Fire Helmets

The City of Madison Finance Department, on behalf of the Madison Fire Department in Wisconsin, issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ 4906-0-2020-BG) for the procurement of Phenix fire helmets on January 17, 2020, with a submission deadline of January 31, 2020 at 2:00 PM CST. The procurement seeks two primary helmet models: the PHENIX TC1 Composite Helmet and the PHENIX TL2 Leather Helmet, with specific color requirements (black for standard units, red for company officers, and white for chief officers). Each helmet must include ESS Firepro eye protection, a ratchet suspension with detachable earlaps, Nomex chin straps, and optional upgrades such as deluxe leather comfort packages, custom name stamps, and brass finials. The City anticipates annual helmet orders between 20 to 50 units and will evaluate bids based on a comprehensive set of criteria including cost, quality, warranty, delivery timeline, past performance, and service reputation. The contract will be awarded to the most advantageous bidder, with quotes valid for 90 days following the submission deadline.

The solicitation did not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though the City of Madison does offer a local vendor preference for registered local suppliers. Five vendors submitted bids for this procurement: Conway Shield Dinges Fire Company, Engine Company Leather LLC, Jefferson Fire & Safety, PKJ International LLC, and Tiles in Style LLC. The contract was ultimately awarded to Engine Company Leather, with their bid totaling $985.54, which represented the lowest overall cost. Price escalation clauses were included for 2021 and 2022, with Engine Company Leather proposing a 3.00% annual increase, while other bidders offered escalations ranging from 8.00% to 20.00%. The bid summary indicates potential contract values ranging from $985.54 to $1,786.00, with future pricing built into the multi-year contract structure. No specific budget range was explicitly stated in the procurement documents.