Primary Department: Fire Marshal
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Laurie L. Christensen, Fire Marshal
Secondary Department: County Engineer
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Dr. Milton Rahman
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Final Investment Memo
Project Name: Multi-Purpose Burn-Tactical Building and Flash Chamber
Project ID (if applicable): FMO_BURN
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Incremental Authorization Requested: $2,200,000
Total Estimated Project Cost: $2,600,000
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of the Final Investment Memo for the Fire Marshal’s Office Multi-Purpose Burn/Tactical Building and Flash Chamber project for an additional $2,200,000 for a total authorization of $2,600,000 and commercial paper funding for an additional $2,200,000 for a total allocation of $2,600,000.
end
Project Description:
A Multi-Purpose Burn/Tactical Building and Flash Chamber will be constructed at the Harris County Sheriff’s and Fire Marshal’s training facility located at 2318 Atascocita Rd, Humble TX. This project is for a multipurpose live fire, rescue, and tactical Burn Building and Flash Chamber that would facilitate advanced training of law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services (EMS), educational entities, and industrial partners. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $2,600,000. The project timeline for completion is estimated to be the second quarter of 2025. This is the request for the final distribution of $2,200,000 to complete the project.
The proposed building will be located at the FMO Atascocita Campus on the fire training field and constructed using (18) marine containers that are sturdy, engineered, and cost-effective. It will be 5,440 square feet, consisting of 3 floors, hallways, and rooms that will be laid out in configurations to be able to teach basic to advanced firefighting, rescue operations, and law enforcement tactical operations. The gross weight of the containers, once completed, will be approximately 260,000 pounds. Once constructed, there will be external steps, railings, and platforms welded to the containers. The current burn building is only 1,518 square feet and does not allow the advanced training needed for current-day responders. The Multi-Purpose Burn/Tactical Building and Flash Chamber, 18 Conex boxes, welding materials, and the concrete pad will be needed.
The scope will also require demolition of the existing concrete slab and ramp which was being used as a slab for storage containers and a roof prop used by the Fire Marshal’s Office. The existing slab does not have the structural strength to accept the new Burn Building. A new structural slab/pad and surrounding concrete site/flatwork are included in the scope.
This project scope also includes the work required to expand the existing detention pond on the campus. The campus utilizes roadside ditches for drainage which flow to a detention pond in the vicinity. With the addition of multiple new projects, including this one, the area of impervious cover and therefore storm water runoff has increased. The design of the pond expansion was included in a separate project and funded directly by the FMO. This Investment Memo includes the cost for construction of the pond expansion ONLY, not the design.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
(Previously Ask) Professional Design Services |
$200,000 |
Complete |
|
(Previously Ask) Site Improvements (Detention Pond and Concrete Pad for Burn Building) |
$200,000 |
Partially Complete -Q1 - 2025 |
|
(Current Ask) Additional Construction Budget Required |
$500,000 |
Q1 - 2025 |
|
(Current Ask) Pre-Fabricated Burn Building |
$1,500,000 |
Q2 - 2025 |
|
(Current Ask) Contingency |
$200,000 |
Q2 - 2025 |
|
Total |
$2,600,000 |
|
Justification & Alternatives:
The current FMO Burn Building and Rescue Tower is 20 years old and is limited in size and configuration, which restricts the training of certain advanced tactics needed to combat today’s threats. We currently teach over 100 live fire and rescue classes a year. The requested Multi-Purpose Burn/Tactical Building and Flash Chamber will allow additional training classes incorporating advanced tactics into the curriculum. The result of this training will position emergency responders to be better prepared to address fire/life safety issues.
This project supports the following Priority Outcomes and/or Goal Areas:
• This Multi-Purpose Burn/Tactical Building and Flash Chamber will be used for training classes to teach:
o Basic to advanced firefighting
o Rescue operations
o Law enforcement (Active Shooter, Room and Building Clearing, and SWAT Operations)
o HCSO Detention Officers (Jail Fire School)
o Increase the number of fire, rescue, and law enforcement tactics training classes that can be provided to law enforcement, fire, EMS, educational entities, and industrial partners.
• The success of the project can be measured through the following performance metrics:
o Increased number of classes taught by us and other agencies for advanced training opportunities.
o Increased classes taught by us and other agencies for basic and intermediate-level training.
o Increased external agencies hosting training opportunities at Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office.
o The number of people/students exposed to training opportunities.
The only alternative to this project would be the Interior Structural Fire Training building at Texas Engineering Extension Services in College Station. However, budget constraints for most agencies prohibit travel to College Station. Therefore, there are no fiscally responsible alternatives available to address the advanced training needed. Delaying or not completing this project directly impacts the ability to teach advanced firefighting, rescue operations, active shooter, building clearing, SWAT operations, and jail fire school. This training is imperative for positioning law enforcement, fire, EMS, educational entities, and industrial partners with the ability to provide the most up-to-date emergency services available for today’s threats.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
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Fund Code |
Description |
Estimated Cost |
Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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$- |
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- |
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Total |
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$- |
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- |
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
10/31/2023 |
201 |
Request for approval of the Preliminary Investment Memo for the Multi-Purpose Burn/Tactical Building and Flash Chamber project for an initial amount of $400,000 and request for approval of initial commercial paper funding in the amount of $400,000. |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Commercial Paper |
$ |
$2,200,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$2,200,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$ |
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Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$2,200,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$ |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 1/9/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, the Assistant County Attorney, June 17, 2023
Department Approval by: Laurie L. Christensen, Fire Marshal, Fire Marshal’s Office
OMB CIP Team Approval by: Amiel Chen, CIP Manager, December 18, 2024
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: County Engineer
Project PeopleSoft ID: FMO_BURN
CP Series Description: Commercial Paper Series D can be used for (1) construction of public works, (2) the purchase of automobiles, equipment and machinery, including computers, materials and supplies for the operation of the County’s precincts and departments (3) Professional services, including services provided by engineers, architects, attorneys, auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents, in connection with the contractual obligations described in (1) and (2).
Commercial Paper is being requested for the Multi-Purpose Burn/Tactical Building and Flash Chamber project and is expected to be repaid within the next three fiscal years either through bonds, budgetary means or pay-as-you-go sources.
OMB Financial Management contact: Amy Perez, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget