Agenda Item: 6
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: April 9, 2024
SUBJECT: CONTRACT WITH MODEL 1 BUS SALES FOR THE PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF DIAL-A-RIDE AND GO! SANTA CLARITA
BUSES
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
PRESENTER: Adrian Aguilar
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Appropriate $208,400 in Metro Access For All grant funding and $63,100 in local return revenue to account 7003702-520103, for a total of $271,500, increase revenue account 700- 462101 by $208,400, and increase revenue account 700-442207 by $63,100.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to negotiate and execute a contract with Model 1 Bus Sales for the purchase of two CNG cutaway buses, one zero-emission van, charger, tools, training, and spare parts for an amount not to exceed $719,744, or modify the award in the event issues of impossibility of performance arise, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
Santa Clarita Transit has a fleet replacement program that meets the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) seven-year life cycle for Dial-A-Ride vehicles. Two of the City of Santa Clarita's (City) Dial-A-Ride buses and one of the Go! Santa Clarita vehicles have reached the end of their useful life and are scheduled for replacement.
In early 2023, the City applied for and was awarded a Metro Access For All grant. The purpose of the grant is to improve access to public transportation while reducing our carbon footprint.
This grant, which covers 78 percent of the cost of the wheelchair accessible, zero-emission van, will allow the City to improve the reliability of the Go! Santa Clarita service by replacing a vehicle that has exceeded its useful life. It will also allow the City to test this technology in a confined environment.
The City intends to purchase these vehicles through the CalACT/Morongo Basin Transit Authority (MBTA) vehicle purchasing cooperative, of which the City is a member. Purchasing buses through this method expedites the purchasing process and ensures competitive pricing.
Under this cooperative agreement, product specifications were identified and prices were negotiated based on the total projected participation of the cooperative members, rather than just the vehicles scheduled to be purchased by the City.
As an added measure, staff conducted a price analysis to ensure the proposed pricing is within industry standards and is the most advantageous to the City. The use of purchasing cooperatives is common within the transit industry and is a practice accepted by the FTA.
As the purchasing cooperative’s select supplier for the requested vehicles, staff recommends awarding the contract to Model 1 Bus Sales for the purchase of two CNG cutaway buses, one zero-emission van, charger, tools, training, and spare parts for an amount not to exceed $719,744. If this action is approved by the City Council, the City will be able to reduce the average age of our Dial-A-Ride and Go! Santa Clarita fleet and take advantage of recent developments in vehicle and engine technology.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
1. Direct staff to issue a Request for Proposal for the procurement of CNG-powered Dial-A- Ride buses and zero-emission vans.
2. Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund as a result of this procurement. The City has budgeted Federal 5307 Transit Grant funds to cover 100 percent of the total cost of the two cutaway buses in expenditure account 7003702-520103 (Transit Capital-Automotive Equipment). The City has also received a Metro Grant to cover 78 percent of the zero-emission van. The remaining 22 percent will be funded using Municipal Operator Service Improvement Program (MOSIP) funds.
ATTACHMENTS
MBTA Purchase Agreement - Transit Vehicles