HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3f - Smart Classroom equipment for Fire Station 106ROPER MINA
21192
STAFF REPORT
Fire Department
DATE: October 1, 2013
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Kurt Norwood, Acting Fire Chief
By: Yvonne Yeung, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT
WITH CDW GOVERNMENT LLC FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF
SMART CLASSROOM EQUIPMENT FOR FIRE STATION 106 UTILIZING 2012
STATE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED $75,000
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
The purchase and installation of Smart Classroom equipment at Station 106 is part of a
regional project supported by the Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association ( LAAFCA). A
Smart Classroom is an interactive meeting space that is networked among other fire
departments throughout Los Angeles County which is used for training and emergency
preparedness. This project has placed a series of Smart Classrooms in fire departments
throughout Los Angeles County with funding coming from State and Federal grant funds. It is
recommended that the City Council authorize and direct the City Manager to execute a
contract with CDW Government LLC for the purchase and installation of Smart Classroom
equipment for Fire Station 106 utilizing 2012 State Homeland Security Grant Program
(SHSGP) funds in an amount not to exceed $75,000. No City match is required for this grant.
BACKGROUND
State and Federal mandates have established guidelines for the type and amount of training
firefighters shall receive annually. Fire personnel are required to receive regular training on
various topics such as structural firefighting, wildland firefighting, technical rescue, hazardous
materials, and emergency medical services. A Smart Classroom allows two -way, interactive
communication for joint training where an instructor can be in one location sharing information
to Smart Classrooms throughout the County. Classrooms have full video and audio capabilities
as well as multimedia equipment so that the experience is very similar to being in a common
location. It is the goal of LAAFCA to have all fire departments in the County linked to this
Purchase of Smart Classroom Equipment
August 6, 2013
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network by March of 2014. Beverly Hills Fire Department will serve as the central networking
location for the project.
DISCUSSION
The Regional Fire Departments Smart Classroom Project is a more efficient and effective way
to enable the sharing of training resources and transfer of knowledge among jurisdictions
without time and distance barriers. LAAFCA's Regional Fire Departments Smart Classroom
Project entails designing and building technology - enabled classrooms, which integrate video
conferencing systems, computers, projection screens, projectors, audio systems, cameras,
and related hardware and software at the site of each fire department to allow for interactive,
multimedia training and learning. The Smart Classroom concept will allow fire departments to
network and receive consistent training throughout Los Angeles County, thereby sharing the
cost of instruction and reducing staffing and travel costs. The Arcadia Fire Department will
have the ability to interact with other fire departments during regional training exercises as well
as to develop, share, and store training information for future use.
The Arcadia Fire Department training room, located at Fire Station 106, 630 South Baldwin
Avenue, will be converted into a Smart Classroom. At the end of the project, Arcadia Fire
Department will be networked with all fire agencies in Los Angeles County.
A formal bid process was conducted for the purchase and installation of Smart Classroom
equipment. On September 17, 2013, one bid was returned from CDW Government LLC.
CDW Government LLC was the chosen vendor for close to a dozen other fire departments in
Los Angeles County for the Regional Fire Departments Smart Classroom Project. The vendor
is familiar with the requirements of the project and has provided satisfactory results for other
agencies.
FISCAL IMPACT
Arcadia Fire Department was allocated $75,000 of grant funds from the 2012 SHSGP for the
Regional Fire Departments Smart Classroom Project. The City will pay for the upfront cost of
the project with 100% of the expenses reimbursable through 2012 SHSGP funds. No City
match is required for this grant.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize and direct the City Manager to execute a
contract with CDW Government LLC for the purchase and installation of Smart Classroom
equipment for Fire Station 106 utilizing 2012 State Homeland Security Grant Program funds in
an amount not to exceed $75,000.
Approved:
Dominic La77ar
City Manager