as:
Nashua Fire Rescue Jeremy H Audette
: : . Superintendent
Fire Alarm / Communications [603] 594-.3636
38 Lake Street, Nashua, NH 03060 Fax: [603] 594-3640
www.nashuafire.com AudetteJ @nashuanh.qov
May 16, 2022
Karen Conde
Fire Administration
Dear Karen,
The Administration and Fire Alarm have been working these past few months to do a capital
improvement project on the Municipal Fire Alarm System in the City. Resolution 22-021
brought the funds together but during the legislative process the price of copper has
skyrocketed and become a volatile marketplace. Cabling vendors are changing pricing daily and
will not give any lock in on price quoting. This environment has forced us to scale back the
original scope to accomplish all underground installations, additionally all vendors require a
minimum order of 10,000 feet of any one specified cable due to setup and fabrication and with
a lead time of twenty to twenty-five weeks.
In discussions with Purchasing Manager Parkinson the cable would be considered a
“Commodity items which are generally available for a publicly advertised price in national or
online sources, and are not customized by the vendor for individual purchasers.”
The finalized project with the fund allocated from resolution 22-021 include four phases for
Circuit 16 and one phase of “Circuit 12”. The total order from a vendor would be for
International Municipal Signaling Association Specified cable:
e A total of 11,000 feet of IMSA Spec 20-2, 10 pair, 14-gauge solid copper wire
(this cable has twisted pairs with a copper shielding over all wires).
e A total of 18,000 feet of IMSA Spec 20-1, 20 count, 14-gauge solid copper wire.
(this cable has straight laid conductors with no shielding).
The more expensive IMSA Spec 20-2 is for aerial installation in close proximity to power lines to
resist electrical inductance. The IMSA 20-1 is to be installed in the underground conduit
systems.
Three vendors were contacted for pricing, Power and Tel, Granite City Electric and Allied Wire
and Cable. Quotes for each vendor are attached and are provided in a per 1,000 feet unit of
measurement the same IMSA specification was used for each vendor ensuring the “apples to
apples” comparison.
