Title
Recommendation to Authorize the Purchase of a Replacement VacCon Combination Jet/Vacuum Sewer Cleaner through the National Joint Powers Alliance Contract 022014-AMI in the Amount of $397,643. (Public Works 602)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Authorize the Purchase of a Replacement VacCon Combination Jet/Vacuum Sewer Cleaner through the National Joint Powers Alliance Contract 022014-AMI in the Amount of $397,643.
BACKGROUND
The Public Works Department uses a special combination truck with high-pressure water and a truck-mounted vacuum system to maintain the City's 136 miles of gravity wastewater collection system pipelines. The vehicle is used to perform preventive and emergency cleaning of the sanitary sewer system, including the jetting and clearing of blockages in the sewer system, responding to sanitary sewer overflows, and vacuuming and capturing raw sewage that may otherwise make its way to surface streets, the storm drain system, lagoons, or the San Francisco Bay. Preventive maintenance cleaning is necessary in order to reduce sanitary sewer overflows, and to comply with the City’s work requirements in the Final Consent Decree for Consolidated Case Nos. C 09-00186-RS and C 09-05684-RS to reduce such overflows.
The Public Works Department is responsible for the Vehicle and Equipment (Fleet) Replacement Program pursuant to Administrative Policy and Procedure No. 48, effective July 1, 2016. The replacement program is based on the City’s fleet replacement criteria, which consider the useful life of vehicles and equipment in terms of age, mileage (hours), and usage. Vehicles and equipment scheduled for replacement are also reviewed and analyzed for safety history and operating performance to determine if it is appropriate to replace a vehicle or piece of equipment at a later date. In addition, vehicles and equipment are reviewed to determine if the minimum use guidelines have been met. Replacement of Public Works’ existing VacCon was approved by the City Council in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-19 Vehicle Replacement Schedule.
DISCUSSION
Replacement of the existing VacCon with a newly modeled unit will not only improve work performance, but also provide worker safety and environmental benefits. These specialized trucks have two engines, one in the chassis that drives the heavy vehicle and another auxiliary engine for the water and vacuum systems. In the past, both engines were only available as diesel engines. Now VacCon offers a gasoline auxiliary engine alternative that City staff are proposing to purchase given the carbon footprint reduction, projected fuel financial savings, and reduced noise output of the unit.
The new VacCon will allow the operator to turn off the chassis engine for the majority of the work day, something they were unable to do in the past. Reducing idle time of the diesel engine by 20-25 hours a week will reduce maintenance cost, wear and tear on the components and transmission, and significantly decrease diesel fuel consumption and emission of greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. Having the chassis engine turned off during vacuum and high pressure water activities, will also reduce the decibel noise level workers are continuously exposed to while operating the vehicle.
The VacCon Combination Jet/Vacuum Sewer Cleaner will be purchased from the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA). The NJPA is a public agency cooperative whose competitively-bid contracts enable government, education, and nonprofit agencies throughout the country to leverage their purchasing dollars with other member agencies. The City currently holds membership status with the NJPA and seeks to make use of the competitive pricing in NJPA Contract 022014-AMI.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The estimated value to replace the existing equipment was budgeted in FY 2017-18 at $391,000 in the Sewer Enterprise Fund. The quoted acquisition price offered through the NJPA cooperative agreement is $397,643, which is $6,643 greater than the current replacement budget. The Sewer Enterprise Fund has sufficient existing appropriations to cover the increased cost of the equipment. There is no impact to the General Fund.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action does not affect the Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action involves government fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4).
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the purchase of a replacement VacCon combination jet/vacuum sewer cleaner through the National Joint Powers Alliance Contract 022014-AMI in the amount of $397,643.
Respectfully submitted,
Liam Garland, Acting Public Works Director
By,
Erin Smith, Acting Deputy Public Works Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. VacCon Quote
2. National Joint Powers Alliance Contract