TO:
Honorable Mayor Powell and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
David N. Carmany, City Manager
FROM:
Bruce Moe, Finance Director
Gwen Eng, General Services Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Purchase of One Replacement Loader/Backhoe for the Public Works Department from Case Power and Equipment in the Amount of $104,283.64.
APPROVE
Body
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council: a) waive formal bidding per Municipal Code Section 2.36.150 (cooperative purchasing); and b) award an order for one loader/backhoe to Case Power and Equipment in the amount of $104,283.64.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The total cost to purchase this vehicle is $104,283.64. Funds totaling $100,000 are budgeted in the fiscal year (FY) 2012-2013 Fleet Management Fund. New U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 requirements for particulate matter emissions have caused the total cost to rise above initial budgetary estimates. However, sufficient funds ($4,284) needed to effect the purchase are available in the Fleet Management Fund balance without further appropriation.
DISCUSSION:
The fiscal year (FY) 2012-2013 budget includes the replacement of 61 vehicles in the City's fleet. The list includes a wide variety of vehicles that need to be replaced in order to maintain service levels, reduce repair costs and provide for cost-effective fleet operations. The list represents several "catch-up" years when the fleet was not actively replaced due to budget constraints. Where possible and practical, alternative fuel vehicles have been selected, with eight such vehicles on the list replacing traditional fuel vehicles.
This recommended purchase is for a replacement Loader/Backhoe, which will be used by the Public Works Department for pavement and grounds maintenance. It is a combination unit; the backhoe is used to break up concrete and asphalt, and excavate, while the front loader is used to scoop debris and other materials. The current unit (#006 purchased in 1995) has aged to the point it requires constant maintenance and repairs, and is no longer economically feasible to maintain. In addition, this vehicle does not meet EPA Tier 4 requirements and must be removed from service by 2013.
Whenever practical, the City "piggybacks" onto contracts which are economically advantageous. In this case, Case Power and Equipment has offered the City pricing from a competitively bid contract from the City of Los Angeles - Harbor Department.
The City of Los Angeles - Harbor Department issued a formal bid in October 2011 for one loader/backhoe and received seven responses. Of those responses, the City of Los Angeles - Harbor Department awarded an order to the lowest responsive bidder, Case Power and Equipment. Staff would have followed the exact same steps to obtain prices for this vehicle; consequently, it is unlikely that there would be an advantage gained by requesting formal bids.
Based on these available piggyback opportunities, staff recommends City Council award an order to Case Power and Equipment in the amount of $104,283.64 for the purchase of one loader/backhoe. If this purchase is approved, the new vehicle will arrive in three to six months and the existing unit will be retired and sent to auction.