ITEM NOT RECEIVED DURING  THE MEETING ORDINANCE approving and authorizing contract between the City of Houston and AIR CLEANING TECHNOLOGIES, INC, for Exhaust Removal Services for the Houston Fire Department; providing a maximum contract amount - 2 Years - $1,800,017.00 - Grant and Equipment Acquisition Consolidated Fund

Sole Source for S10-E29225 - Approve an ordinance awarding a sole source Agreement to Air Cleaning Technologies, Inc. for exhaust removal services in the maximum contract amount not to exceed $1,800,017.00 for the Houston Fire Department. 

Specific Explanation:

The Chief of Houston Fire Department and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve an ordinance awarding a sole source agreement for a two-year term to Air Cleaning Technologies, Inc. for exhaust removal services, in the maximum contract amount not to exceed $1,800,017.00 for the Houston Fire Department (HFD).

The scope of work requires the contractor to provide all labor, material, expendable supplies, vehicles, tools, equipment, and supervision necessary to install vehicle exhaust extraction systems for HFD emergency response vehicles at 30 fire station facilities, as system installation is critical to the respiratory health of its workforce by reducing HFD firefighter exposure to chemical hazards through exposure to vehicle exhaust with known carcinogens.  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently awarded HFD with FEMA-approved grant funds to allow for the installation of 30 fire stations to have diesel exhaust removal systems installed.  As part of the Houston Fire Department Cancer Prevention Initiative, the approved funding will be used as a grant match to meet the 15% Federal Grant match obligations.

This contract is for the completion of the second phase of a multi-phase implementation of exhaust removal services for fire stations throughout Houston.  The initial contract for these services was awarded to incumbent contractor Air Cleaning Technologies, Inc. on January 25, 2019 by Ordinance No. 2019-0036 for a one-year term with a one-year option in the original amount of $774,305.00 to install 15 fire station exhaust removal systems from FEMA-approved grant funds with a cash-match at 10% through non-Federal funds (General Funds).  Additional exhaust removal systems will be installed as funding becomes available.

This continuing project for cancer prevention requires the standardization of essential equipment for HFD to ensure compatibility of like-equipment and related accessories throughout the City.  Installed standardized equipment at all fire stations will ensure that HFD users of this equipment will be able to operate this system no matter the fire station they are assigned.

M/WBE Participation:

M/WBE participation zero-percentage goal document approved by the Office of Business Opportunity.

Pay or Play Program:

The proposed contract requires compliance with the City’s ‘Pay or Play’ ordinance regarding health benefits for employees of City contractors.  In this case, Air Cleaning Technologies, Inc. provides health benefits to eligible employees in compliance with City policy.

Hire Houston First:

Hire Houston First does not apply to this procurement because it involves the use of federal funds and is subject to specific procurement rules of the federal government.

Fiscal Note:

No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

$1,565,233.00 – Federal Government – Grant Funded (5000)

$   234,784.00 – Equipment Acquisition Consolidated Fund (1800) - Previously appropriated by Ord. No.: 2019-676

$1,800,017.00 – Total