Item Number: 14
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: October 20, 2026
Submitted By:
Doug Mathews, Director of Public Works and Water
Subject:
Purchase of New Fleet Vehicles and Equipment Under Project MS26-142 (21 Vehicles) Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council, also sitting as the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority (“SCLAA”) and Victorville Water District Board of Directors:
(1) Approve the purchase of nine (9) vehicles from Winner Chevrolet, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $501,957.38.
(2) Approve the purchase of one (1) vehicle from Santa Margarita Ford for an amount not to exceed $76,042.68.
(3) Approve the purchase of one (1) vehicle from Western Truck Exchange for an amount not to exceed $100,522.00.
(4) Approve the purchase of two (2) vehicles from Transwest Truck Center for an amount not to exceed $206,176.67.
(5) Approve the procurement of the remaining eight (8) vehicles through alternative procurement methods, including cooperative purchasing programs, lead agency piggyback agreements, and/or available dealer inventory, with a 10% contingency due to market volatility, for a total authorization not to exceed $931,298.05. (6) Authorize the City Manager/Executive Director/General Manager to execute any and all documents necessary for such purchases.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for the 21 vehicles, specialty vehicles, and equipment included under Project MS26-142 was originally budgeted in Fiscal Year 2025/26, rolled over to Fiscal Year 2026/27, and is included in the Fiscal Year 2026/27 approved budget, totaling $2,126,034.49.
The total cost for the thirteen (13) vehicles recommended for award through the competitive bid process is $884,698.73, consisting of nine (9) vehicles from Winner Chevrolet, Inc. for $501,957.38, one (1) vehicle from Santa Margarita Ford for $76,042.68, one (1) vehicle from Western Truck Exchange for $100,522.00, and two (2) vehicles from Transwest Truck Center for $206,176.67.
The remaining eight (8) vehicles have a combined budget of $846,634.59. Staff is requesting a 10% contingency of $84,663.46 due to market volatility and limited vehicle inventory, for a total authorization of $931,298.05. The total fiscal impact is $1,815,996.78, which is within the Fiscal Year 2026/27 approved budget. No additional appropriation is required.
The following table provides specific allocations of funds by department:
Requesting
Department
Number of
Vehicles /
Equipment
Budgeted
Budgeted
Amount
Account Code(s)
Airport 4 $315,000 4500125-55045-95148
4500125-55045-95149
4500125-55045-95153
4500125-55045-95156
4520145-55045-95156
Animal Services 1 $94,885.90 1055203-55045-45037
Engineering 2 $142,600 2504500-55045-63022
4104500-55045-63022
4254500-55045-63022
2004500-55045-63023
2504500-55045-63023
Community Services 5 $645,548.59 1056050-55045-81076
1006050-55045-81084
1056000-55040-81064
Public Works 5 $473,000 4260400-55045-70771
1052010-55045-97092
1005030-55040-70784
4250700-55045-70791
2025060-55045-70791
2205003-55040-70785
VMUS 1 $100,000 4202076-55045-30077
Water 3 $355,000 4100530-55045-74662
4100500-55045-74482
4100505-55045-74676
Total 21 $2,126,034.49
Strategic Plan Goal:
The fleet vehicle and equipment purchases align with Goal E of the 2023-2026 Victorville Strategic Plan: Goal E: Invest in Infrastructure – Create a healthy and livable community by maintaining the City’s assets through investment in infrastructure and innovations. The vehicles and equipment will be utilized by various departments responsible for maintaining the City’s infrastructure, including parks, public works infrastructure, municipal facilities, water, electric and gas utility systems, airport facilities and infrastructure, as well as other essential City services and operations. The acquisition of new, reliable vehicles and equipment will provide staff with the necessary resources to effectively maintain these assets and continue delivering essential services to the community.
Background:
In compliance with Victorville Municipal Code (VMC) 2.28.100, the City’s Fleet and Purchasing Divisions initiated the procurement process for 21 new vehicles and equipment for Fiscal Year 2025/26. The Request for Bids (RFB) for Project MS26-142, CIP 2026 Vehicle Purchase, was posted on the City’s eProcurement Portal on June 10, 2026, and advertised in the Daily Press on June 10, 2026. A second notice was published in the San Bernardino Sun on June 17, 2026. Bids were due and publicly opened on July 1, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Four bid proposals were received from the following vendors:
• Santa Margarita Ford
• Transwest Truck Center
• Western Truck Exchange
• Winner Chevrolet, Inc.
Staff evaluated the bids, vehicle specifications, pricing, and proposed delivery timelines.
All four bidders submitted the required bid documents and received passing scores on the vendor questionnaire. Based on the evaluation, staff recommends awarding contracts to multiple vendors for 13 vehicles.
Due to extended delivery timelines associated with nearly all of the vehicles included in the bids, staff determined that alternative procurement methods would better meet the City’s operational needs for the remaining eight vehicles. Comparable vehicles have been identified through local dealerships or cooperative purchasing agreements. These alternatives are either readily available or can be delivered within significantly shorter timeframes, with pricing generally consistent with the corresponding bids. This approach will allow the City to obtain the necessary vehicles more promptly while maintaining reasonable costs.
Per the bid requirements, pricing was to remain firm for sixty (60) days following the July 1, 2026, bid opening, through August 30, 2026. Because the proposed awards are being presented to City Council after the expiration of this period, staff contacted the vendors recommended for award to confirm current pricing and vehicle availability. The results of these confirmations, including applicable price adjustments, model-year changes, and vehicle availability considerations, are addressed in the Discussion section below.
Discussion:
The City relies heavily on its fleet vehicles and equipment to provide essential services across multiple departments. Aging vehicles can result in increased maintenance costs and downtime, which can negatively impact service delivery. Timely replacement of these vehicles provides departments with reliable equipment necessary to support daily operations, infrastructure maintenance, and community services.
Following the July 1, 2026, bid opening, staff conducted a detailed review of the bids received for all 21 vehicles and equipment. This review included verification of bid pricing, vehicle specifications, vendor responsiveness, proposed delivery timelines, departmental operational needs, and available funding. Staff also evaluated whether the vehicles offered met the specifications requested by each department and whether the proposed delivery schedules were reasonable for the City’s replacement needs. Due to the number of vehicles, multiple departments involved, differences in vehicle configurations, and the need to evaluate pricing and delivery alternatives, the review and evaluation process extended beyond the sixty (60)-day period during which bids were required to remain firm.
Based on the completed evaluation, staff recommends awarding the purchase of 13 vehicles to multiple vendors: nine (9) vehicles to Winner Chevrolet, Inc., one (1) vehicle to Santa Margarita Ford, one (1) vehicle to Western Truck Exchange, and two (2) vehicles to Transwest Truck Center.
Following the expiration of the sixty (60)-day bid pricing period, staff obtained updated pricing and availability confirmations from the vendors recommended for award. Winner Chevrolet confirmed its original bid pricing for the vehicles recommended for award, with the exception of Line Item #1. Due to the transition from the 2026 to 2027 model year, the price for Line Item #1 increased by $3,806.25, from $46,110.00 to $49,916.25. Even with the increase, Winner Chevrolet remains the lowest bidder for this vehicle. Similarly, Santa Margarita Ford advised that the 2026 model originally bid for Line Item #6 is no longer being manufactured and provided updated pricing for the 2027 model. The revised price increased by $600.00, from $75,442.68 to $76,042.68. Santa Margarita Ford also remains the lowest bidder for this vehicle. Western Truck Exchange and Transwest Truck Center confirmed that they will honor their original bid pricing of $100,522.00 for Line Item #16 and $129,095.05 for Line Item #18, respectively.
On October 2, 2026, Winner Chevrolet notified the City that the vehicle bid for Line Item #5 was no longer available. Staff subsequently contacted the next lowest responsive bidder, Transwest Truck Center, which confirmed the vehicle’s availability. Accordingly, staff recommends awarding Line Item #5 to Transwest Truck Center for $77,081.62.
Winner Chevrolet also confirmed that it will honor its original bid pricing for the electric vehicle identified as Line Item #12, provided the City participates in the California Clean Fuel Reward (CCFR) program. The CCFR provides a financial incentive applied by participating retailers to reduce the purchase price of eligible new battery-electric vehicles. Program requirements include maintaining ownership and California registration of the vehicle for at least three years and providing the required vehicle and purchaser documentation. The Fleet Division reviewed the requirements and confirmed that the City and proposed vehicle meet the applicable eligibility criteria. Winner Chevrolet will submit the applicable program claims, and City staff will provide the required documentation as part of the purchase process.
For the remaining eight (8) vehicles, identified as Line Items #2, #4, #7, #9, #11, #14, and #15 in the Evaluation Tabulation (Attachment A), staff is requesting authorization to utilize alternative procurement methods, including cooperative purchasing programs, lead agency piggyback agreements, and/or available dealer inventory. Line Item #9 includes two vehicles, resulting in a total of eight (8) vehicles. Although bids were received for these vehicles, several proposed delivery timelines were extended and may not meet the operational needs of the requesting departments. Utilizing alternative procurement methods may provide the City with opportunities to obtain comparable vehicles sooner while remaining within the approved vehicle budgets.
The City leverages cooperative purchasing programs to take advantage of competitively solicited contracts, volume pricing, and streamlined procurement processes. In accordance with Victorville Municipal Code (VMC) 2.28.120, the City may utilize cooperative purchasing arrangements when the applicable requirements are met. These purchasing methods allow the City to use contracts established by other governmental agencies that have completed competitive procurement processes consistent with the City’s purchasing requirements.
The State of California, through the Department of General Services, maintains statewide contracts and purchasing programs that may provide the City access to competitively priced vehicles and equipment. The City may also utilize cooperative purchasing programs such as the California Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS), Sourcewell, OMNIA Partners, and HGACBuy when an applicable contract is available and meets City purchasing requirements. These programs can provide access to a broader range of vehicles and equipment that may not be readily available through the original bid process and may assist in reducing procurement lead times.
Prior to purchasing any of the remaining eight vehicles through an alternative procurement method, staff will verify that the vehicles meet City specifications and operational requirements and perform the necessary cost analysis to ensure the purchases remain within the authorization approved by City Council.
The tables below summarize the recommended awards and provide additional bid and delivery information supporting staff’s recommendation for alternative procurement.
Complete bid pricing and evaluation results are provided in the Evaluation Tabulation (Attachment A).
Recommendation for Award of Vehicle Purchases to Winner Chevrolet (9 Vehicles Total)
The recommended vehicle purchases below represent the lowest responsive bids received for the applicable line items.
Department: Airport
Line
Item
Vehicle / Equipment Qty. Award
Amount
Lead Time Budget
#1 150/1500 SRW 4X4
Crew Cab Pickup
Truck
1 $49,916.25 120 Days $70,000.00
#3 4WD SUV Explorer or
Similar
1 $43,483.69 120 Days $65,000.00
Note: Line Item #1 reflects updated pricing for the 2027 model year, resulting in a $3,806.25 increase from the original bid.
Department: Facilities
Line
Item
Vehicle / Equipment Qty. Award
Amount
Lead
Time
Budget
#8 4x4 SRW 350/3500
V8 Truck with 8’
Utility Bed
3 $205,863.75 240 Days $376,914.00
Department: Public Works
Line
Item
Vehicle / Equipment Qty. Award
Amount
Lead Time Budget
#10 2WD Electric Mid Size
SUV
1 $36,431.25 120 Days $75,000.00
#12 F-150 Lightning SRW
4WD Crew Cab
Pickup Truck or
Similar
1 $65,793.75 150 Days $100,000.00
#13 4WD SUV Explorer or
Similar
1 $43,483.69 120 Days $50,000.00
Note: Line Item #12 reflects pricing associated with the CCFR program.
Department: Water
Line
Item
Vehicle / Equipment Qty. Award
Amount
Lead Time Budget
#17 250/2500 SRW 4x4
Crew Cab Truck with
56” CA & P/U Box
Delete
1 $56,985.00 150 Days $120,000.00
Recommendation for Award of Vehicle Purchase to Santa Margarita Ford (1 Vehicle Total)
The recommended vehicle purchase below represents the lowest responsive bid received for the applicable line item.
Department: Engineering
Line
Item
Vehicle / Equipment Qty. Award
Amount
Lead Time Budget
#6 150/1500 SRW 4x4
Crew Cab Pickup
Truck
1 $76,042.68 120 Days $92,600.00
Note: Line Item #6 reflects updated pricing for the 2027 model year, resulting in a $600.00 increase from the original bid.
Recommendation for Award of Vehicle Purchase to Western Truck Exchange (1 Vehicle Total)
The recommended vehicle purchase below represents the lowest responsive bid received for the applicable line item.
Department: Water
Line
Item
Vehicle / Equipment Qty. Award
Amount
Lead Time Budget
#16 350/3500 SRW 4x4
Extended Cab Truck
with 8’ Utility Bed and
Crane
1 $100,522.00 180-270
Days
$105,000.00
Recommendation for Award of Vehicle Purchase to Transwest Truck Center (2 Vehicles Total)
The recommended vehicle purchases below represent the responsive bids received for the applicable line items.
Department: Animal Services
Line
Item
Vehicle / Equipment Qty. Award
Amount
Lead Time Budget
#5 350/3500 SRW 4x2
Electric Cargo Van
1 $77,081.62 120 Days $94,885.90
Note: Winner Chevrolet, the original lowest bidder for Line Item #5, notified the City on October 2, 2026, that the vehicle was no longer available. Transwest Truck Center, the next lowest responsive bidder, confirmed vehicle availability and that it would honor its original bid price.
Department: Water
Line
Item
Vehicle / Equipment Qty. Award
Amount
Lead Time Budget
#18 550/5500 DRW 4x4
Crew Cab Chassis
Diesel with
KNAPHEIDE KUVcc
Body
1 $129,095.05 TBD – See
Note
$130,000.00
Note: Transwest Truck Center originally estimated delivery by November 2, 2026, based on an assumed order date of July 7, 2026. As the original assumed order date has passed, the current delivery date will be confirmed at the time of order and is subject to manufacturer order bank availability and production scheduling.
Recommendation for Alternative Vehicle Procurement
(8 Vehicles Total)
Justification for Alternative Procurement: Due to extended delivery timelines under the original RFB, staff is requesting authorization to utilize dealer inventory and/or cooperative purchasing methods that may provide earlier vehicle availability while remaining within the approved authorization.
Department: Airport
Line Item /
Vehicle
Qty. Bidder Bid
Amount
Proposed
Delivery /
Lead Time
Budget
#2
350/3500
DRW 4x4
Crew
Cab/Chassis
with 10’ Flat
Bed Body
1 Santa
Margarita
Ford
$92,047.91 160 Days $80,000.00
Transwest
Truck
Center
$91,923.33 11/2/2026
Western
Truck
Exchange
$82,690.00 150-240
Days
Winner
Chevrolet
$77,212.50 240 Days
Line Item /
Vehicle
Qty. Bidder Bid
Amount
Proposed
Delivery /
Lead Time
Budget
#4
4x4 SRW
350/3500
1 Santa
Margarita
Ford
$79,699.35 160 Days $100,000.00
V8 Truck
with 8’ Utility
Bed
Transwest
Truck
Center
$90,314.83 11/2/2026
Western
Truck
Exchange
$70,650.00 150-240
Days
Winner
Chevrolet
$67,316.25 240 Days
Department: Engineering
Line Item /
Vehicle
Qty. Bidder Bid
Amount
Proposed
Delivery /
Lead Time
Budget
#7
4WD
Midsize
SUV or
Similar
1 Santa
Margarita
Ford
No Bid No Bid $50,000.00
Transwest
Truck
Center
$49,571.26 10/8/2026*
Western
Truck
Exchange
No Bid No Bid
Winner
Chevrolet
$45,783.75 150 Days
Department: Community Services
Line Item /
Vehicle
Qty. Bidder Bid
Amount
Proposed
Delivery /
Lead Time
Budget
#9
350/3500
SRW 4x2
Extended
Cab Truck
with 8’ Utility
Bed
2 Santa
Margarita
Ford
$87,490.20 160 Days $268,634.59
Transwest
Truck
Center
$86,150.79 11/2/2026
Western
Truck
Exchange
$71,340.00 150-240
Days
Winner
Chevrolet
$68,730.00 240 Days
Department: Public Works
Line Item /
Vehicle
Qty. Bidder Bid
Amount
Proposed
Delivery /
Lead Time
Budget
#11
350/3500
SRW 4x4
Extended
Cab Truck
with 9’ Utility
Bed and
Crane
1 Santa
Margarita
Ford
$117,182.21 180 Days $150,000.00
Transwest
Truck
Center
$112,019.15 11/2/2026
Western
Truck
Exchange
$104,100.00 180-270
Days
Winner
Chevrolet
$105,922.50 270 Days
Line Item /
Vehicle
Qty. Bidder Bid
Amount
Proposed
Delivery /
Lead Time
Budget
#14
350/3500
DRW 4x2
Crew
Cab/Chassis
with 10’
Combo
Utility Body
1 Santa
Margarita
Ford
$110,762.70 180 Days $98,000.00
Transwest
Truck
Center
$102,609.68 11/2/2026
Western
Truck
Exchange
No Bid No Bid
Winner
Chevrolet
$88,848.75 240 Days
Department: VMUS
Line Item /
Vehicle
Qty. Bidder Bid
Amount
Proposed
Delivery /
Lead Time
Budget
#15
4x4
350/3500
V8 Pick-Up
Truck or
Similar
1 Santa
Margarita
Ford
$66,993.05 120 Days $100,000.00
Transwest
Truck
Center
$68,492.62 10/15/2026*
Western
Truck
Exchange
No Bid No Bid
Winner
Chevrolet
$61,335.00 150 Days
*Transwest Truck Center delivery dates are not firm. Estimates listed based on an assumed order date of July 7, 2026, as provided in the vendor’s scheduling workbook.
Actual delivery dates would vary based on manufacturer order bank availability and production scheduling.
The timely acquisition of these vehicles and equipment is essential to maintaining the City’s operational efficiency and service delivery. Approval of the recommended purchases will enable departments to continue providing essential services while reducing potential downtime and maintenance costs associated with aging fleet assets.
Staff recommends that the City Council, also sitting as the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority (“SCLAA”) and Victorville Water District Board of Directors, approve the purchase of nine (9) vehicles from Winner Chevrolet, Inc., one (1) vehicle from Santa Margarita Ford, one (1) vehicle from Western Truck Exchange, and two (2) vehicles from Transwest Truck Center, and authorize the procurement of the remaining eight (8) vehicles through alternative procurement methods, including cooperative purchasing programs, lead agency piggyback agreements, and/or available dealer inventory.
Staff remains available for any questions the City Council or governing board may have.
Prepared By:
Summer Burgess, Management Specialist
Attachments: A. Evaluation Tabulation
B. California Clean Fuel Reward Customer Terms and Conditions Agreement