Alaska Firefighters` Assoc. Partners With Public Safety GPO

PRESS RELEASE

Public Safety GPO (a program of NPPGov) and the Alaska State Firefighters Association, leaders in the Public Safety cooperative purchasing and the Fire Service, today announced a direct partnership to continue the efforts both started together decades ago to provide open, fair and competitive cooperative options to their members. Alaska State Firefighters’ President Justin Boddy has been working with Mika Kawakami, the Association Manager for Public Safety GPO, to establish a plan which supports the GPO’s vendors and enhances the use of cooperative agreements within the State of Alaska. “The Alaska State Firefighters Association are excited to continue the partner directly with Public Safety GPO to offer our members departmental and individual discounts.  We feel a direct relationship with GPO was in the best interest of our members and the fire service industry,” said Boddy.

This relationship will provide the Alaska Firefighters Association with over 100 publicly procured agreements for products and services used by the Fire Service every day, along with a discount program to their individual members from over 20 vendors such as AT&T FirstNet. 

Public Safety GPO is a program of NPPGov providing public safety departments access to publicly solicited contracts from vendors who supply goods and services. Contracts are created through a public RFP process by a Lead Public Agency that allows members to "piggyback" on the contract, eliminating the need to complete their own RFP process. Public Safety GPO staff and legal counsel facilitate this process and provide necessary documentation and support.

The Alaska State Firefighters Association was formed in 1963 and has served as the firefighters association for the state of Alaska, representing more than 1,100 firefighters. The association consists of  a diverse 10 person Board of Directors, representing every region of the state who act as the voice for Alaska Firefighters for both in-state and national issues.  They are also tasked with understanding and managing key issue for the Fire Service within the State.