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April 26, 2022
ITEM TITLE
Aerial Truck Purchase: Approval of the Purchase of One Pierce Arrow XT 107’ Tractor Drawn Aerial through Measure P
Report Number: 22-0129
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: Fire
Environmental Notice : The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution approving the purchase of one Pierce Arrow XT 107’ Tractor Drawn Aerial (TDA) in compliance with the Measure P Expenditure Plan.
SUMMARY
The Chula Vista Fire Department delivers Fire, Rescue and Emergency Medical Services to Chula Vista residents, visitors, and employees daily. Emergency response service delivery is provided with several different types of apparatus, including triple combination pumped/fire engines, aerial ladder trucks, a heavy rescue, brush engines and command vehicles. The Fire Department continues to replace fire apparatus as part of the initial phase of the City’s 10 -year Measure P Expenditure Plan specific to the Fire Department’s fire apparatus replacement plan.
The Fire Department is requesting authorization to purchase one (1) Pierce Arrow XT 107’ Tractor Drawn Aerial (TDA) through its sole source agreement with South Coast Fire Equipment to replace the existing Aerial Truck that will be transitioned into our reserve fleet.
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The purchase of one (1) Pierce Arrow XT 107’ Tractor Drawn Aerial (TDA) is in compliance with the Measure P Expenditure Plan.
DISCUSSION
The Fire Department responds to Fire, Rescue and Emergency Medical incidents both within the City and surrounding jurisdictions. In addition, the Fire Department provides mutual aid assistance throughout the State of California on a reimbursable basis. These emergency services are pr ovided with each of the apparatus in our fleet.
As part of the Fire Department’s continued execution of the City’s 10 -year Measure P Expenditure Plan specific to the fire apparatus and equipment replacements, the replacement of one (1) Aerial Truck is necessary. The replacement of this aerial truck is the continued effort to remain in alignment with the City’s 10-year Measure P expenditure plan. These efforts are significant and provide for improved overall quality, reliability, cost effectiveness and safety of the fire apparatus fleet.
The Fire Facility Master Plan includes an addendum that details the recommended apparatus replacement cycles to include 10 to 12 years of frontline service, plus 5 years of reserve service, for a total service life of 17 years. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1901 on Automotive Fire Apparatus and other National Fleet Maintenance Organizations recommend large vehicle replacements based on several criteria to include years of service, mileage, maintenance costs, functional obsolescence, and inability to obtain prior parts as well as technology and safety improvements. The current aerial ladder truck being replaced that will be transitioned into reserve status has served 5 years to date on the frontline service. The current reserve aerial ladder that will subsequently be surveyed out of the Fire Departments fleet has been in service for 20 years. The manufacturing lead time for an aerial ladder truck is approximately 20 -24 months, which would put the years of service for the current aerial ladder truck at 7 years and the reserve truck at 22 years. The service life of our reserve trucks exceeds current City policy of total service life of 17 years of service. The reserve truc k is regularly placed into service for a variety of operations needs. This truck being in service creates a larger bu rden on Public Works and the mechanics for the increased maintenance needed. The replacement of this aerial ladder truck at 5 years of service (7 years of service once the apparatus is received) will move this truck into our reserve fleet, therefore replacing our reserve truck that has exceeded its total service life.
This purchase is a sole source purchase with South Coast Fire Equipment f or the Pierce manufactured fire apparatus, pursuant to Chula Vista Municipal Code section 2.56.070.B.4 (unique compatibility requirements). The Fire Department uses Pierce Manufacturing to purchase frontline operational emergency response vehicles for several critical reasons:
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1. Equipment Standardization: providing the same type of emergency response apparatus is critical to provide a standard approach to training all personnel. This ensures that our personnel can operate fire apparatus at a competent level while under duress of emergency response.
2. Safety: Fire personnel are consistently moved from one fire station to another. Maintaining a fleet of fire apparatus that operate consistently throughout our fleet ensures driver/operators and firefighters can op erate and locate equipment in an efficient and timely manner while working in emergency situations.
The purchase of these new fire apparatus will continue to improve the overall quality, reliability, cost effectiveness and safety of the City’s fire apparatus fleet.
The Fire Department has received a quote from South Coast for the purchase of one (1) Pierce Arrow XT 107’ Tractor Drawn Aerial (TDA) for the quoted purchase price of $1,876,620.39, but if ordered before May 1, 2022, would result in a discount of $99,934 or a quoted purchase price of $1,776,686.39. The Fire Department is recommending a 5% overage of the quoted purchase price without the discount to account for any change order needs in the manufacturing processes, bringing the total authorized a mount to $1,970,452 to be purchased using the Fire Department Vehicle/Apparatus allocations in the Measure P Expenditure Plan.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Council members do not create a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund. The total cost to purchase one (1) Pierce Arrow XT 107’ Tractor Drawn Aerial (TDA) will be funded through the Measure P fund.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact to the General Fund. These apparatuses are replacements rather than additions to our fleet, therefore any fuel and maintenance costs both for the frontline engines and engines being moved into the reserve fleet will be included in the Department’s ongoing operational budget.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1: South Coast Fire Equipment Pierce Arrow XT 107’ Tractor Drawn Aerial Proposal Staff Contact: Emily Folker, Harry Muns, Pete Mercado