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CC - CONSENT ITEM: (1) Ratification of Prior Purchase Orders with L.N. Curtis and Sons for Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Related Firefighting Equipment; and (2) Approval of a Purchase Order with L.N. Curtis and Sons in an Annual Amount Not-to-Exceed $100,000 for the Purchase and Replacement of Firefighter PPE and Related Firefighting Equipment for Fiscal Years 2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028.
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Meeting Date: January 26, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Kenneth Powell/Fire Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5910
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/22/2026)
Department Approval: Kenneth Powell, Fire Chief (01/05/2026) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) ratify prior purchase orders with L.N. Curtis and Sons for firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) and related firefighting equipment; and (2) approve a purchase order with L.N. Curtis and Sons in an annual amount not to exceed $100,000 for the Fire Department for the purchase and replacement of firefighter PPE and related firefighting equipment for Fiscal Years 2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Firefighter PPE is essential to firefighter health, safety, and operational readiness. For the purposes of this staff report, PPE includes items such as firefighter turnout coats and pants, helmets, gloves, hoods, boots and other components required for structural firefighting operations. PPE and related equipment are required to comply with Cal/OSHA regulations and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting. This equipment is routinely used during structural firefighting, extrication, overhaul operations, and training exercises.
Due to normal wear and tear, mandatory cleaning and decontamination following exposure to hazardous and carcinogenic substances, and NFPA service-life requirements, firefighter PPE must be replaced every ten years. Each firefighter is issued two complete sets of turnout gear to ensure continuous readiness while one set is being cleaned, repaired, or inspected.
In addition to ongoing replacement, the Fire Department is required to purchase two new sets of PPE for each newly hired firefighter. Historically, these purchases have been made throughout the fiscal year as operational needs arise. While staff obtained comparison quotes for individual purchases, cumulative expenditures for PPE and related equipment have inadvertently exceeded $50,000 in a single fiscal year annually since Fiscal Year 2021-2022. Other items purchased from L.N. Curtis and Sons have included wildland firefighting PPE, water vacuums/blowers, rescue equipment, fire hose components, and firefighting foam.
In accordance with the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Section 3.07.010 and Resolution No. 2018-R024, establishing the Purchasing Officer’s purchasing authority, staff is bringing this item forward for City Council ratification of prior purchase orders and approval of future purchase orders.
Staff proposes to continue purchasing turnout gear manufactured by Globe and distributed by L.N. Curtis and Sons, which is the sole authorized distributor for this product line in this region. This procurement is exempt from formal bidding procedures pursuant to CCMC Section 3.07.055G, which exempts bidding requirements when competitive bid procedures have already been utilized by the City, a public agency or joint powers agency and the goods or supplies are supplied to the City at the same or better price. Purchases would be made in alignment with two publicly solicited cooperative contracts: Sourcewell Contract Nos. 010424-LNC and 020124-LNC, which provide competitively bid pricing and are valid through 2028. Sourcewell is a service cooperative created by the Minnesota legislature as a local unit of government (Minn. Const. art. XII, sec. 3) that works to streamline the procurement process by developing requests for proposals and invitations for bids for national, competitive solicitations that meet or exceed local requirements.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no additional fiscal impact associated with this action. Prior year budgets included sufficient funds for prior year expenditures. The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 includes sufficient funds within the following Fire Department Accounts 10145200.514100 (Departmental Special Supplies), 10145200.514600 (Small Tools and Equipment), 10145200.514900 (Strike Team Tools and Equipment), 10145200.516100 (Training and Education), 10145200.550110 (Uniforms), and 10145200.732120 (Departmental Special Equipment). These accounts can be found in the Fire Department section of the budget book in Fire Suppression on pages 433-434. Funding for purchase orders in future years will be included in future fiscal year budgets.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
recommended action
MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
1. Ratify prior purchase orders with L.N. Curtis and Sons for firefighter personal protective equipment and related equipment; and
2. Approve a purchase order with L.N. Curtis and Sons in an amount not to exceed $100,000 to L.N. Curtis and Sons for the purchase and replacement of firefighter PPE and related firefighting equipment for Fiscal Years 2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028.