Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.I
Meeting Date: August 14, 2024
From: George Crum, Police Chief
Title: Purchase of Three Chevrolet Tahoe PPV from Utilitac Equipment & Upfitting
RECOMMENDATION:
To authorize staff to purchase three (3) Chevrolet Tahoe PPV’s from Utilitac Equipment & Upfitting; three Watchguard In-Car camera systems from Motorola Solutions; installation of decals from SoCal Branding and door paint from I-10 Collision for a total cost of $298,008.264
BACKGROUND:
During the 2-year budgeting process, $318,000 was approved for the purchase of new marked patrol vehicles for fiscal year (FY) 2024/25. Since COVID, auto dealerships have rarely maintained an in-stock inventory for police vehicles. Staff has continually researched various dealerships across the county looking for in-stock police vehicles for quicker acquisition. In conducting research, staff located a dealership in Pennsylvania who maintains a fleet of vehicles and also completes the upfitting of emergency equipment to our specification. This allows the vehicle to be immediately upfitted and avoids the necessity of ordering police vehicles from a dealership.
Utilitac Equipment & Upfitting is based in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. Staff has spoken with representatives from Utilitac and determined based upon the current need of the Police Department, they are the most suitable source for vehicles in timely manner. They have built vehicles for agencies across the United States, including agencies in California.
The standard lifespan for a marked patrol unit is approximately five years and/or 100,000 miles. Staff has been monitoring the current inventory of police units and believe smaller quantity orders, on a fiscal year basis, will alleviate large quantity purchases and reduce the number of units needing to be replaced at one time.
DISCUSSION:
Staff contacted Utilitac, who specializes in providing and upfitting police vehicles for agencies nationwide. Staff has secured a quote for three (3) Chevrolet Tahoe PPV’s for $270,281.06 including emergency equipment, estimated sales tax and shipping. The vehicles are currently on their lot and will not need to be ordered.
These vehicles will be marked patrol units and equipped with the standard emergency equipment currently in use, with a minor variation, and will replace other marked patrol units that have reached their usefulness. Staff has secured a quote for three Watchguard in-car camera systems from Motorola Solutions in the amount of $21,299.36. The marked unit decals from SoCal Branding are $3,427.82. The door paint from I-10 Collision is $3,000.
Total acquisition costs are $298,008.24.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact for this purchase is $298,008.24 including sales tax and shipping costs, which will come from the Equipment Replacement Fund (611). The purchase amount is under the $318,000 that had been budgeted for FY 2024/25.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal B: Community Investment
Action B-19: Develop Fleet Management policies to establish vehicle replacements and utilization standards.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Utilitac Equipment & Upfitting - Vehicle and Equipment Quote
2. Motorola Solutions Watchguard Quote
3. SoCal Branding Decal Quote
4. I-10 Collision Door Paint Quote