HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5i. Approve the Sole Source purchase of a 2022 Pierce Arrow Type 1 Pumping Fire Engine to replace Engine No. 4 Item 5i
Department: Fire
Cost Center: 402-5008
For Agenda of: 8/15/2023
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Todd Tuggle, Fire Chief
Prepared By: Nicole Vert, Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: APPROVE THE SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF FIRE ENGINE 4
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the sole source purchase of a 2022 Pierce Arrow Type 1 Pumping Fire Engine
in the amount of $881,584.76.
POLICY CONTEXT
1. The recommended actions are consistent with the City of San Luis Obispo’s Municipal
Code, Section 3.24.060 - Sole Source purchasing. The Municipal Code states that
regular bid procedures can be waived when the item(s) to be purchased can be
obtained from only one vendor or supplier, and when supplies or equipment have been
uniformly adopted in the city or otherwise when standardized. (SLMC §
3.24.060(C)(D)).
2. This action is considered a purchase of goods and in compliance with the City of San
Luis Obispo’s Municipal Code 3.24.080, which requires Council approval for any
purchase in excess of $200,000.
DISCUSSION
Emergency vehicles are a vital part of the service delivery for the City of San Luis Obispo
Fire Department. A fire engine pumper (“fire engine”) has a standard lifespan of 10,000
hours and is staffed with emergency response personnel, tools, and equipment to provide
all-hazards emergency services, Through the utilization of an internal apparatus
committee, staff developed fire engine specifications that were used to build the pricing
for the replacement of Engine 4, a 2014 Pierce Arrow XT Type 1 Pumper.
The specifications considered the community’s unique features and sought the best
overall fire engine to complement the existing apparatus fleet. The specifications also
align with the most recently purchased fire engine, Engine 3, with minor modifications
based on experience. The new fire engine provides the same capabilities as the previous
engine but with improved safety, efficiency, and reliability resulting in less cost and time
associated with repair and maintenance.
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Item 5i
Background
Accelerated Replacement
As part of the FY 2021-22 Fourth-Quarter Financial Report (Year-End) to Council, staff
recommended the acceleration of Engine 4 replacement to ensure a sustainable reserve
engine fleet. The replacement was scheduled for FY 2024 -25; however, the current
reserve engine has been encountering a higher than an expected number of mechanical
issues that jeopardize the availability of a reliable reserve apparatus over the next several
years.
Additionally, the City is not immune to the supply shortages brought on by the COVID 19
pandemic. Many fleet replacements have been delayed and commitment letters are being
issued to ensure delivery from vendors as far out as 18 months in the future. This engine
is immediately available through Pierce, which is the City’s standard for fire engines.
Council approved this recommendation and funded the replacement. In order to avoid a
nearly $60,000 increase, the City authorized a purchase order for the replacement engine
in October and Council approval is necessary to finalize the purchase.
Sole Source Purchase Recommended
Staff recommends a sole source purchase award to South Coast Fire Equipment in the
amount of $881,584.76 for the purchase of a 2022 Pierce Arrow Type 1 Pumping Fire
Engine. City purchasing regulations allow for sole source purchases when supplies or
equipment in use have been uniformly adopted by the City or otherwise standardized.
The Pierce fire engine has been the standard apparatus for the City of San Luis Obispo
for the last quarter century.
South Coast Fire Equipment, the sole provider of Pierce engines in this region
(Attachment B), provided the purchasing quote (Attachment C) for the pumper. The quote
was good through October 31, 2022, if allowed to expire, without issuing a purchase order
the cost would increase by at least 7% or nearly $60,000.
The Fire Department has made significant parts, equ ipment, and training investment in
maintaining Pierce-manufactured apparatus. Fire fleet already has an inventory of spare
parts, filters, and maintenance items specific to the Pierce fire apparatus platform.
Additionally, the Fire Department’s Fire Vehicle Mechanic is specially trained to provide
maintenance to Pierce manufactured fire apparatus.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
On October 4, 2022, the City Council approved Resolution No. 11367 (2022 Series)
authorizing unassigned Local Revenue Measure Fund Balance be allocated to the
accelerated replacement of Fire Pumper (Engine 4).
On August 21, 2018, the City Council authorized the sole source purchase of a 2018
Pierce Arrow PUC Type 1 Fire Engine.
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Item 5i
Public Engagement
This item is a consent item for the August 15, 2023, City Council meeting and will follow
all required postings and notifications. The public will have an opportunity to comment on
this item at or before the meeting.
CONCURRENCE
The Finance Department concurs with the Fire Department’s request to sole source the
new engine using the current quote from South Coast Fire Equipment. Additionally, after
consultation with the previous Finance Director and the fact that the price will increase
exponentially, staff was advised that a City Manager Report should be routed to execute
a purchase order for the fire engine replacement. This was due to the October 4, 2022
appropriation of needed funding by Council, and the significant cost increases that would
be incurred by delaying the issuance of a purchase order. Staff included the details of the
purchase commitment in the 1st quarter report that was presented to Council on
November 15, 2022.
Staff was advised to return to Council with a consent item to affirm this purchase at the
next available meeting after the City Manager’s Report approved the purchase
(Attachment A).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in
this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines
Sec. 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2022-23
Funding Identified: Yes
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $900,000 $881,584.76 $18,415.24 $
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $900,000 $881,584.76 $18,415.24 $
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Item 5i
Council approved advancing the funding for the new engine on October 4, 2022 with
Resolution No. 11367 (2022 Series) appropriating unassigned Local Revenue Measure
Fund Balance to the accelerated purchase of the new engine. With the appropriated
$900,000, the purchase of the engine is fully funded and will not need any financing. The
remaining $18,415.24 budget for the a pparatus replacement is needed to fully outfit the
vehicle with the necessary communications and agency-specific equipment.
Pierce Manufacturing pricing and the corresponding quote from South Coast expired on
October 31, 2022 due to the manufacturer's annual price adjustments. Had we allowed
quote to expire without committing to a purchase the engine would have increased the
cost of the engine by a minimum of $60,000, due to a scheduled 7% cost increase.
Anecdotally, SLOFD has confirmed with surrounding agencies that the pricing for similar
apparatus now exceeds $1 million.
ALTERNATIVES
Deny the sole source purchase. This action is not recommended by staff as the funds
are approved as part of the budget amendment. Pierce engines, the City’s standard fire
engine, is only available through South Coast Fire Equipment that covers the west coast
territory.
ATTACHMENTS
A - City Manager Report - Engine 4 Accelerated Purchase
B - Sole Source Verification
C - South Coast Quote
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City of San Luis Obispo, City Manager Report
Final City Manager Approval Approver Name Date Approved
City Administration GH for DJ 10/25/22
Reviewer Routing List Reviewer Name Date Reviewed
Finance NH 10/25/2022
Date:
FROM: Keith Aggson, Fire Chief KAA 10/25/2022
PREPARED BY: Nicole Vert, Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: Purchase of Fire Engine
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the sole source purchase of a 2022 Pierce Arrow Type 1 Pumping Fire Engine in
the amount of $881,584.76 and return to Council with a consent item to affirm the purchase
at the next available meeting.
DISCUSSION
Emergency vehicles are a vital part of the service delivery for the City of San Luis Obispo Fire
Department. A fire engine pumper (“fire engine”) is staffed with emergency response personnel,
tools, and equipment to provide all-hazards emergency services. Through the utilization of an
internal apparatus committee, staff developed fire engine specifications that were used to build the
pricing for the replacement of Engine 4, a 2014 Pierce Arrow XT Type 1 Pumper. The
specifications considered the community’s unique features and sought the best overall fire engine
to complement the existing apparatus fleet. The specifications also align with the most recently
purchased fire engine, Engine 3 with minor modifications based on experience. The new fire
engine provides the same capabilities as the previous engine but with improved safety, efficiency,
and reliability resulting in less cost and time associated with repair and maintenance.
Background
Accelerated Replacement
As part of the FY 2021-22 Fourth-Quarter Financial Report (Year-End) F to Council, staff
recommended the acceleration of Engine 4 replacement to ensure a sustainable reserve engine
fleet. The replacement was currently scheduled for FY 2024-25; however, the aged reserve engine
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Authorization to sole source purchase Pierce Arrow Fire Engine Page 2
has been encountering more than an expected number of mechanical issues which jeopardizes the
availability of a reliable reserve apparatus over the next several years. Additionally, the City is not
immune to the supply shortages brought on by the COVID 19 pandemic. Many fleet replacements
have been delayed and commitment letters issued to secure delivery up to 18 months in the future.
This engine is immediately available through Pierce which is the City’s standard for fire engines.
Council approved this recommendation and funded the replacement.
Sole Source Purchase Recommended
Staff recommends a sole source purchase award to South Coast Fire Equipment in the amount of
$881,584.76 for the purchase of a 2022 Pierce Arrow Type 1 Pumping Fire Engine. City
purchasing guidelines allow for sole source when supplies or equipment in use have been
uniformly adopted by the City or otherwise standardized. The Pierce fire engine has been the
standard apparatus for the City of San Luis Obispo for the last quarter century. South Coast Fire
Equipment, the sole provider of Pierce engines in this region, is providing the purchasing quote
(Attachment A) for the pumper at the base price reflective of a nationally utilized cooperative
purchasing agreement. Used as a pricing standard throughout the fire service, this master contract
is commonly known as the HGAC, or Houston Galveston Area Council Cooperative Purchasing
Agreement. While the City is not purchasing through HGAC, the City’s price for this apparatus is
the same as this cooperative purchasing agreement. The quote is only good through October 31,
2022 and the cost is expected to increase by 7%.
The Fire Department has made significant parts, equipment, and training investment in
maintaining Pierce-manufactured apparatus. Fire fleet already has an inventory of spare parts,
filters, and maintenance items specific to the Pierce fire apparatus platform. Additionally, the Fire
Department’s Fire Vehicle Mechanic is specially trained to provide maintenance to Pierce
manufactured fire apparatus.
Staff will return to Council with a consent item to affirm this purchase at the next available
meeting.
CONCURRENCES
The Finance Department concurs with the Fire Department staff to sole source the new engine
using the current quote from South Coast Fire Equipment. Additionally, after consultation with
the Finance Director and the fact that the price will increase exponentially, staff was advised that
a City Manager Report should be routed to execute a purchase order for the fire engine
replacement. This was due to the October 4, 2022, appropriation of needed funding by Council,
and the significant cost increases that would be incurred by delaying the issuance of a purchase
order. Staff will include the details of the purchase commitment in the 1st quarter report that will
be presented to Council on November 15, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT
Council approved advancing the funding for the new engine on October 4, 2022,, by appropriating
unassigned Local Revenue Measure Fund Balance to the accelerated purchase of the new engine.
With the appropriated $900,000, the purchase of the engine is currently fully funded and will not
need any financing.
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Authorization to sole source purchase Pierce Arrow Fire Engine Page 3
Pierce Manufacturer pricing and the corresponding quote from South Coast expire on October 31,
2022, due to the manufacturer's annual price adjustments. Allowing the current quote to expire
would increase the cost of the engine by a minimum $60,000, due to a scheduled 7% cost increase.
Additionally, South Coast is providing a 100% prepayment discount of $36,000. Due to the
availability of the funding, staff recommends the full prepayment of the fire engine purchase.
Equipment Replacement Fund Project Costs
Adopted Budget (FY 2022-23)900,000.00$
Base Unit Cost 847,343.00$
100% Prepayment Discount (36,700.00)$
Adjusted Base Unit Cost 810,643.00$
Sales Tax (8.75%)70,931.26$
California Tire Fee 10.50$
Cost From Dealer 881,584.76$
Internal Vehicle Assembly Cost 18,415.24$
Total Vehicle/Project Cost 900,000.00$
ALTERNATIVES
Deny the sole source purchase. Staff does not recommend this as the funds are approved as part
of the budget amendment. Delaying the purchase will jeopardize the reliability of the Fire
Department’s reserve apparatus fleet and likely result in significant replacement cost increases due
to current market conditions. Pierce engines, the City’s standard fire engine, is only available
through South Coast Fire Equipment that covers the west coast territory.
ATTACHMENTS
A - SLO City Type-1 to Fleet
B - Sole Source Approval Memo
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