Agenda Item: 4
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: March 11, 2025
SUBJECT: MODEL 1 BUS SALES PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF FIVE
DIAL-A-RIDE VEHICLES CONTRACT
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
PRESENTER: Adrian Aguilar
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager or designee to negotiate and execute a contract with Model 1 Bus Sales for the purchase of five Compressed Natural Gas cutaway vehicles, tools, training, and spare parts for an amount not to exceed $1,220,576, 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. Five of the City of Santa Clarita's (City) Dial-A-Ride vehicles have reached the end of their useful life and are scheduled to be replaced.
The City intends to purchase five new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles through the CalACT/Morongo Basin Transit Authority 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 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.
If this action is approved by the City Council, the City will be able to reduce the average age of its Dial-A-Ride 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 vehicles.
2. Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact on the General Fund as a result of this procurement. The City has programmed Federal 5307 transit grant funds to cover 80 percent of the total contractual cost of the buses. The remaining 20 percent will be funded using Municipal Operator Service Improvement Program (MOSIP) funds. Adequate funds to implement the recommended action are contained within the City of Santa Clarita's adopted Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget, expenditure account 7003702-520103 (Transit Capital/Automotive Equipment).
ATTACHMENTS
Combined Model 1 Contract (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)