Consideration and Approval of Contract: Cooperative Purchase Contract with Empire Southwest, LLC in the amount of $1,103,354.00, plus other fees and taxes, for a Caterpillar 826K Refuse Compactor. 

1. Approve the Cooperative Purchase Contract with Empire Southwest, LLC in the amount of $1,103,354.00, plus other fees and taxes, for a Caterpillar 826K Refuse Compactor of $1,103,354.00; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.

The landfill refuse compactor (Compactor) is the primary machine used at the Cinder Lake Landfill in the daily operations to push, pulverize, and compact trash. The Cinder Lake Landfill receives on average 350 tons of trash per day. The Compactor operates throughout the operating hours of the landfill six days a week. Achieving optimal compaction will extend the life of the landfill, while ensuring consistency and performance of the landfill machinery. This state of the art machinery also allows staff to ensure the we are meeting environmental standards for emissions.

The Cinder Lake Landfill has two Compactors, one front-line and the second is a backup unit. Compactors have a useful life of about 12,000 hours. The backup machine was refurbished in 2011. Because of the age of the machine, overall condition of this compactor, and the harsh nature of the work it performs, a second refurbishment will not give the life or reliability needed for a front-line machine. Currently, the backup Compactor has approximately 24,000 hours of use. The Compactor proposed for replacement is a 2004 Caterpillar 826H. Staff recommends that the backup Compactor be replaced, thereby allowing the 2019 Caterpillar 826K refuse compactor with approximately (10,500 hours) to serve at the landfill’s backup compactor. As a critical component of the landfill, this machine is planned for replacement in the Solid Waste Capital plan this fiscal year and once the machine approaches 10,000 hours of use.

Heavy machinery has experienced a significant increase in price over the past few years due to supply chain limitations and inflation. Additional Solid Waste funds were budgeted for this machine this year in anticipation of the increased cost.  The Solid Waste Section has identified a series of other capital rolling stock purchase savings this year that will make the purchase of this critical machine possible.    

Funds will be reallocated from the landfill rolling stock budget to fund this purchase from account number 211-06-165-0631-0-4401.

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives Carbon Neutrality Plan Regional Plan

No.

The City of Tucson conducted a competitive and open procurement process through a Request for Proposal Solicitation No. 212816 that resulted in Contract No. 212816-01 with Empire Southwest, LLC. The City of Flagstaff Purchasing Section has verified the cooperative purchase contract as valid and appropriate and presents the best value to the City.