The selected vendor shall commence work in August 2025, following City Council’s approval, for a term of three (3) years and an option to renew two (2) times for one (1) year each. All services that can be performed remotely should, and under specific circumstances, will the contractor be required to come in. The selected vendor will provide candidates for interview within 30 – 45 days of the request; extensions will be granted upon request. The Berkeley Fire Department is looking to fulfill its surge staffing needs through a contract that specifically addresses the following challenges: • Interim Vacancies: The Department experiences gaps in established classifications due to retirements, extended leave, or unfilled positions, necessitating temporary staffing to maintain service levels. Previous contractors included covering BFD’s Communications Specialist, Assistant Fire Inspector to help manage programs and grant applications. • Specialized Initiatives: Certain projects or initiatives require expertise beyond the Department’s existing staff, such as technical upgrades, policy development, or compliance with new regulations. • Peak Workload Support: During periods of increased workload, legislative changes, or increased number of projects, or implementing new programs and grants, additional staff are needed to ensure timely and effective product is delivered. • Knowledge Transfer: The Department seeks to increase succession planning efforts by facilitating the transfer of specialized knowledge in technical areas, ensuring operational continuity and skill development among permanent staff. a. This Contract shall begin on September 1, 2025 and end on August 30, 2030. The services are to be performed remote except when requested to be on site. Previous contractors were required to be on-site when requested and not more than three (3) times per year. This is subject to change based on the project need. b. The existing vendor provided staffing support and 1099 contractors, some of whom may be needed to complete existing projects. The new vendor may be asked to contract existing subject matter experts for the remainder of their project.
