Protective Clothing/Gear and Accessories

The Capitol Region Council Governments (CRCOG), operating through the Capitol Region Purchasing Council (CRPC #782), is soliciting competitive bids for protective clothing, gear, and accessories for structural firefighting personnel. The procurement encompasses a comprehensive suite of personal protective equipment (PPE) including fire-resistant coats, pants, hoods, gloves, helmets, and insulated bunker boots, all of which must comply with NFPA 1971 (latest edition), US-OSHA CFR 1910.156, NBSIR 1977, and CAL-OSHA standards. The successful vendor must be a Connecticut-authorized dealer capable of delivering all items within forty-five days of order receipt and must maintain adequate inventory to accommodate measuring and fitting services for firefighting personnel within forty-eight hours' notice. The awarded vendor is required to provide general catalog discounts for custom-order turnout gear not specifically itemized, offer free repairs support, maintain NFPA-certified materials, and provide on-call technical assistance throughout the contract period, which runs from November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2026. Pricing must be provided on an F.O.B. Destination basis with delivery unloaded at the specified location, and all pricing shall remain constant throughout the contract term with no unilateral imposition of additional surcharges. The solicitation opened October 2, 2025, at 9:00 AM EDT, with a vendor question and answer period running through October 14, 2025, at 9:00 AM EDT, and proposals are due October 28, 2025, at 9:00 AM EDT. Detailed specifications are available on the Bonfire Hub platform at www.crcog.bonfirehub.com, and vendors should direct inquiries to Kimberly Bona at 860-724-4292 or kbona@crcog.org.

All vendors are eligible to respond to this solicitation with no identified set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational type. Individual participating municipalities and fire departments within the Capitol Region will make their own awards and payments based on written purchase orders specifying quantities and delivery locations, meaning the contract does not represent a single centralized award but rather establishes a master pricing agreement for multiple entities. Bidders must clearly document any exceptions to specifications at the time of submission, and such exceptions will be evaluated on their merits as part of the award process. The successful vendor must certify that all subsequent deliveries maintain the same material quality as accepted samples and assumes full responsibility for any subcontractor negligence. The solicitation document does not specify an estimated total contract value or budget range for this procurement. Interested vendors should visit www.crcog.bonfirehub.com for comprehensive details and should contact the procurement office at the Capitol Region Council Governments, 241 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106.