CFA and MFB have completed the tender for the replacement of Breathing Air Cylinders and have awarded this contract to Draeger Safety Pacific Pty Ltd.
This is the first stage of the overall program to upgrade the respiratory protection equipment for Victoria’s fire services.
Under the contract CFA and MFB will now proceed to the procurement of almost 7000 cylinders and associated items over the next 12 months. Other Victorian government agencies, such as Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police, may also seek to procure through this contract.
A key feature of this procurement is that all the agencies will be able to purchase and implement a standardised cylinder product. The product selected is a 6.8 litre, carbon fibre cylinder, with 300 BAR pressure, employing a valve with a right-hand yellow thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) long ratchet hand wheel, with an excess flow valve and bursting device. In addition both the valve and the cylinder will be fitted with passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips.
This equipment will deliver on the Victorian Emergency Management agenda through enhancing an ‘all hazards, all agencies’ approach and supporting interoperability during joint-operations. It also promotes firefighter and community health and safety, firefighter effectiveness and supports the reform agenda for the Emergency Management sector. On average 36 people in Victoria are rescued annually using respiratory protection equipment. Without respiratory protection equipment it’s likely these rescues could not have taken place.
CFA and MFB would like to thank the tender respondents for their offerings and the evaluation teams who have participated in joint assessment of the tender offerings. The Department of Justice and Regulation, United Fire Fighters Union, Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria and Ambulance Victoria have all been instrumental in providing guidance to ensure a robust, transparent and fair process was followed in reaching this successful outcome.
The agencies are now working through the timetable for roll-out and consultative arrangements for training.
The next stage of the project will be to proceed over coming months to tender for new respiratory protection equipment. Regular updates will continue to be provided by the Joint Project Team as it progresses.
Contacts:
CFA Project Manager – Chris Hansen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
MFB Project Manager – Matt Radings (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Author: CFA News