REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
May 14, 2020
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, Director
Department of Transportation
BY: BRIAN BARR, Assistant Director
Department of Transportation
DUANE MYERS, Fleet Manager
Department of Transportation, Municipal Fleet Division
CLIFF TRAUGH, Senior Management Analyst
Department of Transportation, Municipal Fleet Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the award of a purchase contract to Ditch Witch West of Fowler, California, for the purchase of one vacuum excavator truck in the amount of $309,166
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve the award of a purchase contract to Ditch Witch West of Fowler, California, for the purchase of one vacuum excavator truck in the amount of $309,166.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Water Operations Division seeks to purchase one vacuum excavator truck to perform repair and maintenance to the fresh water distribution system. The new truck will be purchased as an addition through a competitively solicited cooperative procurement process administered by Source Well, formally the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA).
BACKGROUND
DPU, Water Operations Division is responsible for delivering safe drinking water to approximately 500,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers over a 114 square mile area. This mission is accomplished through continuous maintenance of the system, which requires soil excavation. Traditionally, this process was completed with mini excavators, then hand tools once utilities were exposed. Similar to vacuum trucks already in use by the Wastewater Management Division, this task can be performed with a vacuum excavation truck. This approach saves hard labor and eliminates the risk of utility damage from mechanical digging.
Currently, the Water Operations Division operates four mini excavators to perform all repair and maintenance. Once concrete has been removed, an equipment operator will dig down to an approximate dep...
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