Class A/B Firefighting Foam

The City of Pittsburgh Office of Management and Budget, on behalf of the Bureau of Fire, is soliciting bids for Solberg Spartan 1% Class A/B firefighting foam concentrate under IFB #2026-IFB-004, with bids due July 24, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and questions due July 10, 2026. Bidders must demonstrate good faith efforts to meet DBE participation goals: 18% for MBEs, 7% for WBEs, 5% for VOSBs, and 3% for LGBTQIA+ businesses.

The foam is a fluorine-free, dual-purpose concentrate designed for Class A fires (structure, wildland, vehicle, and dumpster) and Class B hydrocarbon fuel fires (gasoline, crude oil, aviation fuels, diesel) at 1% proportioning. It is UL 162 listed for Class B fires and UL/ULC classified as a wetting agent for Class A fires per ANSI/NFPA 18. The product must be compatible with conventional firefighting equipment including inline eductors, self-inducting nozzles, air-aspirating nozzles, monitors, medium-expansion foam devices, and Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS). The specified product, SOLBERG SPARTAN 1%, is available in three packaging options: 5-gallon pails, 55-gallon drums, and 265-gallon totes. Technical properties include specific gravity of 1.020–1.060, viscosity of 2–10 cP, pH of 7.0±0.5, lowest use temperature of 35°F, and a demonstrated shelf life of 10 years or greater when stored in original containers at 0°C to 50°C. Annual testing per NFPA 11 standards is required to maintain certification.

The contract term runs from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2030, with the City reserving the right to extend for up to 180 additional calendar days. Pricing must be firm and fixed throughout the contract duration. The City will award on an item-by-item or low-total basis at its discretion to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. Bids require a bid guarantee of up to 5% of the total bid amount. Upon award, contractors must provide Performance and Payment Bonds each equal to 100% of contract price within ten calendar days, along with General Liability Insurance of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, Automotive Liability Insurance of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, and Umbrella Liability Insurance of $5 million. Invoices are due within 30 days of delivery, with the City intending payment within 45 days of invoicing. The bid opening is non-mandatory and scheduled for July 24, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at 414 Grant Street, Room 502, Pittsburgh.