Consideration and Ratification of Contract:  Ratify the Cooperative Purchase Contract with Empire Southwest for four pieces of Caterpillar heavy equipment for emergency response in the amount of $743,938.43, plus applicable fees and taxes, utilizing Department of Forestry and Fire Management funding.

1. Ratify the Cooperative Purchase Contract with Empire Southwest for the purchase of one Backhoe, one Skid Steer with attachments, one Front-End Loader, and one Skid Steer in the amount of $743,938.43, plus applicable fees and taxes; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.

At the direction of House Bill 2001, Arizona Governor has allocated $25 million to Arizona for post wildfire mitigation support. The City has successfully requested funding and reimbursement utilizing the Governors's funding directive for several items related to the Museum and Pipeline Fire post wildfire flooding response.

As emergency flood mitigation response efforts increase, the City has identified significant needs in response equipment. In partnership with the Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM), the City has identified four critical pieces of emergency equipment that DFFM authorized the City to purchase. Due to potential pricing increases in heavy equipment, staff consulted the City Manager to request authority to place an order for these items before appearing before Council. The purchase of this equipment will be fully reimbursed by DFFM, helping to reduce financial impacts on the City of Flagstaff.

Water Services has expanded their field operations to meet the new need for post-wildfire impacts, new operations of detention basin maintenance, mass increase in stormwater infrastructure maintenance. In addition to the overwhelming response efforts during monsoon seasons.

These two skid steers, one backhoe and one front-end loader will support the new response demands of post-wildfire impacts on the community. By purchasing there will be a more efficient response effort after post-wildfire flood events throughout the communities. It is anticipated that the equipment will be delivered within the next three to four weeks, adding immediate response capacity for Water Services and Public Works. The partnership between Water Services and Public Works Streets division has been and continues to be crucial in the successful response of these events, which is why one of the requested skid steers will be housed within Public Works and the remaining equipment will be housed within Water Services.

This equipment will be 100% reimbursed through Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) post-wildfire mitigation funds in the amount of $743,938.43 utilizing Water Services Stormwater Program budget in account 206-08-331-1257-0-4237 in the amount of $618,020.43 and Public Works Streets Section budget in account 040-06-161-0614-6-4401 in the amount of $125,918.00.

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives Carbon Neutrality Plan

N/A

The City has utilized a Cooperative Purchase Contract through Contract #212816-01 with the City of Tucson Procurement Department to insure the best pricing for this product. Purchasing staff reviewed the agency contract to confirm it is relevant to the procurement and is currently active.