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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: David McCabe, Assistant Chief of Support Services
DATE: May 3, 2018
SUBJECT:
A resolution to purchase one (1) E-One brand 1500 gallon per minute fire engine from Fire Service Inc. of St. John, Indiana, for $513,051.
PURPOSE:
To purchase one (1) E-One brand 1500 gallon per minute fire engines which will replace a 14 year old front line fire engine.
BACKGROUND:
The fire department depends on reliable vehicles to respond to emergency calls from its citizens. In order to ensure a reliable fleet of vehicles, equipment services has recommended vehicles be used as front line apparatus for 13 years. When a vehicle is replaced as a front line vehicle, that vehicle is moved to reserve status, and utilized when a front line vehicle is out of service for maintenance, or additional equipment is needed for large emergencies. At that time, the oldest reserve engine, or the one that is least reliable, is removed from service.
DISCUSSION:
Equipment services has recommended that front line fire department engines get moved to reserve status when they are 13 years old. This practice allows former front line engines to be used as reserve vehicles that are reliable enough to be of service when the front line vehicles are in the shop for maintenance and repairs. The new engine will replace a 2004 front line engine (engine 8).
Equipment Services has recommended that AFD trade in surplus fire apparatus when replacement apparatus are purchased. Equipment Services and the fire department have received a higher trade-in value for these retired vehicles than they did from auctioning the vehicles off. Fire Service Inc. has agreed to accept reserve engine 77, a 2000 engine with over 119,000 miles on it, and will provide a credit to COA of $6,500.00 for that apparatus. The cost of the new engine is $519,551.00, which will be reduced to $513,051.00 after the trade-in credit from engine 77. Engine 8, the 2004 front line engine would then be reassigned as reserve engine 77.
The vehicle will be purchased through the Houston-Galveston Area Council Cooperative Purchasing Program (H-GAC), allowing the Aurora Fire Department to purchase the engine at a group rate. The E-One representative has stated that the H-GAC Cooperative Bid is 7.2% less than their most recent standalone bid price. The H-GAC Cooperative has been used by several departments in Illinois recently. Because each engine has slightly different specifications based on the operations of each department, an exact comparison is not possible. However, the table below shows that the H-GAC provides a competitive price for fire apparatus when compared to bid pricing, allowing for minor changes in bid specifications:
Please note that the above bids were received at varying times since 2012, but are representative of the current economy. The City also used the H-GAC Cooperative to purchase the 2017 Ladder Truck for just under 988,000. (Resolution 17-021).
The engine would be bought with funds from the SHAPE fund (account 255-3033-422.75-10). The original budget for this apparatus is $500,000, however sufficient funds are available in the SHAPE fund for this purchase. Finance Staff will monitor the SHAPE fund during 2018 and if a budget amendment is needed after all planned vehicle purchases are made said amendment will be requested from the City Council.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
In order to provide the City of Aurora with reliable emergency services, the fire department relies on a fleet of response apparatus to get to those calls. When vehicles reach a certain age, they are more prone to mechanical breakdowns as well as increased maintenance costs. Older apparatus are out of service more often for repairs. By replacing a 2004 front line engine with a new apparatus, the fire department will be better able to respond to requests for help from the public.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Finance Committee authorize the Fire Department to purchase one (1) E-One 1500 gallon per minute fire engine from Fire Service Inc. of Saint John, In. for $519,551.00, as well as approve the trade-in of reserve engine 77 for a credit of $6,500.00 for a net cost of $513,051.00."
cc: Alderman O’Connor, Chairman
Alderman Mesiacos
Alderman Bugg
Alderman Mervine, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution to purchase one (1) E-One 1500 gallon per minute fire engine from Fire Service Inc. of St. John, Indiana, for $513,051.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora Fire Department desires to replace a 14 year old front line fire engine; and
WHEREAS, Fire Services, Inc. and E-One have acknowledged the ability to produce the necessary fire apparatus for the Aurora Fire Department and have agreed to accept AFD surplus engine 77 as a trade-in for a credit of $6,500.00, reducing the net cost to $513,051.00 for this purchase; and
WHEREAS, Fire Service, Inc. has agreed to the purchase through the Houston-Galveston Area Cooperative Purchasing Program (H-GAC); and
WHEREAS, the 2018 City Budget shall provide adequate funding for this item in account 255-3033-422.75-10 (SHAPE Fund).
WHEREAS, pursuant to Aurora Code Section 2-335(a)(3)(6) the fire department desires to purchase one (1) E-One 1500 gallon per minute (GPM) fire engines from Fire Services, Inc., St. John, Indiana; and)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: Hereby authorize the purchase of one (1) E-One 1500 gallon per minute (GPM) fire engines from Fire Services, Inc., St. John, Indiana in the amount of $513,051.00 for the Aurora Fire Department and does hereby further authorize its Director of Purchasing to issue the necessary orders to implement purchase of same