Item Number: 13
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: October 15, 2024
Submitted By:
C. Eric Ray, Airport Director
Subject:
Purchase of an Airport Sweeper
Recommendation:
That the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority (“SCLAA”) Board of Directors approve the purchase of a TYMCO Model 600 Regenerative Air Sweeper in the amount of $400,357.69.
Fiscal Impact:
This action will result in the expenditure of $400,357.69 from budgeted Airport Operations fund 450. The TYMCO Model 600 Regenerative Air Sweeper is priced less than the budgeted amount. The budget for this equipment is as follows:
Fund Current Budget
4500125-55045-95142 Sweeper $425,000
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal E - Invest in Infrastructure by maintaining airfield pavement. This equipment will allow Airport staff to efficiently remove foreign objects from the runway.
Background:
The airfield at the Southern California Logistics Airport (“SCLA”) consists of two commercial-length runways and nine taxiways that are regularly cleaned on at least a weekly basis, with cleaning occurring more frequently depending on wind, expected usage, and tenant requests. Cleaning the movement areas is an essential requirement to reduce the risk of foreign object debris from becoming ingested into an engine or being flung by a propeller or tire into an aircraft, which could have catastrophic consequences.
The SCLAA currently utilizes a 2001 Elgin Airport Sweeper (“Elgin”) and a 2011 Tymco 3 8
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Airport Sweeper (“Tymco”) to remove foreign object debris hazards from the aircraft movement areas of the SCLA. The Elgin and Tymco perform a similar function to that of a typical street sweeper, but instead of using metal brushes to escort debris into a central vacuum they use aviation friendly plastic brushes, in addition to other aviation friendly design modifications. The use of plastic brushes reduces the risk of foreign object debris generated by the sweeper being left behind on an aircraft movement area.
The Elgin at the Airport is becoming less reliable and more costly to repair due to the many hours of service over its 23-year life. Staff recently noticed that the Elgin was experiencing reduced suction pressure, and a technician explained that the bearings on the main fan blower that generates suction pressure were worn out, causing the fan to require more power to turn while producing lower suction pressure. Replacing the main fan blower is an extensive repair, requiring multiple pieces of the Elgin to be removed and replaced. Staff determined that the labor cost to perform this repair was prohibitive considering the age and other issues with the Elgin.
The Elgin is powered by a 23-year-old diesel engine that has extensive hours of service and no longer complies with ever increasing California emissions standards. As a result of its emissions noncompliance, the vehicle was recently relegated to low-use status, which means that it can only be used for a limited number of hours each year, thus minimizing it’s utility and making it fiscally irresponsible to maintain.
The Elgin and Tymco are used in tandem to efficiently sweep the movement areas, and with the Elgin having reduced capability and reduced hours of operation, the Tymco has taken on the bulk of the sweeping at the SCLA. The Tymco is a capable machine, but it has now reached its 13th year of operation and has been tasked with additional hours of operation since the Elgin has experienced performance and use issues, thus placing the burden of sweeping the airport movement areas squarely on the Tymco. Should the Tymco suffer a mechanical issue that would take it out of service for an extended period of time, the Airport would have to rent a sweeper at considerable cost, if one was even available.
Discussion:
The proposed purchase of a new Tymco Model 600 Regenerative Air Sweeper (“2024 Tymco”) would replace the aging, worn out, and low-use designated Elgin. The 2024 Tymco will ensure staff has reliable equipment to support its maintenance activities.
Additionally, staff anticipates cost savings derived from reduced maintenance cost and productivity gains. Two functional sweepers, the proposed 2024 Tymco and the current 2011 Tymco, will allow Airport staff to work efficiently and to have a critical backup option in the event that one machine becomes inoperable and needs repairs.
To facilitate the procurement of this much needed equipment, the purchase of the 2024 Tymco is proposed through Mar-co Equipment, a dealer for Tymco Inc., and a participant in a cooperative agreement program called Houston-Galveston Area Council (“HGAC”).
HGAC is a public agency that offers a multitude of cooperatively contracted specialized products and equipment to government entities. Per Municipal Code §2.28.120 3 8
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“Purchases of supplies and equipment through cooperative purchasing arrangements” allows for the procurement of equipment directly from vendors engaged in an approved cooperative agreement program without further solicitation. The HGAC Cooperative Agreement has been reviewed and approved by the City of Victorville Purchasing Manager. It fulfills the competitive bidding requirements, thus providing significant savings, and offers contract purchasing solutions from Tymco Inc., to enable buying agencies to work smarter and more efficiently, while streamlining the required purchasing process.
The proposed equipment replacement will benefit the Airport by offering: increased reliability; environmental compliance; improved productivity; and significantly lower maintenance and operational costs. Staff has carefully reviewed the quote from Mar-co Equipment and determined it meets the requirements to properly service the SCLA.
Therefore, staff is requesting the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority Board of Directors approve the purchase of a TYMCO Model 600 Regenerative Air Sweeper in the amount totaling $400,357.69, from Mar-co Equipment.
Staff remains available for any questions or comments you may have.
CER/see
Attachments: A. Mar-co Quote
B. HGAC – Contract #SW04-20
C. Municipal Code 2.28.120