Training Location Grant Award.doc

Best Value Grant Award

Notice of Proposed Best Value Award – Fire Training Facilities

The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, a division of the Department of Fire Services announces its intention to award a “Best Value Grant” to secure the use of specialized training sites for the delivery of training to members of the Massachusetts fire service and other first responders. The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy is charged with the delivery of firefighting and other emergency response training to the various fire departments of the Commonwealth. DFS has been training emergency responders throughout the Commonwealth for over 25 years. During this time the requests for training have grown requiring us to do more of our training at off site locations.

A minimum requirement for a site to participate in this grant is the ability to conduct live fire training within a structure built for that purpose at the site. Other requirements include classroom space, outside training area, and a drill tower for ladder and aerial training. With our experience locating suitable training sites throughout the state, DFS has identified approximately a dozen potential site partners that meet some or all parts of our requirements. Of these, DFS proposes to award grants to five (5) that meet all of our needs at their locations.

If any other municipal or county facility comes forward with a significant, legitimate, detailed, competitive proposal which meets the specifications detailed in the grant, the Department of Fire Services may choose to alter the grant award to include the new proposal.

Selected Grantees are:

1. Barnstable County Training Facility

Mary Dunn Road

Barnstable Ma. 02630

2. Fall River Fire Department

140 Commerce Drive

Fall River, Ma. 02722

3. Milford Fire Department

21 Birch Street

Milford, MA 01757

4. Springfield Fire Department

605 Worthington Street

Springfield Ma. 01105

5. Worcester Fire Department

141 Grove Street

Worcester Ma. 01605

Grant Amount

The Grant amount shall be no greater than $20,000 for the one-year duration of the Grant.

Purpose of the Grant Funding

The purpose of this grant is to fund the use of certain municipal or county training facilities located throughout the Commonwealth as well as pay for disposable goods and equipment used to conduct that training. This training is specialized training delivered to members of the Massachusetts Fire Service and other emergency response personnel. Those training facilities have the ability to support training involving live fire within a structure as well as many other training skills used by firefighters in their jobs.

Scope of Performance

On terms and conditions acceptable to DFS, the Grantee agrees to provide to the Department of Fire Services the use of the facilities and equipment as agreed upon through advance scheduling of dates and times of access. Those hours of access shall be coordinated with the contact person representing the grantee.

1. Use of the Facility – DFS shall by appointment be entitled to the use of the participating training facility including but not limited to:

· Class A Live Fire Training Building

· Training Tower

· Classroom and Restrooms

· On Site Water Facilities

· Drill Yard

· Free parking area

· Suitable break facilities for lunch and rest breaks

· Fire Apparatus available for use by DFS for live fire training. (On site use only)

2. Access to the Facility – DFS shall be entitled to access to the training facility by appointments agreed upon in advance on:

· Weekdays

· Weekends

· Evenings

3. Training and Other Use – DFA will use the training facilities to deliver to Massachusetts fire departments the following types of training:

· Various firefighter skills training

· Modified live fire training

· Flashover recognition training

· Fire officer training including Incident Command

· Technical rescue training

· Certification exams (practical and written)

· Specialized seminars (use of classrooms)

· Emergency vehicle operator

· Any others as requested or the training becomes available through MFA.

Acceptance into classes offered at the training facilities will be done in accordance with existing DFS policy and procedures. Class size and duration will not deviate from standard DFS programming.

DFS agrees to conduct normal clean up after each use to remove any refuse left over after live burns etc.

4. Scheduling of the Facility – The Grantee shall have priority use of the facilities. DFS, working through the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, will coordinate with the local training facility point of contact or his/her designee to schedule the use of the facilities for the fire academy’s trainings. Once the parties have agreed to a schedule for the use of the facility, no change shall be made by the training facility without twenty-four (24) hours notice to the Department of Fire Services.

5. Compensation – The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy is a government agency that has provided various types of training for fire service community and other first responders since its inception. This training has been provided at no cost to the students participating. It has created relationships with various training facilities to use those locations at no cost to MFA. It is the intent of this grant to continue that relationship as much as possible. This grant recognizes that MFA does not expect training facilities being used by MFA to incur additional costs to their operations from our use of their facilities. A contract, detailing any costs associated with the use of a facility, shall be created to pay for those costs as agreed on by both parties.

6. Secure Storage – DFS and the Grantee shall work together to provide secure storage for classroom and teaching materials owned by DFS and left at the Grantee’s site between training sessions.

7. Prop Storage – In the future, the DFS may choose to construct various props to be used as part of the training conducted at a training facility. These props may include but are not be limited to such things as a Car Fire Prop or a Dumpster Prop to be used in live-fire training. The props would be located at the training facility and would be available for use by the Grantee for the duration of this or a succeeding grant.

8. Indemnification - Unless otherwise exempted by law, the Contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless the State including the Department of Fire Services, its agents, officers and employees against any and all claims, liabilities and costs for any personal injury or property damages, patent or copyright infringement or other damages that the State may sustain which arise out of or in connection with the Contractor’s performance of a Contract, including by not limited to the negligence, reckless or intentional conduct of the Contractor, its agents, officers, employees or subcontractors. The Contractor shall at no time be considered an agent or representative of the Department or the State. After prompt notification of a claim by the State, the Contractor shall have an opportunity to participate in the defense of such claim and any negotiated settlement agreement or judgment. The State shall not be liable for any costs incurred by the Contractor arising under this paragraph. Any indemnification of the Contractor shall be subject to appropriation and applicable law.

9. Risk Of Loss - The Contractor shall bear the risk of loss for any Contractor materials used for a Contract and for all deliverables, Department personal or other data which is in the possession of the Contractor or used by the Contractor in the performance of a Contract until possession, ownership and full legal title to the deliverables are transferred to and accepted by the Department.

Duration of the Grant

The initial grant shall run for two years. DFS reserves the right to renew the grant on an annual basis for up to ten additional years, with the maximum possible renewal end date of 2032.