The Respiratory Protection Replacement Project (RPRP) will soon be replacing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) systems at CFA, MFB, Ambulance Victoria, Victoria Police and other state government agencies, including Corrections Victoria.
Stage 1 of the project – procurement of new SCBA cylinders – is well underway, with a contract already signed for Drager Pacific Safety Pty Ltd to provide almost 7,000 new standardised 6.8 litre breathing air cylinders, which MFB has already received and put into operation.
A key feature of the procurement of these new cylinders is that all agencies involved in the project will purchase and implement the same cylinders.
As the RPRP moves into Stage 2, a tender for the supply of SCBA is about to be released.
Specifications for the new breathing apparatus were finalised following a multi-agency consultation process and further consultation with key stakeholders.
An Advance Notice of Tender was published in the Herald Sun and The Australian on Wednesday 21 October.
The tender for the new breathing apparatus sets will be released through the Victorian Government Tenders System website in the coming weeks.
When the new breathing apparatus sets are purchased, CFA will switch to the new cylinders and new breathing apparatus sets at the same time.
This new respiratory protection equipment package will deliver on Emergency Management Victoria’s agenda to support interoperability to achieve ‘joined up’ community-focused outcomes.
Further updates will continue to be provided as the tender process progresses.
Author: Duncan Russell