REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: July 10, 2023 Report No. FIRE-23-004
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Steve Serbic, Fire Chief
SUBJECT:
Title
Fire Dispatch Contract Amendment and Extension
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
1. That Council approve an amendment to the existing Fire Dispatch contract with the City of Surrey in order to add a renewal clause;
2. That Council authorize the Mayor and Corporate Officer to execute the contract between the City of Surrey and the Township of Esquimalt for the provision of fire dispatch services to Esquimalt Fire Rescue for the period September 19, 2023 to December 31, 2028; as attached to Staff Report FIRE-23-004.
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RELEVANT POLICY:
Purchasing and Disposal Bylaw, 2014, No. 2845
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Build and Enhance Partnerships: Work with governments, school districts and stakeholders to enhance relationships and advance issues impacting the community.
BACKGROUND:
In 2017, our department received a notice from our previous provider (District of Saanich) that they intended to significantly increase dispatch service fees. As a result, fire chiefs and senior staff in View Royal, Colwood, North Saanich, Sidney, and Esquimalt, concerned with dramatically increased service costs with no corresponding increase in the quality of service, collaborated on a joint Request for Proposal (RFP) for fire dispatch services.
A detailed fire dispatch cost comparison was conducted as part of our RFP in 2017, and detailed vendor cost quotations up to and including 2022. Costs for Saanich, the CRD/Langford, which has ceased operations (Langford is now a Surrey client), and Surrey fire dispatch costs were tabled. Within the CRD, the City of Victoria also operated their own internal fire dispatch center, but they too have ceased operations and are now Surrey clients.
In response to the RFP, the city of Surrey provided by far the best value in terms of cost per call, support services and technology, coming in at approximatel...
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