Consideration and Approval of Purchase:  From Rosenbauer Minnesota, LLC of an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Vehicle for the City of Flagstaff Airport.

1. Approve the purchase of an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Vehicle from Rosenbauer Minnestoa, LLC in the amount of $ 709,660.62 with U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration grant funds; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.

The purchase of the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Vehicle (ARFF) is needed to replace one existing 2004 Class 4 ARFF Vehicle to serve as the primary front-line ARFF response vehicle.  Due to the increased size of the commercial aircraft from American Airlines and United Airlines, the new ARFF will help meet FAA regulations, FAR Part 139 Requirements. The new ARFF will also help support the safety of the flying public that utilizes the Flagstaff Airport, including General Aviation, Military, Medical, and Charter Flights.

The new ARFF will further enhance Airport safety and emergency response. 

 

The ARFF Vehicle is funded by a grant (3-04-0015-042-2015) from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), AZ Department of Transportation (ADOT) Aeronautics, and the City of Flagstaff. This purchase is  budgeted in account 221-07-222-3140-0-4402 for $1,100,000.

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1. Award the purchase of the ARFF Vehicle from Rosenbauer Minnesota, LLC; or
2. Do not award the purchase and reject all bids. This action would delay the project
   • If rejection occurs, possible options include
     • Re-advertise the project and open new bids; or
     • Suspend or cancel the project; this would require the airport to rely on a 15-year-old primary ARFF vehicle for aircraft emergency response. In addition, the City would de-obligate the grant award back to FAA.

Currently, the Flagstaff Airport has one 2004 Oshkosh Striker Class 4, as the primary front-line ARFF truck, and one 1989 Class 3 International Crash Rescue truck as the backup ARFF truck.  In September of 2016, the primary front-line truck (2004 Oshkosh Stryker 1500 Class 4) experienced a mechanical failure and had to be removed from service. In addition to the $43,000 cost for repair, the Flagstaff Airport was unable to meet Index B requirements for the seasonal charter flights (NAU Football), causing the charter flights to fly into another airport. This resulted in negative publicity for the Flagstaff Airport. Given the age and costs associated with maintaining the truck as a primary front-line status, the dependability of the Class 4 ARFF truck (2004 Oshkosh Stryker 1500) is questionable and is of great concern for the Flagstaff Airport.  If the new ARFF vehicle is awarded it will become the new front-line apparatus used to respond to emergencies and older the 2004 ARFF truck will replace the even older 1989 Class 3 truck as the backup truck.  The 1989 truck will be removed from the fleet altogether.

On June 13, 2018, the City of Flagstaff Purchasing Section posted an Invitation for Bids (IFB) solicitation on the PlanetBids.com website and also advertised the ARFF Vehicle opportunity in the June 17 and June 24, 2018 editions of the Arizona Daily Sun. Only one bid was received and opened on July 19, 2017. The FAA deemed this solicitation non-competitive and directed City staff to re-solicit the IFB. On August 6, 2018, the City of Flagstaff Purchasing Section again posted an IFB solicitation on the PlanetBids.com website and also advertised the ARFF Vehicle opportunity in the August 12 and August 19, 2018 editions of the Arizona Daily Sun. Two bids were received and opened on August 28, 2018. The FAA deemed this a competitive solicitation.

The primary consideration is the safety of the flying public and emergency response at the Flagstaff Airport.  The purchase of the new ARFF is needed to replace one existing 2004 Class 4 ARFF Vehicle as the primary front-line ARFF response vehicle.  Due to the increased size of the commercial aircraft from American Airlines and United Airlines, the new ARFF Vehicle will help meet FAA regulations, FAR Part 139 Requirements. This vehicle will also help support the response to General Aviation, Military, Medical, and Charter Flights.

The two bids received for the ARFF Vehicle purchase are as follows:

Rosenbaur Minnesota, LLC                                                     $709,660.62
Oshkosh Airport Products, LLC                                               $749,179.14

The purchase of the ARFF vehicle will enhance the safety operation at the Flagstaff Airport and the emergency response to commercial, general aviation, charter flights, medical and military aircraft emergencies.

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