HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010/09/14 Item 13
CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STATEMENT
~(f?- CITYOF
. ~- .:CHUlA VISTA
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 Item-1.3..-
ITEM TITLE:
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CHULA VISTA WAIVING THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING
PROCESS AND AUTHORIZING THE POLlCE
DEPARTMENT TO CONTRACT WITH AMERICAN
EMERGENCY PRODUCTS FOR POLICE VEHICLE
OUTFITTING SERVICES.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CHULA VISTA WAIVING THE COMPETITIVE FORMAL
BID REQUIREMENT AND UTILIZE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY BID PO DPO-SH36508203-1 TO PURCHASE
POLICE PATROL VEHICLES
CHIEF OF POLIC~~
CITY MANAGER
4/5THS VOTE: YES
NO X
SUBMITTED BY:
REVIEWED BY:
SUMMARY
On October 6, 2009, Council authorized the Chula Vista Police Department to contract
with American Emergency Products to provide vehicle outfitting services for the Police
Department. This was in response to the Departments need to outfit a large number of
new patrol vehicles in a timely manner. To date, American Emergency Products has
outfitted 25 police vehicles. American Emergency Products can provide cost-effective
services for outfitting police cruisers and contracting with this company would assist with
updating current vehicles and would enhance the operational capabilities of the Police
Department.
The Police Department has obtained favorable pncmg for patrol vehicles via a
competitive bid conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, and the
department seeks to waive the City's competitive formal bid requirement to purchase
police cruisers from Bob Wondries Ford.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Not Applicable
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SEPTEMBER 14,2010 Item l3
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RECOMMENDA nON
That Council adopts the resolution.
BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDA nON
Not Applicable
DISCUSSION
Police Fleet Outlitting Services
On October 6,2009, the Police Department brought a resolution (Resolution 2009-234)
before Council seeking the waiving of the competitive bidding process for vehicle
outtitting services to outfit 24 new patrol vehicles. Because of City staffing reductions as
a result of budgctary constraints, staff estimated that it would take upwards of one month
per vehicle to fully outfit and prepare a police cruiser for service. This would mean that
based upon the number of vehicles that were waiting to be outfitted with equipment, it
would take as long as 2 years to replace the 24 vehicles that were purchased for
replacement of older patrol vehicles. This would have caused severe operational impacts
to the Police Department as vehicles which were slated for replacement had at least
100,000 miles of use. This would have meant that cars awaiting replacement could reach
nearly 200,000 miles of use. By way of comparison, normal vehicle replacement mileage
for patrol cars was at 80,000 miles. It was extended to 100,000 miles during the latest
budget crises in order to reduce replacement costs.
In order to expedite thc replacement process for these vehicles, the Police Department
recommended contracting with American Emergency Products (formerly known as
Thunderworks Mobile Engineering) to provide police vehicle outfitting services.
American Emergency Products is the only company in San Diego County which offers
this service. They currently provide vehicle outtitting services to all of the local law
enforcement agencies in San Diego County with the exception of the City of San Diego
(The City of San Diego utilizes internal staff for outtitting of police vehicles). They are a
large nation-wide company which specializes in public safety vehicle outfitting, and
maintain a very good reputation with thc law enforcement agencies throughout the
regIon.
City stafffrom the Public Works Garage and Police Department conducted a site visit to
American Emergency Products, whose facilities are currently located in the City of
Santee. They maintain a very clean vehicle outfitting garage and utilize industry standard
or better equipment for their builds. Staff was able to inspect several vehicles which were
currently under construction and found the workmanship and materials used to be
excellent.
Over the last 10 months, American Emergency Products successfully outfitted 24 patrol
vehicles and one canine vehicle to the Department's satisfaction. Most vehicle builds
were completed in less than two weeks. In reviewing the costs associated with
contracting these services, staff has determined that there are several benefits both
economic and operational with regard to contracting with American Emergency Products.
First, American Emergency Products can provide the outtitting services in a cost-
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SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 Item~
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effective manncr. Secondly, American Emergency Products can order equipment direct
from the manufacturcrs at signiticant volume discounts. Staff compared the prices of
equipment for police sedans supplied by American Emergency Products with what the
City is able to purcbase, and found tbat across tbe board, American Emergency Products
prices are lower than what the City has been able to procure.
Another advantage to American Emergency Products are that they are located in Santee,
and can process up to three cars per week including dismantling usable equipment from
old police sedans. This is important as the recycling of usable equipment results in lower
outfitting costs to tbc City, and quicker turn-around times for build outs.
The tull cost to build out a police sedan varies based upon whicb new equipment is
required. Staff estimates the cost to outfit each police sedan to be between $7,000 to
$10,000. It is difficult to estimate tbe true cost savings because oftbe ditTerent build
requirements, but a conservative estimate is between $1,500 to $3,000 per vebicle.
The Police Department wishes to continue utilizing American Emergency Products to
provide vebicle outfitting services. Because of the variety of vehicles that the Police
Department maintains, the department seeks to utilize their services beyond normal patrol
vebicles. The dcpartment maintains specialty vebicles tbat require upgrades to their on-
board equipment, and American Emergency Products also specializes in more complex
vebicle outfitting services. Tbis resolution would include tbe more complex vebicle
outfitting services as well. Again, because of their close proximity, excellent customer
service and demonstrated expertise in vebicle outfitting, the Department seeks to utilize
American Emergency Products for the entire police fleet. Estimates for these vebicle
upgrades are between $75,000 - $125,000. Funds for tbese upgrades bave already been
appropriated in tbe Police Grant Fund.
Patrol Vebicle Purchase
The Department bas budgeted funds to purcbase replacement patrol vebicles via tbe fiscal
year 20 II budget process. In order to streamline the order process, and because
significant purchasing advantage can be acbieved by piggy-backing onto a current formal
bid from tbe Los Angeles County Sheriff, tbe department seeks to waive the competitive
bid process, and purchase new patrol vehicles for fiscal year 20 II from Los Angeles
County Bid/PO DPO-SH36508203-1. The City's Purcbasing Agent bas reviewed tbis bid
for conformance to City policy.
DECISION MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by tbis action and bas determined tbat it is
not site specific and consequently the 500 foot rule found in California Code of
Regulations section I 8704.2(a)(l) is not applicable to this decision.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
As part of the budget reduction process, replacement for Police vehicles was eliminated
from the General Fund. The Police Department has identified funding outside tbe
General Fund to replace ten patrol vehicles in the aging neet during tbe current fiscal
year. Four vehicles will be purchased by Operation Stone garden grant funding, and six
vehicles will be purchased from the Traffic Safety Fund. The vehicle replacement costs
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SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 Item~
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for these ten vehicles were approved by the City Council during the fiscal year 20] 1
budget adoption process. Additionally, funds to outfit these vehicles have been identified
(outside the General Fund) in the adopted fiscal year 201] budget. Therefore, there is no
net fiscal impact to the General Fund. Any additional funds for vehicle replacement or
outfitting that are not included in the adopted budget will be brought forward for
consideration.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
In succeeding fiscal years, vehicle replacement and outfitting costs will be budgetcd as
part of the normal vehicle replacement fund or brought before Council as needed.
ATTACHMENTS
Nonc.
Prepared by Edward Chew, 4dministrative Services /v!anager, Police Department
13-4
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CHULA VISTA WAIVING THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING
PROCESS AND AUTHORIZING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
TO CONTRACT WITH AMERICAN EMERGENCY
PRODUCTS FOR POLICE VEHICLE OUTFITTING SERVICES
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City ofChuIa Vista previously authorized the Police
Dcpartment to contract with American Emergency Products via Resolution 2009-234; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department has utilized American Emergency Products to provide
vehicle outfitting services for 25 police vehicles over the last year; and
WHEREAS, American Emergency Products provided timely and cost efficient services for the
Police Department in order to process this many vehicles in a short time span to the satisfaction of the
Police Department; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department wishes to continue utilizing American Emergency
Products to provide vehicle outfitting services for the entire Police Department fleet; and
WHEREAS, American Emergency Products is the only company in San Diego County which
provides public safety vehicle equipment installation; and
WHEREAS, American Emergency Products installs emergency and safety equipment to all but
one local law enforcement agency in San Diego County and their quality of work, competitive market
prices, close location and ability to provide one week turn-around for three police vehicles make them
an ideal company to perform the required work.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City of ChuIa Vista does
hereby waive the competitive bidding process and authorize the Police Department to contract with
American Emergency Products for police vehicle outfitting services for the entire Police Department
tleet.
Presented by:
Approved as to form by:
David Bejarano
Police Chief
~~~~;'i?u7y
Bart C. Miesfeld
City Attorney
13-5
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA
VISTA WAIVING THE COMPETITIVE FORLYlAL BID
REQUIREMENT AND UTILIZE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BfD PO
DPO-SH36508203-1 TO PURCHASE PATROL VEHICLES
WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista Police Department needs to replace ten patrol
vehicles in fiscal year 20 II; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department has identified a Los Angeles County bid which
allows other municipal agencies to participate in the preferred pricing; and
WHEREAS, Bob Wondries Ford has been awarded a purchase order from Los Angeles
County via a competitive bid process (PO DPO-SH36508203-1); and
WHEREAS, the City Purchasing Agent has reviewed this process to ensure City
policies regarding purchasing off of competitive bids has been adhered too.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City ofChula Vista
does hereby waive the competitive formal bid requirement and authorize the Police
Department to utilize Los Angeles County bid PO DPO-SH36508203-1.
Presented by:
Approved as to form by:
~_G~
Bart Miesfeld ~ b i;? '-' 7 '-r
City Attorney
David Bejarano
Police Chief
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