REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
April 8, 2021
FROM: BRIAN BARR, Assistant Director
Department of Transportation
BY: DUANE MYERS, Fleet Manager
Department of Transportation, Municipal Fleet Division
ROBERT HARRIS, Fleet Operations Specialist
Department of Transportation, Public Safety Fleet Division
SUBJECT
Title
Reject all bids for the purchase of two squad service bodies for the Fire Department and staff will rebid the project (Bid File 3794)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council reject all bids for the purchase of two squad service bodies for the Fire Department and staff will rebid the project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fresno Fire Department seeks to purchase two squad apparatus service bodies to be mounted on new cab and chassis trucks. The new squad units will be used to provide non-ambulatory emergency medical services to individuals throughout the City of Fresno. Quotes were solicited through a competitive procurement process and the sole bidder took exception to the terms and conditions of the contract, rendering their bid non-responsive. Staff will rebid the project with revised specifications to increase competition and encourage local bidding. Ultimately, the squad units will be funded through the City Master Equipment Lease Purchase Agreement.
BACKGROUND
The Fresno Fire Department, established in 1877, is one of the oldest fire departments in the United States and the largest department in the Central Valley. The department operates within 20 fire stations citywide and currently responds to medical aid calls with fully staffed fire engines and fire trucks.
The Fire Department seeks to acquire squad units to provide non-ambulatory emergency medical services. Squad units are comprised of a cab/chassis and specialized service body. These units will allow teams to safely and reliably travel throughout the city addressing medical calls without the need to deploy the much larger, more expensive apparatuses.
Currently this service is being fulfilled by heavy-duty ladder trucks and engines resulting in unnecessary wear and tear to these critical apparatuses. The new smaller vehicle with a service body will be able to provide the same level of service to individuals needing the medical aid at a significantly lower equipment cost to the City and with greater mobility.
Competitive bids were solicited for the two squad service bodies on January 20, 2021, and advertised in the Fresno Business Journal. The Notice Inviting Bids was sent to three exchanges and specifications were distributed to two potential bidders. One bid was received and opened publicly on February 16, 2021. The sole bidder took exception to the terms and conditions of the contract, therefore Staff has determined their bid is non-responsive. Staff will rebid the project with revised specifications to increase competition and encourage local bidding. The City Attorney has reviewed and approved to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, the award of this contract does not qualify as a project as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because this is rejecting all bids.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to with this action as staff recommendation is to reject all bids. Ultimately, General Funds will be used for this purchase through the use of the City’s Master Equipment Lease Purchase Agreement and paid off over five years by the Fire Department. Funding to acquire the service bodies are included in the Fire Department’s Fiscal Year 2021 base budget.
Attachment:
Bid Eval 3794