Agenda - 06-01-2010 - 4l - Laserfiche WebLink

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Staff proposes to "piggy back" on the Florida Sheriffs Association bid that was awarded to Excellance, Inc. of Madison, Alabama on December 10, 2009 for Type I ambulances mounted on Freightliner M2 cab chassis at a cost of $214,090.68 each. The statute that authorizes "piggy back" bids requires that the entity advertise its intentions ten (10) days prior to a meeting in which the matter is to be considered. Orange County has fulfilled that requirement. Approving this purchase will save the County $8,500 by avoiding the cost increases quoted by the current vendor who will honor the previous price if ordered by June 2, 2010. The following decision points were considered in this request: • All ambulance purchases would conform to 2010 emissions standards leading to decreased green house gas emissions; Ambulances will be purchased with medium duty chassis and drive train to increase in service uptime. Medium Duty drive - trains are more capable of handling on -scene idling and have stronger braking, cooling, and suspension components which are critical for a system such as Orange County's with increasing call volume; • Purchases will demonstrate a continued focus on crew and patient safety; and • The new ambulances would be capable of operating on a diesel fuel blend of up to twenty percent bio- diesel (B -20). Further improvements in emergency medical services delivery are related to future system response efficiencies using Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), which allows E911 communicators to dispatch the closest unit resulting in decreased response times, reduced fuel consumption and faster patient access and care. The goal of this purchase is to create a turnkey solution so that the ambulance arrives ready to go into service. This purchase includes key pieces of equipment in addition to the ambulance. The radio system will be purchased, programmed, and drop- shipped to the ambulance manufacturer and stretchers and stair chairs are both critical pieces of equipment assisting crews in the safe lifting and moving patients over varied terrain and in different types of structures. All of this equipment is specified to match the existing fleet and the three new ambulances approved January 21, 2010. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds for the purchase of the ambulance will come from the remaining 911 funds that the Board approved setting aside in an Emergency Services Reserve Capital Project for equipment vehicles and capital maintenance. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: 1. Award the bid to Excellance, Inc. and authorize Emergency Services and Asset Management and Purchasing Services to proceed with the immediate plan to purchase the ambulance from Excellance, Inc; and 2. Approve funds up to $220,000 from the Emergency Services Reserve Capital Project, allocate this amount to the Emergency Services Department's capital budget section within the General Fund for the purchase, and approve the attached Capital Project Ordinance.