TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Libby Bretthauer, Finance Director
Jesse Alexander, Fire Chief
Anthony Gomes, Deputy Fire Chief
Mario Hernandez, Purchasing Supervisor
Dru Leonard, Purchasing Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Purchase of One Budgeted North Star 144-1 Ambulance from Braun NW, Inc. in the Amount of $371,105.25 (Budgeted) (Finance Director Bretthauer).
A) WAIVE FORMAL BIDDING DUE TO COOPERATIVE PURCHASING
B) AUTHORIZE PURCHASE
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council waive formal bidding per Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) Section 2.36.150 (cooperative purchasing) and approve the purchase of one budgeted North Star 144-1 Ambulance from Braun NW, Inc., in the amount of $371,105.25.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Funds totaling $526,657 are budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Fleet Management Fund for the purchase and outfitting of this ambulance. The total cost, including fees and taxes, is $371,105.25. The remaining budgeted funds of $155,551.75 will be used to outfit this vehicle with the necessary safety, communications equipment, and tools. Any unspent budgeted funds will be returned to the Fleet Management Fund balance.
BACKGROUND:
The Fire Department’s current ambulance has reached the end of its useful life. Industry best practices indicate that emergency vehicles should be replaced once they reach the end of their useful life to ensure dependable service and compliance with safety regulations.
Investing in a new ambulance is essential to prioritize the health and safety of our residents. A modern unit will enhance emergency response capabilities, reduce downtime, and provide advanced medical equipment to support life-saving interventions. By replacing the aging vehicle, the City demonstrates its commitment to maintaining high-quality public safety services and ensuring that first responders have the tools necessary to protect the community effectively.
DISCUSSION:
This purchase is for one replacement ambulance for the Fire Department. The existing ambulance being replaced is over 13 years old, with over 62,960 miles, and has reached the end of useful serviceability for the Department’s purposes. The selection of the replacement vehicle has been approved by the City’s Fire Chief.
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC Cooperative) has established Interlocal contracts with thousands of members throughout Texas and across the United States. All products and services are procured through a competitive process, utilizing either an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP).
Staff recommends that the City Council waive formal bidding per Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) Section 2.36.150 (cooperative purchasing), which allows the City to forego the formal bidding process for purchases of equipment obtained through a cooperative competitive bidding procedure processed through another government agency. Braun NW Inc. is an authorized dealer of the North Star 144-1 Ambulance and is responsible for the sales and services in Southern California. This vendor has agreed to extend the contract prices, terms, and conditions under the H-GAC contract AM10-23.
If this purchase is approved, the new North Star 144-1 Ambulance would arrive approximately 18-24 months after receipt of the purchase order.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
After analysis, staff determined that public outreach was not required for this purchase.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Quote - Braun NW, Inc. Company