Hello Newportfireman1725:
 
Whose going to use the vacuum cleaner?  And what are you currently using to do the vacuuming?  Likes and dislikes about the current vacuum?
 
I don't think you want to buy a vacuum from Bed Bath and Beyond for a Firestation.  
 
You want a durable, utilitarian, long lasting vacuum?  Wouldn't you consider shopping at a vacuum cleaner store for either a new and/or used vacuum to meet the Firestation needs?  Big box retail stores sell vacuums that last 1-3 maybe 5-7 years if used once/twice a week and well cared for.  They want to keep selling new vacuums every year or so to make more money.  This doesn't seem like a good sales venue to buy a Firestation vacuum cleaner.  Unless you want to buy, use and toss away every year?
 
Carmine D.

Hi, Another option would be a central vacuum system. These can be installed in new and existing construction. How much square footage does the station have?.
 
O.T.

If you are only cleaning floors then possibly a Simplicity Freedom would be good.  They clean well and are very lightweight.  Only major drawbacks are they don't use tools and are rather noisy.  You could then get a small cannister vacuum or shop-vac cannister to cope with the rest.  
 
To keep budget reasonable you could ask for a package cannister/Freedom setup from your local Simplicity dealer.
 

If you go with a[ portable] vacuum,look into the nilfisk line....
 
they make a very durable product.........
 
 
  O.T.

It is true that most users don't have a clue in regard to getting the best out of their vacuum but let's face it -- not that many consumers are much interested in technique.  They just want to get the job done.  Thus comes a rightful call for machines that are well-made, well-designed and as user friendly as possible.
 
We are no longer living in a time where possesion of high "homemaking" or "housekeeping" skills are considered notable virtues.  I will not strike up a debate about this since those "virtues" in past were and even now are expected to be found in women -- many of whom have felt they had to deny their more brilliant selves to bear the boring but  respectable mantle of good mother, homemaker and wife for many years? Most refreshingly, many women are now our doctors, lawyers and company execs.  Tell me honestly, how many of the like do you expect to find behind a vacuum cleaner for long?
 
Men's roles have changed as well.  Nobody sees the guy who can change the baby, do the wash or put a dinner on the table as good as his wife's as a sissy.  As all our lives have expanded, work and roles in the American household are now interchangable and the encouragement these days is to purchase tools that get can get any- and everybody through tasks quickly and painlessly and on to bigger things than dusting.
 
Across the gamut that the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness spans there are so many other worthy of investing our time in.  What is wanted by most is a vacuum that at least makes it use obviously count whether you hit the living room rug every two days or every two weeks.  Though many vacuum users may not know much about their machine they do notice the level of results they get for the effort.  And to them that's all that matters -- what they perceive as a good result.  There's no harm in that.
 
Venson