Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
<br />Memorandum <br />TO: Board of County Commissioners <br />Laura Blackmon, County Manager <br />FROM: Gwen Harvey, Assistant County Manager <br />F. Rojas Montes de Oca, Director, Emergency Services <br />Pam Jones, Director, Purchasing/Central Services <br />RE: Fire/Rescue/ES Study <br />DATE: May 21, 2009 <br />On March 3, 2009 the BOCC adopted a concept plan to break the proposed <br />study into three phases - (1) "Where are We Now", (2) Where Do We Want to <br />Go?", and (3) "How Do We Get There?" The BOCC authorized staff to conduct <br />an informal solicitation of the four qualified technical/research organizations to <br />submit competitive proposals to perform Phase One. <br />Prospective organizations selected on their proven expertise and national stature <br />were: (1) International Association of Fire Chiefs, (2) International City and <br />County Manager's Association Public Safety Services, and (4) Texas A & M <br />University Emergency Services Training Institute. A solicitation letter was issued <br />on March 12; Proposals were due April 10. Only one proposal was received by <br />the due date - the consulting group, ESCI, under the auspices of the <br />International Association of Fire Chiefs. <br />Staff followed up with the other three organizations on their failure to respond to <br />the solicitation and learned their resources were stretched, they were too busy to <br />take on new assignments, and would not be able to meet anticipated timelines. <br />Because a sole bidder does not allow for comparison, choice and negotiation, <br />staff has determined the best next step is to re-bid Phase One in the more <br />traditional manner. This means issuing a broad, open solicitation to for-profit and <br />not-for-profit firms alike using the same scope of work. The one respondent, <br />ESCI, has been notified and informed their proposal will remain open for <br />consideration alongside new responses received. Staff expects to have the <br />project out to bid by mid-June and to convene the Project Steering Committee to <br />review responses by mid-July to early-August. A recommendation on a bid award <br />would be brought to the BOCC by the first meeting in September. Funds <br />available in the current fiscal year to support Phase One of the project will be <br />rolled over into the departmental budget for FY09-10. <br />