Agenda Item
City Council
Item #: 3.9. 12/12/2023 File #: 23-0617
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Tom Kisela, City Manager
FROM: Sean deMetropolis, Fire Chief
1. SUBJECT
Authorize the purchase of a Polaris XPEDITION Adventure Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) from Polaris Sales Inc. using a cooperative purchasing agreement.
2. SUMMARY
The Fire Department is actively pursuing the acquisition of a UTV to effectively address the growing challenge of remote rescues in wildland urban interface areas. This versatile vehicle will greatly enhance the department's capabilities for local remote rescues within the city and serve as an invaluable asset during wildland incidents throughout the state.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve the purchase of a UTV from Polaris Sales Inc. for $51,000.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
The total expenditure for this purchase is $51,000 and will be funded through funds received from the California State Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES) reimbursements, that have been appropriated in the Cal-OES Admin Recovery account 100.3021.53940.20490.
5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 1: Provide for a safe community.
a: Provide staffing and resources to deliver services that ensure public safety. b: Provide and maintain infrastructure necessary to ensure the safety of the public.
6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
The City of Orange has large areas of wildland urban interface and open space land that have trails for equestrian, hiking, and mountain biking activities. Remote rescues are becoming more frequent in these areas, where the terrain can be very steep and unstable. In many cases, walking a patient out of an area with the litter basket and wheel combination may not be possible due to terrain features.
Not only is the terrain steep and unstable, but trail roads may be narrow, and full-size vehicles will have no access. The transition from incident location to medical evacuation site may be made with the use of a UTV.
In addition to assisting with local remote rescue incidents, the UTV and trailer may also be requested and utilized for wildland incidents throughout the state. This equipment meets the requirements outlined by the Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies (Firescope) City of Orange Printed on 12/7/2023Page 1 of 2
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Item #: 3.9. 12/12/2023 File #: 23-0617
for Type I Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS). The REMS is a pre-staged rescue team assigned to a wildland fire to provide firefighters with a safe, effective, and efficient method of egress off the fire line in the event of injury or illness incurred during firefighting operations. The purpose of REMS is to provide firefighters, who are unable to egress under their own power, a safe and secure transport off the fire line while simultaneously receiving the appropriate medical attention.
Wildland firefighting is an inherently dangerous profession. While safety is the primary concern during all operations, unintended incidents do occur that may result in injury or illness to firefighters. While REMS does not aim to replace ground or air transport, there are circumstances where these options may not be feasible due to heavy smoke inversion, a lack of accessible roads, or equipment malfunctions. In such cases, REMS provides incident managers with an alternative solution, equipped with fully prepared resources to package and transport injured or ill personnel to the appropriate medical care unit. All costs associated with personnel and support vehicles assigned to state incidents are reimbursed through the California Fire Assistance Agreement (CFAA).
The decision to purchase the Polaris XPEDITION Adventure UTV model was based on its unique rescue capabilities and key design benefits. This enclosed model stands out due to its ability to comfortably seat four firefighters while also safely accommodating a victim in a supine position, making it highly suitable for emergency response scenarios within the city. The elevated ground clearance and compact size of this model play a vital role in enabling access to difficult and narrow terrain. With 14 inches of ground clearance, the UTV can traverse dozer lines and hand crew lines, providing access to 360-degree coverage during wildland fire incidents. Additionally, with a compact width of 64 inches, the vehicle can easily navigate fire roads and hiking trails, allowing for access to remote areas and smaller mountain neighborhoods for firefighting and rescue operations in wildland incidents. Firefighters can rely on these features to access restrictive zones where traditional vehicles may face difficulties, while also ensuring that assistance and faster transports can be provided wherever they are most needed.
The Fire Department will be making this purchase through a cooperative purchase agreement awarded to Polaris Sales Inc. by Sourcewell, Contract #122220-PSI (Attachment A). Sourcewell is a cooperative purchasing organization that efficiently handles competitive solicited cooperative contracts for state and local governments, ensuring that all local requirements are always met or exceeded. This approach enables the department to purchase exceptional products from nationally acclaimed suppliers, at the lowest cost available.
7. ATTACHMENTS
· Polaris Sourcewell Contract #122220-PSI
· Polaris Quote #QUO-49432-M6W1S9
City of Orange Printed on 12/7/2023Page 2 of 2
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