City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: September 15, 2026
From: Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works-City Engineer Department: Public Works
Submitted by: Dulce Gonzalez, Management Analyst
Subject
Purchase Order with Rush Truck Center for Two (2) New Ford F-350 Utility Trucks Recommendation
A. Approve and authorize the issuance of a Purchase Order with Rush Truck Center for two (2) new Ford F-350 Utility Trucks equipped with Scelzi Service Body and Lighting Packages for a total amount not-to-exceed $155,880.08;
B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $15,588.01 for the utility trucks purchase in case of unforeseen fluctuations in price driven by tariffs, inflation, manufacturing surcharges, or supply chain issues; and
C. Authorize the City Administrator to facilitate the bidding and purchase of two (2) comparable utility trucks for an amount not-to-exceed $171,468.09 (Rush Truck Center price plus contingency amount) from an alternate source/dealership should Rush Truck Center availability be impacted by inventory shortages.
Background
The Public Works Street Maintenance team requires dependable fleet assets and service equipment to maintain City roadways, execute right-of-way repairs, transport specialized tools, and respond quickly to emergency field issues across the City. To support ongoing field operations and maintain essential municipal infrastructure, the department has identified the need to procure two (2) dedicated utility work trucks.
Staff requested a quote from Rush Truck Center under Sourcewell Contract Number 032824- RTG and received pricing for two (2) new Ford F-350 vehicles. Each vehicle will be configured with a custom Scelzi Pickup Service Body and specialized work/emergency Lighting Package.
These specialized utility trucks will be deployed by the Street Maintenance team to perform routine maintenance, carry essential crew tools, and secure work zones during field operations.
Staff recommends approval of a Purchase Order with Rush Truck Center in the total amount of $155,880.08, which reflects a per-unit price of $77,940.04, including the Ford F-350 MSRP of $69,189, Sourcewell discount of $843.53, upfit package of $13,797.52, and additional tax and registration fees. Additionally, staff recommends a ten percent (10%) contingency amount of $15,588.01 to safeguard against inflation or inventory adjustments, or in the event comparable makes and models must be sourced from an alternate dealership.
Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 3.32.110(A)(5), the proposed purchase is exempt from competitive bidding because it uses a cooperative procurement contract through Sourcewell, contract number 032824-RTG, which streamlines the public purchasing process by offering participating agencies access to nationally competitively solicited contracts.
City Council approval for this purchase is required pursuant to VMC Section 3.32.030(A), which stipulates that for all contracts with a total value over the lifetime of the contract up to $100,000, the City Council must authorize the purchase or contract.
In the event that the vehicles are not available from Rush Truck Center, staff also recommends that City Council authorize the City Administrator to facilitate the bidding and purchase of two (2) comparable utility trucks from an alternate source/dealership. Any such purchases would be subject to the amount approved by Council for the Rush Truck Center price plus contingency amount.
Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 4: Enhance Community Infrastructure and Facilities Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is not-to-exceed $171,468.09 (inclusive of the 10% contingency). Sufficient funds are available in the Public Works Department, Street Maintenance, Capital Equipment - Auto Account No. 011-040-430-660010 for the current fiscal year.
Attachments
1. Rush Truck Center Quote