City of Bakersfield
Finance Department, Purchasing Division
1600 Truxtun Ave, Ste 200, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Date: September 22, 2025
To: The City of San Bernardino
From: Olimpia Frederick
Title: Purchasing Officer
Department: Finance Department
Subject: Request to Piggyback on Existing Contract for Purchase of BMW Police Motorcycles
Dear City of San Bernadino,
In 2019, the City of Bakersfield’s Police Department reestablished its Motor Unit to enhance traffic enforcement efforts. Since then, the City has invested in Harley Davidson (H-D) Electra glide motorcycles to build and support the unit. As of 2021, the operational fleet includes twelve (12) H-D Electra glides.
Harley Davidson has announced there will be no police package motorcycles available for the 2026 fiscal year. Both the Electra glide and Road King models are being discontinued, with no official replacement model identified for 2027 or beyond. This creates uncertainty in both fleet continuity and long-term planning.
Request:
The City of Bakersfield respectfully request authorization to piggyback on the existing contract between City of San Bernardino and Long Beach BMW Motorcycles to purchase five (5) BMW police motorcycles in alignment with The California Public Contract Code Procurement Guidelines and under the authority of the Goods Purchase Agreement between The City of San Bernardino and Long Beach BMW Motorcycles.
Justification for piggyback:
1. Operational Need
Five (5) motorcycles are scheduled for replacement over FY24–25 and FY25–26. With H-D exiting the police motorcycle market and considering the enhanced performance, safety, and cost- effectiveness of BMW’s offerings, transitioning to BMW is both operationally necessary and fiscally responsible.
2. Manufacturer Discontinuation:
Harley Davidson has announced it will no longer offer police package motorcycles beyond the
City of Bakersfield
Finance Department, Purchasing Division
1600 Truxtun Ave, Ste 200, Bakersfield, CA 93301
2025 model year. No successor model has been confirmed, creating uncertainty for future fleet planning and standardization.
3. BMW’s Proven Law Enforcement Platforms:
BMW currently manufactures the R 1300 RT-P and the 1300 GSP, both purpose-built for police use. These models are competitively priced, delivered fully equipped, and do not require additional upfitting — unlike H-D units, which require approximately $3,000 in modifications post-delivery.
4. Improved Lifecycle and Warranty Support:
BMW motorcycles offer a longer operational life (75,000–100,000 miles vs. 50,000 miles for H- D). Additionally, BMW provides a 7-year unlimited mileage warranty with towing coverage for a one-time cost of $1,500 — a warranty structure not available from H-D.
5. Maintenance Training and Support:
BMW offers free quarterly factory training in Ontario, CA, allowing City mechanics to become certified in two days at minimal cost. By contrast, H-D training requires three separate one-week sessions in Wisconsin at significantly higher cost.
6. Officer Safety and Performance:
The BMW RTP is approximately 300 pounds lighter than the Electra glide, significantly reducing injury risk during training and low-speed incidents. Internal testing has shown a 20-foot shorter stopping distance from 50 mph and superior handling and ergonomics.
In conclusion, this procurement method aligns with all applicable purchasing regulations and supports the continuity of fleet operations without interruption. Approval of this piggyback request will allow the City of Bakersfield to take advantage of competitive pricing, streamline the purchasing process, and achieve meaningful cost and time savings. We respectfully request your consideration and approval to proceed with this purchase.
Respectfully,
Olimpia Frederick
Purchasing Officer
City of Bakersfield
Finance Department
661-326-3914
[email protected]