Services - Project ManagementThe Fire Rescue Help Group provides a variety of professional consulting services to fire departments. The core of our services is PROJECT MANAGEMENT. We offer Project Administration for: AFG application; CEDAP; ISO Consulting; Purchasing an apparatus; Purchasing other equipment; Developing Volunteer Recruitment and Retention programs; Staffing Grants; Fire Prevention programs; or Marketing/Advertising Campaigns.
Many of our clients are Volunteer Fire Departments or small Municipalities that simply do not have the time, manpower or expertise to manage a project. Having a central point of contact, and having someone to work with the Department to "keep the project on track" has been invaluable to our clients. Many times the savings to the Department through the Fire Rescue Help Group's management of purchasing projects has paid for the consulting fee.
The depth of our involvement is dependent on the level of service the Department needs and/or requests. Before we begin a Needs Assessment, we will meet with the Department and determine the scope of the potential project. We will provide a proposal, defining the areas we can assist you and the services we can provide.
Our project management services begin with a Needs Assessment of the department and its operations. Then we review the project the department is proposing. Next we work with you to gather data about your department and community, so that we can work with you to put together a project proposal.
Because our service is a complete Project Management consulting service, we offer the preliminary service to the Department at NO COST. Before we begin any work, however, we do require you to sign a contract agreeing to hire us, for a fee, to be the Project Administrators if you choose to pursue the project further.
Once a project is developed and funding is secured we will assist the Department with developing the project plan. The Department is always “in charge” of the project. At each phase of the project plan, the Department approves all activities before they are performed.
Our services include:
· Needs Assessment
· Project Development
· Funding Searches
· Grant Proposal Writing & Administration
· Project Management
· Procurement Process Coordination
· Equipment Specifications Development
· Request for Proposal (RFP) Development, Management, and
Vendor Coordination
· RFP Evaluations
· Cost Recovery from Incident Expense
· NFIRS Reporting
· Technical Consulting
· Fire Service Personnel Training
Equipment Purchasing
Whether the Department receives funds through a grant or other sources for equipment purchases, we work with you to manage the entire equipment procurement process. Our assistance with procurement has yielded significant savings to many departments we have worked with.
Navigating the fire equipment purchasing process can be daunting. It is difficult to know who to trust. Often times, a Department will make a critical error by allowing the Vendor to develop and write the equipment specifications. Unfortunately, some Vendors include proprietary specifications, which eliminate other vendors from submitting a proposal. Allowing the Vendor to add proprietary specifications takes away any opportunity for competitive bid. The Fire Rescue Help Group is an objective resource for technical questions about equipment, which has proven to be an asset for our current clients. Our interest is only ensuring the Department obtains the most value for their money when making a purchase.
We will assist with any contract negotiations related to a purchase. This may apply to purchasing an apparatus or other equipment.
- Develop equipment specifications
- Work as the intermediary between the Vendor and the Department (providing a point of contact for the Department)
- Assemble the bid package
- Manage the Request for Bid process
- Ensure all federal and state purchasing guidelines are met
- Serve as an objective resource for technical questions about equipment
- Evaluate all bid proposals for compliance with specifications
- Once the bid is awarded, assist the Department with contract negotiations
- For apparatus purchases, perform final build inspections
ISO Consulting
The Fire Rescue Help Group can help you be better prepared for the department's grading process from an ISO Field Representative. All of our consulting services are based upon the current edition of ISO's Public Protection Classification information http://www.iso.com/products/2400/prod2403.html. This review will be based upon our experience of the review process as well as resource documentation available to conduct the assessment. We do not guarantee a lower ISO rating because of our review; however we do guarantee you will be better prepared and expect no surprises during the grading process by the ISO Field Representative.
These are only some of the services we offer. If you have a project you feel like we could help with, contact us. We will be glad to review the potential project.
Contact us to manage your next project and
ASK HOW WE CAN HELP YOU!
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