Commissioners court approves RFP for mobile command vehicle

During its Nov. 15 meeting, the Ellis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved an RFP (request for proposal) for an emergency command vehicle.

The mobile command vehicle, typically about 45-feet long with a backbone of cellular network, would serve as a mobile command center for the emergency management department, the sheriff and the fire marshal.

Purchasing agent E.J. Harbin told the court that they decided to do an RFP instead of an RFB (request for bid) because it will allow “maximum availability for anybody to propose on it.”

County Judge Todd Little said an RFP allows the county room to negotiate while a bid does not necessarily offer that opportunity.

The purchasing department previously brought a bid for a $2 million mobile command vehicle by Siddons-Martin Emergency Group in front of the commissioners Oct. 18. The commissioners said they had little information on the vehicle and did not feel comfortable approving a $2 million purchase.

Following the Oct. 18 meeting, representatives from the fire marshal, the sheriff’s office, emergency management and the auditor’s office discussed canceling the bid in a meeting with the purchasing department. Harbin said they asked the purchasing department if it would be possible to get a better price, and he responded, “We can give it a shot.”

Harbin explained that releasing another RFP should give them more vendor responses and allow them to bring more options to the commissioners.

The original bid was canceled by the commissioners at their Nov. 1 meeting.

Originally published November 23, 2022 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/news/local/commissioners-court-approves-rfp-for-mobile-command-vehicle/article_0666ce84-6b59-11ed-90f8-eb6d19016772.html