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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/23/1996, C-7 - FIRE FLEET MODIFICATIONS counaL 7/23/96 ayenba nepom 67 CITY OF SAN LUIS 091 SSP}0 FROM: Robert F. Neumann, Fire Chief /C�'/ Prepared By: William R. Dugger, Fire Apparahis Mechanic SUBJECT: Fire Fleet Modifications CAO RECONEMU*4DATION • Approve recommended modifications to the Fire fleet, which will reduce the overall size of the City's Fire fleet by one vehicle and reduce the cost of scheduled replacements by $52,500. • Authorize the CAO to enter into a sole-source purchasing agreement for a new fire engine with Pierce Manufacturing Company at a cost of $259,028 (including sales tax and delivery.) DISCUSSION Overview The Fire Department is currently scheduled to replace several pieces of apparatus during the 1996-97 fiscal year. Staff has developed an equipment replacement plan that is based on current needs and, takes into account the recent five year ambulance agreement. By buying one engine and modifying certain current pieces of apparatus, our long-term needs would be met and $52,500 currently allocated for new equipment purchases would be saved and returned to the Equipment Replacement Fund balance. The current and proposed plans are outlined below. Current Equipment Replacement Schedule 199495 Fiscal Plan • Squad-1 - $379100 These monies were budgeted for in 1994-95 and carried over into the 1996/97 fiscal plan as it was unclear whether a squad/rescue with transport capability was going to be necessary. 1996-97 Fiscal Plan • Engine - $250,000 Currently, $250,000 has been allocated for the acquisition of a new engine which did not include equipment such as fire hose, radio/siren, stem light and other miscellaneous equipment needs. This miscellaneous equipment normally is transferred from the engine this unit is replacing. • Utility Truck - $349 000 This unit is scheduled to be replaced and has $34,000 budgeted for its replacement. • Squad-1 - $449300 The Equipment Replacement Fund currently has approved $44,300 for the removal and replacement of this unit's cab/chassis and restoration of the unit's rescue box, plus $37,100 carried over should the conversion to a transport capable apparatus be necessary. Proposed Plan • Transport Ready Engine The new ambulance contract requires the City to provide a "back-up" transportation capable unit in the Department's fleet (staff report of March 19, 1996). At the time the engine was budgeted for, $250,000 was perceived to be an adequate estimate. However, upgrading the unit to be transport capable, coupled with unanticipated price increases, has resulted in a short-fall of$9,000. This deficit could be offset by savings generated from Fire fleet modifications proposed in this report. It should be noted that prices may still vary prior to the award of the contract depending upon inflation rates and/or the type of contract option selected. It is recommended to eliminate the need to go out to bid and insure the Department receives the product it wants, the City sole-source the purchase of this new fire engine. Staff recommends sole-sourcing this engine to the Pierce Manufacturing Co. based on the following: • A fire engine is a specialized piece of equipment. The Pierce Manufacturing Co. custom builds each fire engine "from the ground up" to buyer specifications. Since they produce the entire unit, they can offer a single source warranty. The specifications being used include a patient transport component. This component would be designed and built by Pierce on the custom cab/chassis. Most other manufacturers of fire equipment use a commercial cab/chassis built by a separate manufacturer. These are then incorporated into the mass production of various types of equipment, such as garbage trucks, delivery vehicles, fire engines, etc. Since a commercial cab/chassis would not be custom designed, it would need to be extensively modified to produce transport capability. Significant alterations to a pre- manufactured cab/chassis is unacceptable to staff. Council Agenda Report - Fire Fleet Modifications Page 3 • Staff has reviewed other manufactured lines of current fire apparatus on the market. A fire engine manufactured by Seagraves Co. would cost approximately $265,000 with no transport capability. A fire engine manufactured by KME would cost approximately $251,050 with no transport capabilities and would have a commercial stock cab/chassis. • The Pierce Manufacturing Co. has been successful in being awarded the bid for the City's last two major pieces of fire apparatus. In addition, South Bay Fire Department and Morro Bay Fire Department recently purchased similar engines from Pierce. The purchase of a Pierce engine will standardize the City's fire fleet. • The Fire Department's engine replacement committee recently made field trips to surrounding agencies and looked at various types of apparatus. It was the committee's consensus that Morro Bay's Pierce Lance would fulfill our needs and is the unit of choice. The City, therefore, would be able to use specifications recently developed by Morro Bay saving research and development time. • If the unit goes out to bid and the Morro Bay specifications are used, it is perceived that the Pierce Manufacturing Co. would be the lowest acceptable bidder and would be awarded the contract. This would delay the contract award and might cost the City additional funds needed to cover price increases caused by possible inflation rates. • Spare components for Pierce's engines are currently on hand in case of repair. Purchasing an additional Pierce engine would reduce the need to purchase parts needed to maintain another manufacturer's engine. Also, a Pierce fire engine is simply easier to repair and preserve. • Pierce Manufacturing Co. is an extremely reputable company. It has been in operation since 1913 and is known for its integrity, quality and attention to detail. Fire engines produced by Pierce are in-service longer with quality unsurpassed in the industry. (This is one of the primary reasons why Pierce has been selected to build both Morro Bay's and South Bay's fire engine.) If sole-sourcing to the Pierce Manufacturing Co. is approved, the City would pre-pay the engine's cab/chassis for $131,888, 90 days prior to delivery. (The City has done this with its last two fire engine purchases.) The remaining balance of$127,140 would be made when the unit is delivered for a total cost of$259,028 (including tax and delivery). Finance Department concurs that this is an acceptable practice. Purchasing this new engine will put the engine assigned to Station 4 into reserve status and allow the current reserve engine to become surplus. X73 Council Agenda Report - Fire Fleet Modifications Page 4 • Modify Surplus Engine to Replace Brush Truck It is proposed to modify the engine that would become surplus and utilize it as a brush/interface apparatus. This engine carries 500 gallons of water. It has more room for personnel, hose and equipment and would be safer to operate as the loads implied would be well within the vehicles Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and braking capability. In 1989, this unit underwent a major refit which included replacing all the plumbing, refurbishing the water tank, body, compartment and undercarriage. In July of 1991, the motor was replaced and currently has 23,000 miles on it. The total mileage of the vehicle is approximately 73,000. In the spring of 1995, based on the unit's participation in the winter floods, a minor overhaul of major brake components, wheel bearing, cooling system and all components were serviced and checked. In 1996, an entire new radio siren was installed and a major electric upgrade was performed. Even with all the above-noted improvements, staff anticipates the unit's surplus value would not bring more than $5,000-$8,000. This proposed modification would upgrade the unit's status to a Type-3 engine allowing it to be used in strike teams and to be more effective in combating wildland fires. Because of its pumping capabilities, it could also be used as an additional reserve unit for major disasters such as floods and earthquakes. It should be noted it places in service or modifies an existing unit that is 19 years old. The Department expects, based on past experience, availability of parts and design of the apparatus, the unit can realistically be expected to see an additional 10+ years of service. Modifying this engine poses a problem. The engine equipment assigned to this unit that normally would be transferred to the new engine would not be available. The new engine would have to be outfitted by some other means. This was not anticipated when originally budgeted. It is recommended that approximately $36,000 from the funds in the equipment replacement account being saved in the Fire Fleet modifications proposed in this report be used to provide equipment for the engine. • Modify Brush Truck to Replace Utility Truck Implementing the surplus engine as a brush/interface unit will eliminate the need for the current brush truck now in use. The current brush truck is a one-ton vehicle and is at the upper limits of its gross vehicle weight rating making its braking system marginal. Instead of purchasing a new utility truck, it is proposed to utilize the brush truck with slight alterations as the utility truck. The current brush truck has an ample utility box. The conversion to a utility truck will eliminate the need for the water Council Agenda Report - Fire Fleet Modifications Page 5 tank and fire pump, which will lighten it, making it safe to operate as a utility truck. This unit with its low miles should provide a useful utility truck for years to come and result in savings of $34,000 already approved for replacement. • Eliminate Squad-1 Replacement With the configuration of the three-person Paramedic engine company and the purchase of a new fire engine with transport capability, it will not be necessary to replace the squad. This will save $81,400 already approved for replacement. • Convert Squad-1 into a Trailer This unit has attained 70,000 miles under adverse conditions and has been involved in one major collision, the drive train and interior are in poor condition. This unit has very little surplus value. The existing rescue box is in fairly good shape. It is proposed that instead of auctioning the vehicle and apparatus rescue box away, that it be converted to a trailer. This can be accomplished fairly easily by cutting the frame out from under the cab and fabricating it into a tongue for a hitch. Converting this unit into a trailer will result in an effective means to transport materials such as air bottles, foam, lighting, investigative gear, etc. to emergency scenes for short and long term deployment. Estimated cost of conversion of this unit to a trailer is approximately $4,000. If this unit is converted to a trailer many of its existing accessories, i.e. alternator, radiator, etc. are in good shape and will fit the unit now being utilized as the brush truck. If this unit is converted into a trailer and the current brush truck is converted into a utility truck, it will provide many good spare parts for the vehicle being proposed as the utility truck resulting in even more cost savings in the long run. • Purchase Extrication Equipment for Remaining Engines Extrication equipment for the remaining engine fleet is scheduled to be requested in the 1997-99 Fiscal Plan at a cost of $14,000. This action is necessary as the Department no longer responds a Squad-Rescue vehicle which had been equipped with this equipment. With the current engine response configuration, each engine now needs an extrication device to be prepared for responses requiring extrication. This equipment could be purchased now from the savings generated from the proposed apparatus modifications. By implementing the proposed fire fleet configuration and payment plan for the new engine (pre- payment of the cab/chassis), $52,500 would be saved and the engine would be guaranteed to be delivered with no major exceptions. All other recommended modifications and equipment acquisition would meet our long-term needs. Finance concurs with this option. Z4�-� Council Agenda Report - Fire Fleet Modifications Page 6 CONCURRENCES Finance Department has reviewed this plan and concurs with the recommendations. FISCAL IMPACT Modifications to Fire a Fleet Savings: Elimination of Squad-1 replacement $81,000 Elimination of Utility Truck replacement $34,000 Surplus of existing Utility Truck estimated $2,500 Total $117,500 One-Time Costs: Conversion of current Brush Truck to Utility Truck $2,000 Conversion of old Squad to trailer $4,000 Purchase of Extrication Equipment for Remaining Engine Fleet $14,000 Total ($209000) Sole-Source New Engine with Transport Capability Engine (funds allocated in FY 1996/97) $250,000 One Time Costs: Conversion of the engine to allow transport capability $9,000 Additional equipment $36,000 Total ($459000) NET SAVINGS TO EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND $529500 ALTERNATIVES Implement the Existing Replacement Schedule Implement the existing replacement schedule, which would forego $52,500 in savings and delay the purchase of extrication equipment. Solicit Bids for a New Engine With Transport Capability Solicit bids for an engine with transport capability, which would delay the contract award and cost the City additional funds needed to cover price increases caused by possible inflation rates and new requirements. JUL-19-96 FRI 4: 30 PM SLO FIRE DEPTH FAX N0, 8055438019 F. I M F. M O R A N D U M MEETING, AGENDA DATE a3 ITEM #_c� TO: City Council VIA: John Dunn, CAgX FROM: RobertF. Neumann, Fire Chief Mark McCullough, President SLOFA.{l-" — DATE: July 19, 1996 SUBJECT: Meet and Confer -3-Person Engine Company At the July 23, 1996, Council meeting you will consider an agenda report dealing with modifications to the Fire fleet. These modifications are possible in part due to the implementation of the 3-person engine company program. Staff has been working cooperatively through the Firefighters' Association to Meet and Confer on this issue. While we have not resolved all the outstanding operational issues, we have been able to reach consensus that the changes as outlined in the report are mutually acceptable. I;• COUNCIL ❑ CDD DIR @-CAO ❑ FIN DIR 2-ACA0 E}-FIRE CHIEF ' Q-ATTORNEY ❑ PW DIR G-CLERKIORIG ❑ POUCE CHF ❑ MGMTTEAM ❑ REC DIR ❑ C READ FILE ❑ UTIL DIR ❑ PERS DIR G:\COMMON\ADMIN\W P\ASSOC4.MEM