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4 <br /> by an annual purchase of two ambulances every year. The goal is to maintain a frontline and <br /> backup fleet consisting of nine ambulances allowing for an effective rotating replacement cycle. <br /> Working together, Emergency Services and Public Works identified the following key decision <br /> points: <br /> • All ambulance purchases would conform to 2010 emissions standards leading to decreased <br /> green house gas emissions; and <br /> • Ambulances will be purchased with medium duty chassis and drivetrain to increase in <br /> service uptime. Medium Duty drivetrains are more capable of handling on-scene idling, <br /> have stronger braking, cooling and suspension components, and are critical for a system <br /> such as Orange County with_increasing call volume; and <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 twenty- <br /> percent biodiesel (B-20). <br /> EMS systems require one front-line ambulance for every crew and 1 back-up (reserve) <br /> ambulance for every 3 front-line units to maintain a reliable system. In addition, Orange County <br /> Emergency Services routinely provides, special events coverage requiring the use of additional <br /> ambulances. This results in a need for nine ambulances in the fleet. Further efficiencies <br /> related to fleet management are related to future system response using AVL (Automatic <br /> Vehicle Locators), which allows E911 telecommunicators to dispatch the closest unit resulting in <br /> decreased response times, reduced fuel consumption and.improved service delivery. <br /> Staff has identified a vendor that has a demonstrated history of successfully remounting its <br /> patient care module onto a new chassis. In the future this allows the option to recycle the <br /> module at the end of the chassis' useful life, which is intended to reduce fleet costs. <br /> Emergency Services staff began research by contacting and interviewing eleven EMS fleet <br /> managers from various systems along the east coast including seven from North Carolina. <br /> Staff identified two preferred chassis styles all featuring medium duty drive trains. Based on <br /> those findings, Public Works determined the optimal drive train from an emissions and <br /> serviceability perspective. Staff undertook a process to identify a vendor who could provide the <br /> drive train combination package. Emergency Services staff identified the vendor who best met <br /> these criteria and who also had a strong reputation for providing successful remounts to its <br /> ambulances. <br /> North Carolina General Statute 143-129 allows local governments to make purchases without.a <br /> separate bidding procedure. This type of acquisition can be made from any contractor that has, <br /> within the past 12 months, contracted to furnish the item to: (1) the federal government or any <br /> federal agency; (2) the State of North Carolina or any agency or political subdivision of the <br /> 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 /> This process is called "piggy-backing" a bid. <br /> Staff proposes to "piggy back" on the Florida Sheriffs Association bid that was awarded to <br /> Excellance, Inc. of Madison, Alabama on December 10, 2009 for Type I ambulances mounted <br />