Authorize Purchase of Replacement Fire Tanker Truck

The 1989 Ford L9000 Fire Department Tanker is due for replacement. Delivered in 1990, this vehicle was the first apparatus acquired when the Fire Department was formed in 1988. Maintenance and performance issues continue at more frequent intervals as would be expected with a vehicle of this age.

Staff is recommending to replace the 1989 Tanker with an Engine/Tanker. By doing this, the new vehicle will be utilized as both a Tanker (hauling water to fire scenes) and a first response Engine. This type of vehicle will give the FD added flexibility when vehicles are being maintenanced and also when response needs require more engine support. With the costs of fire apparatus continuing to go up through the years, staff has worked to design a vehicle that both meet the community needs while also controling cost. This was accomplished by:
 
1) Proposing to use HGAC (Houston-Galveston Area Council) Cooperative Purchasing.
2) Use a commercial chassis rather than custom built

HGAC Cooperative Purchasing meets all the state purchasing requirements of the sealed bid process. By using this method, the buyer does not totally design a vehicle from the "tires up" but rather comes up with a list of needs and manufacturer(s) provide a list of vehicles of similar design to pick from. This method could be considered a form of catalog purchase. With less customizing, the final price is less than if the buyer spec'd the entire vehicle and went to sealed bid. A list of recent purchases has been attached to this case by departments in the local area for review.

Staff is also recommending using a commercial chassis rather than the more expensive custom built. Staff would estimate that 70-80% of this vehicle's use will be for hauling water. The custom chassis will provide the needed functions to perform water hauling while also being flexible enough to act as a first response engine. With Ramsey having at least 60% of its area non-hydranted, the need for hauled water will continue for many years.

Copies of the specifications of both the chassis and the engine/tanker pumper body are included with this case.

With budget constraints in the recent past, staff has proposed funding of this equipment to be spread over 2 years which were included in the 2012 and 2013 General Fund Budget.

Staff is recommending to enter into a HGAC Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with General/Rosenbauer (aka General Fire Apparatus) for the purchase and fabrication of an Engine/Tanker. Staff is comfortable with this recommendation as all previously purchased apparatus has gone through the sealed bid process and, after this process, General/Rosenbauer has built all but one of the current fleet of apparatus. It should be noted that of the almost 250 apparatus that General/Rosenbauer builds per year in Wyoming, about 80% are purchased through the HGAC process.

Purchase price for this proposed vehicle is $333,632. Funding for this purchase has been spread over the past 2 budget cycles.

Funding for this vehicle will be from the sale of Capital Equipment Certificates that are proposed to be sold in late July/August 2013.  The Expense was included in the 2012 & 2013 General Fund Budget.

Authorize staff to enter into an agreement for the purchase of a Engine/Tanker from General/Rosenbauer in the amount of $333,632.