HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2004 0901 CC REG ITEM 10HMOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
ITEM 10. H .
CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
ACTION: ✓d,&EAZ
TO: The Honorable City Council
FROM: Mary K. Lindley, Director of Community Services ACj
DATE: August 3, 2004 (CC Meeting of September 1, 2004)
SUBJECT: Consider Award of Contract to Cosco for Computer
Room Fire Suppression System
BACKGROUND
When City Hall was constructed, a traditional water based
fire suppression system was installed throughout the
building. This fire suppression system was included in the
room in the northwest corner of City Hall that previously
housed a large copy machine and financial files.
Approximately five years ago, the City began converting the
room into a computer room, housing the City's computer
networking system. Over the years, the City's ability to
conduct day -to -day business has become very reliant on the
centralized computer network. If there were a fire in City
Hall that involved the computer room, the equipment in the
room would be subject to water damage, which could
permanently destroy it and significantly disrupt City
operations.
In an effort to ensure that the equipment in the computer
room is sufficiently protected in the event of a fire,
staff solicited proposals from qualified vendors for a
waterless fire suppression system. The City received three
proposals and staff is recommending Cosco Fire Protection
Inc.
The waterless fire suppression system identified by staff
as desirable for the City computer room is called FM -200.
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Honorable City Council
September 1, 2004
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This system uses a clean, odorless gas
(heptafluoropropane). Unlike other waterless systems
designed to remove oxygen from a room, FM -200 is designed
to remove heat, making it safer for humans. It extinguishes
fire primarily by physically cooling the flame; removing
heat from the flame to the extent that the combustion
reaction cannot sustain itself. The active compound in the
FM -200 system is safe and approved for use in
pharmaceutical inhalers, such as those used by asthma
patients. Lastly, the FM -200 system is designed to reach
effective extinguishing levels in 10 seconds or less.
DISCUSSION
In order to effectively operate a waterless fire
suppression system, which is basically dependent on gas,
the impacted areas must have the capacity to be completely
sealed when the system is activated. In the case of the
City's computer room, the windows, door, and HVAC vents
will need minor architectural modifications to ensure that
when the gas is released, it is contained within the room.
Again, not because the gas is harmful, but because it's
less effective if the gas dissipates.
The adjacent room to the south, which houses the City's
Information Systems Manager, is divided from the computer
room by a pocket door (the door slides into the drywall).
The pocket door cannot be adequately sealed. The City's
options are to either include this room within the project
area, seal its window and HVAC vents, and construct a pony
wall from the ceiling tiles to the roof along the south
wall, or replace the pocket door with a conventional door
and door closure. Including the room within the project
increases the cost by $4,000 and is not recommended.
Staff received three proposals from qualified vendors who
market and install the FM -200 fire suppression system.
Architectural
Vendor Price Modifications
Cosco Fire Protection
CalProtection
DPSI
$23,937 Included
$16,925 $11,450
$22,000 No cost provided
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Honorable City Council
September 1, 2004
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Cosco provided the most comprehensive proposal by including
all of the architectural modifications within the Scope of
Work. CalProtection will perform the architectural
modifications at a higher cost than what was proposed by
Cosco, and DPSI's indicated that the necessary
architectural modifications would need to be performed by
others.
Staff is recommending that the City Council award a
contract to Cosco Fire Protection for the installation of
the FM -200 waterless fire suppression system, including the
Information System Manager's office in the project, for a
cost not to exceed $20,000 (24,000 less $4,000 for the
additional room).
The FY 2004/05 adopted budget includes $28,000 for this
project. No additional budget appropriation is required.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Award a contract to Cosco Fire Protection and authorize the
City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the
City.
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