Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Enter into a Purchase Agreement not to Exceed $130,452 for the Replacement of One Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Bus for the Paratransit Program. (Recreation and Parks 4225-287)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Interim City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Enter into a Purchase Agreement not to Exceed $130,452 for the Replacement of One Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Bus for the Paratransit Program
BACKGROUND
The Recreation and Parks Department is responsible for replacing its vehicles and equipment according to the City’s Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Policy. The replacement policy is based on the City of Alameda’s Fleet Replacement Criteria, which considers the useful life of vehicles and equipment in terms of age, mileage (or 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. After a careful review, one Paratransit bus has been identified for replacement for use in recreation programs that serve developmentally and physically disabled youth, adults in the Leisure Club, as well as senior participants.
DISCUSSION
In fall 2014, the 1991 Ford Econoline 350 bus used by the Recreation and Parks Department to transport program participants, was rendered inoperable and was decommissioned from the City of Alameda’s vehicle fleet. Since then, the Leisure Club participants have been using a standard van, which has been more difficult due to the participants more limited mobility. The Champion LF Transport Flex Bus is being proposed as a suitable replacement vehicle and is designed with a low floor and open seating plan to accommodate developmentally and physically disabled passengers, as well as senior passengers.
The bus will transport 21 ambulatory seated passengers and one wheelchair seated passenger or 17 ambulatory seated passengers and two wheelchair seated passengers. After a significant amount of research, staff determined the Champion LF Transport Flex Bus was the only bus model that fit the required specifications. The following amenities are included: IntelliSYNC Electronic Auto-Leveling Air Suspension System to provide all passengers with a level, flat surface while accessing the vehicle, regardless of the road angle or road crown; Gatorshield galvanized steel cage construction for long-term durability; large passenger side windows and the openness of the 102’ wide body.
The Champion LF Transport Flex Bus will be ideal for transporting individuals participating in the Recreation and Parks Department’s Leisure Club Program which offers a specialized recreation program for developmentally disabled individuals. The bus will also provide an opportunity to explore new travel opportunities at the Senior Center.
The Recreation and Parks Department identified Creative Bus Sales located in Hayward, CA, as the only Northern California vendor that can provide the Champion LF Transport Flex Bus. Additionally, this vendor participates with the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CALACT) which has a purchasing cooperative, in which the City has a membership. The Cooperative provides a federal and California State compliant purchasing solution that eliminates the need to formally bid the purchase as is usually required.
The Public Works central equipment garage will provide service for this vehicle. However, Creative Bus Sales will service warranty items. The quote, as shown in Exhibit 1, is $124,239.41, including taxes and fees. This bus will be funded by the Measure BB Paratransit program and will be used by the Recreation and Parks Department to serve disabled people and seniors.
The replaced bus was taken out of the fleet inventory and sold at auction. The revenues raised from such sale were returned to the Equipment Replacement Fund (Fund 701), in accordance with Resolution No. 13951.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total cost for the vehicle to be purchased is $124,240 with a 5% contingency of $6,212 included for a total of $130,452.
The proposed vehicle was included in the FY 2015 - 2017 Operating and Capital Budget. The funding source for the proposed bus is in the Capital Improvement Program Project #9161103 (Fund 215.4, Measure B Paratransit).
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is authorized pursuant to Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-61.7 “Joint Purchases with Public Agencies.”
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to enter into a purchase agreement not to exceed $130,452 for the replacement of one Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) bus for the Paratransit program.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Interim Assistant City Manager
By,
Jackie Krause, Recreation Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Champion LF Transport Flex Bus Quote