Command Vehicle Bid Requests and Purchases

Security, Public Safety, Fire & Safety • Jun 21, 2016

Public sector purchasing command vehicles to prepare for the next disaster.

The clock is ticking. Where is help? When help arrives, will they be prepared? Based on history, and recent events have unfortunately confirmed, there are a preponderance of examples whereby first responders have required appropriate resources. During disasters, there are a handful of factors which can result in an effective response. Among them, trained personnel, leadership, communication, and command and control are but a handful of those elements.

Over the years, I have met a number of heroes from the first responder community. A few takeaways I learned from my discussions with them: 1. Timely, effective communication is many times the key to success, 2. The shorter the gaps from on-site leadership to engaged personnel, the better. 3. Once an event or disaster is underway, it's too late to get prepared.

Earlier this month, during taping of 'The Big Bid Theory' podcast, Bill Culhane and I interviewed Jake Dirr, who is the Public Information and Marketing Manager for the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in Austin, Texas. Mr. Dirr provided firsthand testimony on how many of the threats, both natural and otherwise, are intense, at times chaotic. A proactive, joint effort is required to be ready before, during, and after events occur. Well, a part of this "joint effort" is ensuring that all components of the responding forces have effective resources to aid in communication, directing of assets, and mitigation of issues.

Over the past 36 months, there has been a consistent pattern of public sector purchasing activity for emergency command vehicles. In part, this procurement activity is backed by grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In addition, a number of other sources have been responsible for subsidizing funding.

Our study focused on the following command vehicles:

Crime Scene
EOD
Fire/Rescue
HAZMAT
Law Enforcement

Reference this infographic, New York, California, Florida, Texas, and Virginia have been particularly active. Are agencies within your state's borders falling behind?

Sample Active Bids/RFPs

Command Vehicles

I will monitor, and it will be interesting to see, how the remainder of 2016 plays out. I predict the 2016 request and purchasing numbers will eclipse what we have observed in 2014 and 2015. Afterall, when the call comes in, it is too late to get prepared.

To review the bid requests, along with the specifications for command vehicle and related assets, call us at 888.808.5356 or visit BidPrime.