Council awards bid for two temporary fire stations to reduce response times
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Summary
The council approved awarding a bid for two modular temporary fire stations (stations 8 and 9) to Elite Aluminum Corporation for roughly $3.186 million, with an option to purchase and install one station immediately; staff said furnishings are included and structures can be relocated later.
The Palm Bay City Council voted 5-0 to award a bid for two temporary modular fire stations to Elite Aluminum Corporation and to issue a purchase order for the first site, southeast Station 9.
City staff told council the council had previously allocated $3.7 million in general funds for two temporary stations. Procurement negotiated a reduced price from the vendor; the staff recommendation was for a combined award just under $3.186 million, with one fully furnished station priced at about $1.539 million. City Manager Scott Morgan said procurement reduced the proposed vendor price by roughly $120,000 from the bid.
“By way of background, last summer, the council, approved an allocation of $3,700,000 in general fund for purchasing and installing 2 temporary fire stations,” Morgan said. The modular stations are rated for hurricane-level winds up to 175 mph, have hurricane-impact windows, carry a three-year warranty and can be disassembled and relocated, staff said. Council approved issuing a purchase order for Station 9 because that site required less site work; Station 8 will remain under contract while site improvements continue.
Fire Chief and procurement staff described logistics for relocation: the vendor will disassemble, relocate and reassemble the modules at a new site if the city later elects to move them; staff said additional fees would apply for that work. Resident commenter Bill Batten questioned line-item changes across staff materials; Morgan clarified the award numbers and said furnishings were included in the quoted price and the project remained within the council’s previously approved budget.
Councilmembers framed the vote as a step to reduce long response times for neighborhoods currently distant from staffed stations. The motion to award was made by Deputy Mayor Jaffe and seconded by another councilmember; it passed 5-0.