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3 <br /> COPY <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGEND)A11EM-*88TfbkGT <br /> Meeting Date: January 21.20 110) <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-j <br /> SUBJECT: Bid Award:Ambulances for Emergency Services <br /> DEPARTMENT: Asset Management and , PUBLIC HEADING; (YIN) No <br /> Purchasing Services(AMPS) <br /> & Emergency Services <br /> ATTACHMENTS): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Pam Jones,AMPS, 919-246-2652 <br /> Emergency Services Reserve Capital David Cannell,AMPS, 919-245-2651 <br /> Project Ordinance Frank Monies de Oca, Emergency <br /> Services, 919-245-6100 <br /> Glint Osborn, Emergency Services, 519- <br /> 245-6'100 <br /> Clarence Grer, 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 2556, 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 severs 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 blo-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 />