FREPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, M.A., Director
Department of Transportation
FROM: SHARLEE FLORES, Senior Management Analyst
Department of Transportation
BLAKE RINCON, Fleet Operations Specialist
Department of Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the award of a cooperative purchase agreement to New Flyer of America Inc. for the purchase of four (4) 40’ hydrogen fuel cell electric buses and required Technician training in the amount of $6,728,116.40
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve the award of a cooperative purchase agreement to New Flyer of America Inc. for the purchase of four (4) 40’ hydrogen fuel cell electric buses and required Technician training in the amount of $6,728,116.40.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Transportation/Fresno Area Express (FAX) seeks to purchase four (4) 40’ hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) from New Flyer of America Inc. (New Flyer). This purchase is part of the FAX effort to: replace vehicles that have exceeded their useful life, improve quality and reliability of service, and comply with the California Air Resource Board (CARB) Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation. The training for FAX’s Technicians must be purchased to ensure that any repairs or services performed on the vehicles are properly and safely completed.
This statewide contract is a State Cooperative Purchasing Contract (SCPC) under Section 3019 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and is compliant with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidelines. The SCPC with New Flyer provides zero-emission transit buses, options, spare parts, and support to multiple participants, including transit organizations from other states. The contract incorporates FTA required clauses and certifications.
BACKGROUND
CARB issued the ICT regulation, effective October 1, 2019, requiring all transit agencies to gradually transition all bus and paratransit vehicles to a 100 percent zero-emission fleet by 2040. To meet this goal, FAX developed our ICT Transition Plan, which was approved by Council on June 18, 2020. Per the schedule detailed in the ICT Transition Plan, FAX must procure a mix of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, battery electric buses (BEBs), and FCEBs to meet our service requirements. The FCEBs purchased from this agreement will bring the total to six in the FAX fleet. The required Technician training must be provided in order to service/maintain the new buses.
To begin this procurement, FAX sought competitively bid cooperative agreements for FCEBs at a discounted rate in June 2024. FAX staff found a State of California cooperative purchase agreement (Agreement No.1-19-23-17B) with New Flyer. FAX staff evaluated New Flyer’s proposal and determined the contents of the cooperative purchase agreement meet both City and Federal procurement requirements. Staff also conducted a price analysis, and determined the FCEB cost is fair and reasonable based on past pricing and pricing provided to other agencies. The cooperative purchase agreement also conforms to the requirements of FTA C 4220. 1F, Chapter IV, 2(14)(i), which dictates that rolling stock agreements must not exceed the five-year limit.
It is the recommendation of staff that City Council approve the award of a cooperative purchase agreement to New Flyer via piggybacking off the State’s Agreement No.1-19-23-17B to procure four (4) 40’ FCEBs along with the required Technician training. The Purchasing Manager approved the piggyback on the State agreement to create a new cooperative agreement between FAX and New Flyer for the bus purchases and training.
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this vehicle purchase does not constitute a project for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable as federal funds preclude the use of local preference.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund from this action. Purchases from this contract shall be funded by the California Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program, and federal program 5307 allocated funds, and the federal Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). FAX enterprise funds will make up the required local match. Appropriations were included and are available in the FAX FY2025 budget.
Attachments:
State Cooperative Purchase Agreement No. 1-19-23-17B
New Flyer Quotes