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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: January 21, 2010 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~-~- - j <br />SUBJECT: Bid Award: Ambulances for Emergency Services <br />DEPARTMENT: Asset Management and PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Purchasing Services (AMPS) <br />& Emergency Services <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Emergency Services Reserve Capital <br />Project Ordinance <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pam Jones, AMPS, 919-245-2652 <br />David Cannell, AMPS, 919-245-2651 <br />Frank Montes de Oca, Emergency <br />Services, 919-245 -6100 <br />Clint Osborn, Emergency Services, 919- <br />245-6100 <br />Clarence Grier, Financial Services, 919- <br />245-2453 <br />PURPOSE: To consider awarding a bid for the purchase of three ambulances to Excellance <br />Incorporated of Madison, Alabama and to purchase additional safety and patient care <br />equipment. <br />BACKGROUND: Between 2004 and 2006, Emergency Services upgraded the entire <br />ambulance fleet with eight F-450 Ford Ambulances. One ambulance has been permanently <br />removed from the fleet due to a collision. Five of the remaining seven have reached the end of <br />their expected useful life as frontline response units. <br />While certain changes, such as the move to a larger chassis and the addition of the dual power <br />climate control systems have been very beneficial, none of these vehicles were able to utilize <br />the bio-diesel fuel mixture as expected in 2004 due to critical fuel system issues that caused <br />ongoing problems. In addition, the 6.OL Ford engines have been plagued with mechanical <br />issues increasing repair cost and time out of service. The Ford 6.OL engine problems are <br />affecting EMS systems nationwide with Orange County currently participating in a class action <br />lawsuit against the manufacturer. <br />In 2008 after a series of occasions whereby the ambulance fleet could not sustain the workload, <br />Emergency Services staff approached Public Works Fleet Management to develop a long term <br />solution. Following a series of meetings Emergency Services and Public Works agreed that a <br />medium duty chassis and drive train (engine and transmission) is critical to compensate for <br />increasing call volume, mileage, and corresponding on-scene idling during calls. <br />At the same time, the County Manager directed Emergency Services to initiate a regular <br />replacement cycle starting with three new ambulances in the first year (FY 2009-2010) followed <br />