BACKGROUND:
The fire department operates three frontline apparatus: one fire truck and two fire engines. Staff is requesting replacement of one fire engine and one fire truck which were placed into service in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The existing apparatus require regular repairs and will serve as reserve units once the new apparatus arrive.
Currently, the fire department lacks a reserve truck, and the reserve engine is 15 years old which places it near the end of its service life. The cost of maintenance for both apparatuses has increased significantly over the last two years, and with the City’s policy of depreciating the apparatus over a 10-year period, staff believes it is prudent to consider replacing both pieces of equipment.
Another strong consideration is the extended manufacturer delivery timelines (600 days from the time the order is placed). The need for a replacement fire truck is necessary since the reserve truck (a 2002 American LaFrance) is over 20 years old and is no longer serviceable. It is currently out of service awaiting surplus. The purchase of these two new pieces of equipment will allow the department to have a reserve truck, allowing for routine service without compromising our capabilities. This will also provide a reserve fire engine we can rely on when needed in place of our current reserve fire engine that is 15-years old.
In addition to maintenance costs and reliability of our existing apparatus, staff considered today’s evolving safety standards. The need to ensure effective firefighting capabilities is in the forefront of staff’s recommendation process to purchase two new fire apparatus for Cathedral City. First and foremost, adhering to NFPA 1901 recommendations is paramount to maintaining a high level of emergency response. The NFPA 1901 standard emphasizes the importance of modernizing equipment to align with advancements in technology and safety features. By investing in new fire apparatus compliant with the 2016 NFPA guidelines, Cathedral City is proactively enhancing its firefighting capabilities, enabling firefighters to effectively respond to a wide range of incidents and protect the community.
To make an informed choice, staff evaluated five different apparatus companies based on criteria including price, warranty, delivery time, and local service availability including replacement parts. Once the vehicle specifications were created, staff determined there were three apparatus builders that could meet the requirements. Staff are utilizing Sourcewell pricing on both pieces of apparatus, Rosenbauer contract number 113021- RSD
DISCUSSION:
The fire department's primary responsibility is to respond to 911 calls for service, including fires, medical aid, and other calls for service. Having safe, dependable equipment is imperative to our mission. After an extensive search and as prices continue to increase and production times are extended, staff believes now is the time to purchase these two pieces of equipment.
One Rosenbauer Commander 109-foot Viper aerial truck, this price includes:
• Three department personnel to the factory for pre-construction and midpoint inspection
• Tool and equipment mounting fund of $40,000
• Three days of operator training before apparatuses are delivered • Sourcewell, cooperative, purchase program fee
• Performance bond
• Sales tax of 8.75%
• Build time of 660 calendar days after specs are released for production One Rosenbauer Commander pumper, this price includes:
• Three department personnel to the factory for pre-construction, midpoint inspection
• Tool and equipment mounting fund of $40,000
• Three days of operator training before apparatuses are delivered • Sourcewell, cooperative, purchase program fee
• Performance bond
• Sales tax of 8.75%
• Build time of 660 calendar days after specs are released for production FISCAL IMPACT:
As of 06/30/2023, the City has $6.7M available in the Equipment Replacement Fund (611) to purchase these vehicles. The proposed purchase is comprised of:
One Rosenbauer Commander pumper $1,320,606.46 One Rosenbauer Commander 109-foot Viper aerial quint $1,846,871.95 Pre-payment discount -$148,100.00
Equipment Engine Pumper $127,813.36
Equipment Truck Aerial $154,207.23
Total $3,301,399.00
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal C-1: Fiscal Stability and Sustainability