Title
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH EXCELLANCE, INC. FOR A REMOUNT AMBULANCE VEHICLE FOR USE BY THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Brief Description: Since 2004 EMS has been replacing its ambulances every 6 years, one every two years. This allows EMS to control their repair costs as the drive train warranties are 5 years or 100,000 miles and at the same time keep the fleet reliable. EMS has chosen to once again remount the ambulance rather than replace the vehicle. This action results in a savings of over $87,000.00.
Body
Legislative History
Res. No. 13-134 authorized a lease-purchase agreement with Excellance, Inc. to remount an ambulance.
Res. No. 15-147 authorized a lease-purchase agreement with Excellance, Inc. to remount an ambulance.
Res. No. 17-208 authorized a lease-purchase agreement with Excellance, Inc. to remount an ambulance.
Res. No. 19-12 authorized an amendment to Res. No. 17-208 for a purchase agreement (not a lease-purchase).
Purpose & Explanation
Due to maintenance and reliability issues that EMS was experiencing with its ambulances, beginning in 2005, we reduced the life cycle from 9 years to 6 years. This has significantly improved our operations by reducing down time and major repairs.
Council has tentatively approved, via the Five-Year Plan, the purchase of a replacement ambulance in 2020.
Excellance, Inc., the original manufacture of this ambulance, has presented the option of remounting our old ambulance box on to a new chassis. The cost to perform this remount is $147,642.11. This will be the second remount for this ambulance box. With every remount, the box is structurally warrantied for 25 more years. We also receive a new 10-year electrical component and wiring warranty.
There is no need to add a power cot with loading system to this contract, as we are able to re-use the existing system and transfer it into the newly remounted unit. This re-use of the power cot and load system will recognize an additional savings of over $40,000.00.
The current cost of a new ambulance with identical features as our current one is estimated to be $235,000.00.
In an effort to reduce expenditures and to continue with the established replacement cycle, staff recommends remounting the old 2007 ambulance box on a new chassis.
Timing Considerations
The delivery of our old ambulance to the manufacture is estimated to be in early April of 2020. At that time EMS will be running with two ambulances and putting the Emergency Incident Support Unit (4016) into service if one of the remaining units is out for maintenance.
With Council approval, the contract will be signed and the order placed in December of 2019. Expected delivery of the newly remounted ambulance to Hudson is by July 31, 2020.
Legal Authority for Proposed Legislation
Pursuant to Charter Section 6.04:
Competitively bid and advertised for two consecutive weeks; bid tab attached: Yes
X Joint or Cooperative Purchase Program; State Term Schedule No. STS-800579
Professional Services
Other
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted
X Supplemental Appropriation Required - Included in 4th quarter 2019 appropriations
Appropriation Not Required
Does this legislation require use of an emergency clause?
X Yes, for the preservation of the public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Hudson by reason of the need to replace the ambulance chassis to ensure a safe and reliable emergency transport vehicle. Staff desires to place an order in December 2019.
No
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Staff recommends that Council authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement for the purchase of a remount ambulance for the Emergency Medical Service with Excellence, Inc. of Madison, Alabama, as the lowest and best bidder.
Submitted by,
Jane Howington, City Manager
Jerry Varnes, Fire/EMS Chief