Orange County NC Website
the state or; (3) any other state or agency or political subdivision of that state, if the contractor is <br />willing to extend the same or more favorable price and other terms to the local government. <br />Staff. recommends using the existing bid from which the original four (4) ambulances were <br />purchased. The newly-designed units have proven to be very safe and effective vehicles in <br />regards to the original decision points (below) used to develop specification criteria when <br />purchasing the original new fleet additions in 2010. During the first six months of service, the <br />newly-designed units have had a lower cost per mile than the first six months of service of the <br />older fleet (Ford F-450) ambulances. <br />The following decision points were considered: <br />• All ambulance purchases would conform to 2010 emissions standards leading to <br />decreased greenhouse gas emissions; <br />• Ambulances will be purchased with medium duty chassis and drive trains to increase <br />service uptime; <br />• Medium Duty drive-trains are more capable of handling on scene idling, have stronger <br />braking, cooling and suspension components and are critical for a system such as <br />Orange County with increasing call volume; <br />• Purchases will demonstrate a continued focus on crew and patient safety; and <br />• The new ambulances. would be capable of operating on a diesel fuel blend of up to <br />twenty percent bio-diesel (B-20). <br />The three (3) units will incorporate technology improvements that staff is currently implementing <br />in the current fleet related to response improvements using. Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), <br />which allows E911 communicators to dispatch the closest unit resulting in decreased response <br />times, reduced fuel consumption and faster patient access and care. <br />The goal of this purchase is to create a turnkey solution allowing the new ambulances to be <br />received by Orange County ready for immediate service. This purchase includes key pieces of <br />equipment in addition to the ambulance. The radio system will be purchased, programmed, and <br />drop-shipped to the ambulance manufacturer. Stretchers and stair chairs are both critical <br />equipment assisting crews in the safe lifting and moving patients over varied terrain and in <br />different types of structures. All of this equipment is specified to match the existing fleet and <br />three new ambulances approved in 2010 with the addition of hardware to run AVL. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact of purchasing three ambulances is $685,057 <br />including taxes, titles and fees. The purchase of the ambulances will be financed with an <br />installment note in the amount of $574,484 ($531,600 was approved in the FY 2011-12 General <br />Fund Budget), and the balance of $110,573 will be paid from insurance proceeds received from <br />the wheeled coach ambulance taken out of service due to an accident in FY 2010-11. Approval <br />of Budget Amendment # 2-C for $42,884 will be required to fund the additional financing. <br />