Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.F
Meeting Date: October 14, 2026
From: Michael Contreras, Fire Chief
Title: Purchase of One New Type I Ambulance – Fleet Replacement RECOMMENDATION:
Cathedral City Fire & EMS requests authorization to purchase one (1) Medix MSV 170" Type I ambulance on a Ford F-450 chassis from Republic Emergency Vehicle Services (EVS), in the amount of $397,061.61, together with a five percent (5%) delivery/overrun contingency of $19,853.08, and a Motorola Mobile Radio in the amount of $10,234.83 for a total authorization of $427,149.52.
BACKGROUND:
Cathedral City Fire & EMS operates four front-line paramedic ambulances and three reserve ambulances. One ambulance out of stations 1 and 3, and two ambulances out of station 2, supported by 3 reserve units. Consistent with the City's equipment replacement plan, the department currently has 3 ambulances scheduled for replacement based on age, accumulated mileage, and reliability. The unit identified for replacement this cycle has reached the end of its cost-effective service life, and rising mileage across the fleet has increased maintenance demand and out-of-service time.
In 2022, 2023 and 2025, following the passage of Measure W, the City Council authorized the purchase of a Medix model number MSV 170" ambulance from Republic EVS to standardize our fleet. This purchase continues that standardization strategy and is funded from the Equipment Replacement Fund (611).
DISCUSSION:
To ensure best value to the city, the Fire Department solicited and evaluated proposals from three qualified ambulance manufacturers. Each was assessed on chassis and durability, fleet standardization, warranty, delivery timeline, price, and long-term lifecycle cost. The evaluation is summarized below.
Evaluation
Factor
Republic EVS —
Medix MSV 170
(RECOMMENDED)
Demers MXP170 Leader EVS Type I
Chassis Ford F-450, gas
(medium-duty)
Ford F-450, gas
(medium-duty)
Ford F-550, 6.7L diesel
(heavy-duty, 18,000
GVWR)
Module Medix MSV 170" —
matches current fleet Demers MXP170" New 96"x173" module, 72" headroom Fleet
standardization
Yes — identical to
2024/2025 units
No — new manufacturer
to fleet
No — new manufacturer
to fleet
Delivery ~180 days after chassis
receipt (fastest) 15–18 months To be confirmed (est. 12–18 months) Price (per unit) $397,061.61 all-in* $393,565.59 fully
equipped** $409,848.17 all-in*
Module
warranty
Standard Medix
warranty
25-yr "lifetime" module
structure
15-yr module + 5-yr
add'l on remount
Lifecycle
strategy
Repower/remount
reuses existing module
— lowest lifecycle cost
Remount capable Remount-friendly
(heaviest chassis)
Cooperative
purchasing
HGAC (no formal bid
required) Direct proposal Direct sales order
Recommendation Rationale
All three proposals represent capable Type I ambulances. The Republic EVS Medix MSV 170 is recommended because it is identical to the four (4) units the city standardized in 2023, and standardization is the foundation of the department's long term life cycle cost strategy.
It can be procured through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) cooperative contract, is competitively priced, and offers fastest delivery (approximately 180 days after chassis receipt versus 15–18 months).
The Demers MXP170 is a strong, fully equipped unit with an excellent module warranty, but introduces a second manufacturer to the fleet and carries a materially longer delivery time.
The Leader EVS Type I offers the heaviest-duty F-550 diesel chassis and a remount-friendly module warranty and remains available should Council prefer a heavier platform.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Fiscal Impact is as follows:
2026 Medix Ambulance MSV 170" (Republic EVS) $397,061.61* 5% Delivery / Overrun Contingency $19,853.08
Motorola APX 8500 Mobile Radio 10,234.83*
Total $427,149.52
*Indicates CA State and city sales tax (9.25%) included. Funding will come from the Equipment Replacement Fund (611).
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2026-2027 Ambulance 611-000-000-
000-8800-8807 N/A $427,149.52 ONE TIME
2026-2027 Total $427,149.52
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal E - Safety
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Republic EVS Estimate – Medix MSV 170” Type I on Ford F-450
2. Demers MXP170 Proposal
3. Demers MXP170 Specifications
4. Leader EVS Type I Proposal
5. Leader EVS Type I (Ford F-550) Specifications
6. Motorola Mobile Radio Quote 3837721