize local incident operations using a combination of online and in-class simulation training.
The Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) Ordinance requirements were waived due to the lack of small, minority, and/or women businesses available to provide these goods and services.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this contract not be awarded, the City will not have a consolidated source of training as required by the State Fire Marshall findings from the recent LODD review.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with Across the Street Productions to provide a web based incident command training system (Blue Card) for the San Antonio Fire Department for a period of three (3) years with two (2) additional one-year options to renew for an estimated annual amount of $149,220.00. Funding for FY 2019 is available in the FY 2019 General Fund Budget with additional funding for future fiscal years subject to the appropriation of funds.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of the contract with Across the Street Productions to provide SAFD with Hazard Zone Incident Commander Certification training. The initial term of the agreement shall be for a period of three (3) years with two (2) additional one-year options to renew.