The Hawaii Fire Department is seeking County Council approval to hire a consultant to manage a nearly half-million dollar federal grant recently awarded to the county.
The department this fall was awarded a $494,400 grant via the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program that’ll be used to purchase specialized cleaning equipment for firefighting gear. The funding was among more than $414 million awarded for the 2021 fiscal year to agencies across the nation.
“These items are what we call extractors — basically washing machines for our gear our firefighting gear,” Assistant Chief Darwin Okinaka told the Hawaii County Finance Committee earlier this month. “Heavy duty machines to wash our gear, to remove the carcinogens and all the effects of combustion when we do enter fire. So, this is huge to protect our firefighters and for the safety our personnel.”
Resolution 20 would authorize spending up to $30,000 during a multi-year agreement with CNC Consulting for professional grant management services for the Hawaii Fire Department. The contact would date to Aug. 29, 2022, and continue through November 2024. CNC Consulting provided initial grant writing services.
“Now that we’ve been awarded the grant, it’s just to continue their services in managing the grant,” Okinaka said, noting the department had applied for the grant three times before receiving funding this past year.
According to the resolution, CNC Consulting would serve as grant manager and pay would not exceed $125 per hour with a maximum $30,000 to be spent during the contract’s lifetime.
As manager of the grant, CNC Consulting would collaborate with the department’s staff to ensure successful procurement and payment processing of awarded items. In addition, the consultant would prepare financial status and performance reports; submit necessary award amendments; ensure compliance with all local, state and federal rules, among other duties. Finally, the consultant will successfully close out the grant and ensure the department is “audit ready” as it relates to the grant.
Resolution 20 will be considered by the full County Council during its meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua-Kona with conferencing to Hilo Council Chambers.
Testimony can be given in-person, via Zoom or in writing. To register to testify via Zoom, email councilremotetestimony@hawaiicounty.gov or call (808) 961-8255 by noon Tuesday. Written testimony is also due by noon Tuesday via email to counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov or fax to (808) 961-8912. Testimony can also be mailed to the County Clerk’s Office, 25 Aupuni St., Hilo, HI 96720.
