TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Bruce Moe, Finance Director
Robert Espinosa, Fire Chief
Mike Boyd, Battalion Chief
Gwen Eng, Purchasing Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Purchase of Two Budgeted Replacement Paramedic Rescue Ambulances from Braun Northwest in the Amount of $332,722.08 (Finance Director Moe).
WAIVE FORMAL BIDDING (COOPERATIVE PURCHASING); APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council a) waive formal bidding per Municipal Code Section 2.36.150 (cooperative purchasing) and b) approve the purchase of two replacement paramedic rescue ambulances in the amount of $332,722.08 from Braun Northwest.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Funds totaling $360,000 are budgeted in the fiscal year (FY) 2015-2016 Fleet Management Fund. The total estimated cost to purchase and outfit these vehicles is $360,000, which includes $332,722 to purchase the ambulances, and $27,278 to purchase communications equipment and exterior graphics.
BACKGROUND:
The Fire Department currently maintains a fleet of four ambulances: two Advanced Life Support (ALS) and two Basic Life Support (BLS). Because of the extreme demands placed upon ALS vehicles from continuous emergency medical responses and transports, these vehicles are kept in front-line service for a period of three years, and then transferred to less intensive use as BLS units. This rotation is necessary to ensure the highest levels of reliability for emergency transportation in life threatening situations where immediate medical attention is required. Reliability diminishes relatively quickly on ambulances over three years old, requiring more frequent service, maintenance and repairs. The current front-line ALS units were put into service in 2013 and are due to be rotated to BLS status.
DISCUSSION:
Whenever practical, the City “piggybacks” onto contracts which are economically advantageous. Piggybacking is the extension of pricing, terms, and conditions to other governmental agencies at the mutual consent of all parties. This is permissible under the City’s Municipal Code, section 2.36.150. In this case, Braun Northwest has offered the City pricing from the City of Los Angeles contract. The City of Los Angeles solicited bids and awarded a multi-year contract to Braun Northwest. To date, L.A. Fire Department has spent $24 million on rescue ambulances using this contract. Because of the pricing and structure of the competitive bid and resulting contract, staff believes that the City of Los Angeles pricing is the best attainable that meets the City’s needs. As a result, staff recommends purchasing two paramedic rescue ambulances from Braun Northwest in the amount of $332,722.08.
The original budgeted amount of $360,000 is sufficient to purchase and fully outfit the vehicle. Communications equipment (approximately $23,000) and graphics ($4,000) are necessary to completely outfit the vehicles.
If this purchase is approved, the new vehicles will be placed into service in approximately 10 months. Current front line ALS units will then be reassigned to BLS duty, with the oldest BLS units retired and sent to auction for maximum attainable value.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
There is no public outreach required for this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
There is no environmental impact associated with this item.
LEGAL REVIEW
There is no legal review required as a result of this action.