Title
Enter into an Agreement for Fire Ground Survival Training and Request Indemnification and Liability Exemptions (Ordinance S-50385)
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) to provide fire ground survival training to the Fire Department. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. The total value will not exceed $86,000.
Report
Summary
The IAFF will provide the IAFF Fire Ground Survival (FGS) Train-the-Trainer Course to Phoenix Fire Department employees. The FGS Train-the-Trainer Program is part of the IAFF’s Fire Ground Survival Program. The purpose of the IAFF FGS Program is to ensure that training for prevention and operations of a MAYDAY situation when a firefighter is lost or trapped during an emergency are consistent between all fire fighters, company officers, and chief officers. Fire fighters must be trained to perform potentially life-saving actions if they become lost, disoriented, injured, low on air, or trapped. These training exercises must be consistent throughout the fire service and across the nation.
The IAFF FGS Program applies the lessons learned from Fire Fighter Fatality Investigations conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and was developed by a committee of subject matter experts from the IAFF, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and NIOSH. The IAFF is the only agency that provides the training program necessary to become a certified IAFF Fire Ground Survival Trainer. The IAFF FGS Program is the most comprehensive survival skills and MAYDAY prevention program currently available within the fire service. Incorporating federal regulations, proven incident management best practices, survival techniques from leaders in the field, and real case studies from experienced fire fighters, the FGS Program aims to educate all fire fighters to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
Additionally, granting an exception would authorize the City to negotiate indemnification and assumption of liability provisions that best protect the City as IAFF will not agree to fully indemnify the City nor accept unlimited liability.
Contract Term
The term of the agreement shall commence upon execution and continue through Feb. 28, 2024.
Financial Impact
This item will have a value of up to $86,000. Funding is available in the Fire Department's budget.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.