Structural Firefighting Ensemble - Coats and Pants

The City of Dallas Fire-Rescue Department has issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding structural firefighting ensemble coats and pants, with a posting date of February 5, 2026, and a response deadline of March 6, 2026. The procurement seeks technical information and market insights from suppliers to support future purchasing decisions for NFPA 1970 (2025) certified ensembles designed for large metropolitan, interior-attack, all-hazards fire operations in Dallas's high-heat, high-humidity environment. Respondents must provide comprehensive details on garment specifications including Thermal Protective Performance (TPP) of at least 39 cal/cm², Total Heat Loss (THL) of at least 250 W/m², moisture barriers with GORE-TEX Endure compatibility, and outer shell and thermal liner materials from TenCate Protective Fabrics or equivalent manufacturers. Required features include drag rescue devices, radio pockets, reinforced knees, cargo pockets, suspender integration, and light tan/natural coloring. Vendors must demonstrate compliance with NFPA 1851 (2020) maintenance standards, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.156 requirements, provide country-of-origin information for assembly and components, detail ISP capability and technical support offerings, and outline training support for PPE capabilities, cleaning, inspection, and donning/doffing procedures. Responses must be submitted in PDF or Microsoft Word format through the Bonfire procurement portal, and DFR will conduct a six-month field wear trial to assess thermal protection retention, repair frequency, comfort, mobility, cleanability, and durability.

The RFI document does not indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions on eligible respondents, nor does it identify incumbent vendors or current contractors. Vendors are required to address PFAS regulation contingencies and component substitution capabilities while maintaining certification and performance standards, and must provide warranty information for the Endure moisture barrier, overall ensemble duration, component-level warranties, and extended warranty options. DFR utilizes individualized fit sizing for primary assignments and maintains standard-size swap-out caches for emergency exchanges, requiring vendors to supply lead times for sizing events and strategies for swap-out cache support. The procurement requires RFID/barcode compatibility with Apptricity systems to track equipment durability through NFPA 1851 wash, dry, and decontamination cycles. This RFI is informational in nature and will not result in contractual obligations, providing no advantage or disadvantage to respondents in any subsequent procurement process. No award value or budget range is specified in the available documentation.