Item - 2022.GL30.3

The General Government and Licensing Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services to negotiate and enter into a one-time non-competitive procurement with HDT Expeditionary Systems Incorporated, for the amount of $165,608 United States Dollar, excluding custom broker fees and Harmonized Sales Tax; $208,666 *Canadian Dollar, net of Harmonized Sales Tax, and custom broker fees; $212,339 Canadian Dollar excluding custom broker fees and net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries; $235,793, including Harmonized Sales Tax, exclusive of custom broker fees.

*based on Canadian Dollar/United States Dollar exchange rate March 2022: 1.26.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council authority for the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services to negotiate and enter into a non-competitive agreement with HDT Expeditionary Systems Incorporated for the supply and delivery of various Heavy Urban Search and Rescue temporary shelters, and environmental equipment for a one-time procurement in the amount of $165,608 United States Dollar, excluding custom broker fees and Harmonized Sales Tax; ($212,339 Canadian dollars net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries, and exclusive of custom broker fees).

Toronto Fire Services is seeking a non-competitive purchase for these items with the main purpose to replace Heavy Urban Search and Rescue equipment that was required during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to meet the requirements of operational readiness.  Matching the current extensive cache, by utilizing the supplier Toronto Fire Services previously had a contract with will: (i) ensure consistency and inter-operability: (ii)  assist with operational readiness as Heavy Urban Search and Rescue staff are already trained to construct and maintain them: (iii) reduce any potential costs related to repairs as replacement parts are already stocked from the existing cache.

City Council approval is required in accordance with Municipal Code Chapter 195, Purchasing, where the current request exceeds the Chief Purchasing Officer's authority of the cumulative five year commitment for each supplier, under Article 7, Section 195-7.3 (D) of the Purchasing By-Law or exceeds the threshold of $500,000 net of Harmonized Sales Tax allowed under staff authority as per the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71- Financial Control, Section 71-11 (A).