June 24, 2025
Public Works
DATE: June 24, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, Director of Public Works
Aaron Osorio, Fire Chief
Darin Fitzpatrick, Assistant Deputy Director of Public
Works – Operations & Maintenance
Gabino Arredondo, Project Manager
Subject:
Purchase of Three (3) Frontline Fire Apparatus from Hi- Tech Emergency Vehicle Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The $5,322,273 purchase will be covered under the Fleet Division budget (Account String: 50336031-400705-
03A04).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Frontline fire apparatus is integral to the Richmond Fire Department (RFD) response to all emergency incidents.
There is a need to replace similar apparatuses currently within the RFD fleet that have reached the end of their service life.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: ADOPT a resolution approving a sole-source purchase of one (1) Heavy Rescue Apparatus, one (1) Type 6
Wildland Pumper in the amount of $2,500,000 and one
(1) Ladder/Tiller Truck Spartan/LTC 100’ TDA + Hi‐Tech
in the amount of $2,822,273 for use by the Richmond
Fire Department for a total amount not to exceed
$5,322,273 from HI-Tech Emergency Vehicle Service
AGENDA
REPORT
June 24, 2025
(HI-Tech EVS) – Public Works Department/Fire
Department (Darin Fitzpatrick 510-231-3044/Chief Aaron
Osorio 510-307-8021).
DISCUSSION:
Frontline fire apparatus is integral to the Fire Department’s response to all emergency incidents. Having safe and reliable equipment is essential for the safety of residents and first responders. The Fleet Maintenance Division requests the purchase of one (1) Heavy Rescue Apparatus, one (1) Type 6 Wildland Pumper, and one (1) Ladder/Tiller Truck Spartan/LTC 100’ TDA + Hi‐Tech for the Richmond Fire Department (RFD). The purchase of these three apparatus is to replace similar apparatuses currently within the fire fleet that have reached the end of their service life (Attachment 1).
Type 6 Wildland Pumpers are used by RFD to fight vegetation fires offroad and facilitate accessing difficult terrain. The Type 1 Heavy Rescue apparatus carries all specialized fire rescue equipment and personnel for rescue calls. The Ladder/Tiller Truck Spartan/LTC 100’ TDA + Hi‐Tech supports aerial operations specialized access and rescue calls. The requested apparatus will be built on HI-Tech Emergency Vehicle Service (HI-Tech) Spartan chassis by HI-Tech, will be custom designed to the City of Richmond Fleet Maintenance standards and RFD specifications, encompassing all aspects of construction, including cabinets, lighting, electrical systems, pumps, painting, metal fabrication, and training. A contingency has been added to the total estimated cost to account for potential fluctuations in material costs, inflation, supply chain delays, and applicable tariffs. This contingency reflects current industry standards and anticipated lead time variances often experienced in the custom emergency vehicle manufacturing sector.
HI-Tech is the sole manufacturer of their custom-built emergency apparatus. They sell directly to their customers, and they do not use dealers or distributors for their fire apparatus. Great effort has been made in the pursuit of standardization of RFD fire apparatus since 1996 (Attachment 2).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Sole Source and Estimates