HomeMy WebLinkAboutPurchase - Type1 Ambulance - Rplc Unit 267STAFF REPORT
CITY OF PALM DESERT
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
MEETING DATE: October 24, 2019
PREPARED BY: Stephen Y. Aryan, Risk Manager
REQUEST: Approval to replace Medic Unit No. 267 with the purchase of a
Frazer Type 1 ambulance at an estimated cost of $235,000.
Recommendation
By Minute Motion, approve the replacement of Medic Unit No. 267 with the
purchase of a Frazer Type 1 ambulance at an estimated cost of $235,000
Commission Action
The Public Safety Commission reviewed this matter on October 9, 2019, and
recommended approval by the City Council as recommended.
Strategic Plan
This matter is related to the Public Safety and Emergency Services section of the Palm
Desert Strategic Plan, specifically under Prioritv 1: Enhance the Delivery of Public
Safetv Services. The priority's strategy is to expand the existing superlative services
provided by the fire and police departments to address future growth and safety
concerns. One of the action steps is to identify public safety needs including new
equipment.
Executive Summary
The Fire Department requests replacing one of their ambulances (V.I.N.
1 FDAF4GROAEB25742) with a new Frazer Type 1 ambulance mounted on a 2019 Ford
F-450 SuperCab chassis. This new vehicle will replace Medic 67 at the Mesa View
Station that operates as the primary ambulance for south Palm Desert. Upon delivery,
the former ambulance will be placed into reserve status.
Background Analvsis
This request is to purchase a new ambulance to replace one that has approximately
100,000 miles and an average maintenance repair cost of $10,200 over the previous
three years. The Fire Department requests replacement in lieu of remounting its patient
compartment onto a new chassis, which is typically the protocol.
Staff Report: Medic Unit 267 Replacement
October 24, 2019
Page 2 of 2
This unit's patient compartment is from the original CNG ambulance that was introduced
in 2009, as part of a pilot program requested by the City Council. The compartment has
a different configuration and is larger to accommodate the natural gas storage tanks,
which presents some challenges.
The Fire Department provides further details in the attached memorandum on why
replacement is the preferred option and what these shortcomings are. In summary,
vehicle replacement will provide the following benefits:
• Standardization of the Fleet
• Additional Crew Space
• Compartment Upgrade
• Continued Remounting Options
Fiscal Analvsis
The cost to purchase a new ambulance from Frazer is approximately $235,000. This
amount includes transportation costs to ship the vehicle back and also travel costs to
send a Fire Department representative to inspect the vehicle before accepting delivery.
Such action is important to ensure quality control and not cause any potential delays
with returning the ambulance to Houston, Texas, should a problem be discovered upon
delivery. Funds are available in the FY 2019/20 City Budget (FD 530-Equipment
Replacement) and no appropriation is requested.
LEGAL REVIEW
N/A
Robert W. Hargreaves
City Attorney
DEPT. REVIEW
Lori Carney
Director of Administrative Services
FINANCIAL REVIEW CITY MANAGER
J et M. Moore auri Aylaian
Director of Finance City Manaqer
ATTACHMENT: 1. Fire Department New Purchase Justification Memorandum
2. Fire Department Sole Source Justification Memorandum
CAL FIRE - RIVERSIDE UNIT
RIVERSIDE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
SHAWN C. NEWMAN - FIRE CHIEF
210 WEST SAN JACINTO AVENUE, PERRIS, CA 92570-191 5
Bus: (951) 940-6900 FAX: (951) 940-6373 WWW.RVCFIRE.ORG
PROUDLY SERVING THE
UNINCORPORATED AREAS
OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY To: Lauri Aylaian, City Manager
AND THE CITIES OF: City of Palm Desert
BANNING
From : Bryan White, Battalion Chief
CAL FIRE/ Riverside County Fire January 7, 2019
BEAUMONT
CANYON LAKE
COACHELLA
Re: Request to purchase new ambulance vs remount of Medic 267 in FYI9/20
DESERT HOT SPRINGS
EASTVALE
The purpose of this letter is to recommend the purchase of a new ambulance vs. the remounting of
Medic 267. Medic 267 is a 2010 Ford 450-Frazer Ambulance and previously served as Medic 71. As
INDIAN WELLS
you may remember, this ambulance was the first of its kind when originally purchased and was the
INDIO
only natural gas -powered ambulance in California. Due to limitations with operational range and
refueling issues, this ambulance's fire body (MODULE) was remounted to a Ford 450 6.4L diesel
JURUPA VALLEY
(CHASSIS) (VIN I FDAF5GROAEB25). While technically the MODULE can be remounted an
LAKE ELSINORE
unlimited number of times, FIRE is recommending purchasing a new vehicle CHASSIS and
MODULE for the following reasons;
LA QUINTA
MENIFEE
1. Standardization of the fleet.
MORENO VALLEY
a. The Current Ambulance CHASSIS Spec. is a Ford 450 SuperCab.
NORCO
b. The current MODULE will not fit on the above current spec. ambulance
CHASSIS
PALM DESERT
c. The current MODULE is two (2) feet longer and four (4) inches taller than the
PERRIS
other 18 Ambulances in the fleet. (Including Indio)
d. Familiarity with ambulance height restrictions and maneuverability
RANCHO MIRAGE
i. Failure to remember that you are driving the one ambulance that is longer
RUBIDOUx CSD
and taller than anything else in the fleet can be a costly mistake.
e. Due to the additional height, the MODULE had to have a custom door built
SAN JACINTO
along the passenger side. This has led to stress cracks and "cancer" developing
TEMECULA
under the paint. FIRE will require that door be re -engineered to accommodate the
additional height.
WILDOMAR
2. Additional crew space (clean space)
BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS:
a. This change in CHASSIS allows for New Hire Employees, EMT and Nursing
Students that are required to ride with Pre -Hospital providers to be properly
KEVIN JEFFRIES
DISTRICT 1
secured in the occupant compartment of the vehicle. This is far safer as they are
properly restrained and protected by air bags in the event of a collision'.
JOHN TAVAGLIONE
b. The extended cab offers a place to store additional uniforms and personal items
DISTRICT 2
that are safe from public access in the MODULE.
CHARLES WASHINGTON
c. The extended cab offers a place to store groceries that are required for our 72-hour
DISTRICT 3
shift in a clean and germ -free environment.
i. In the previous MODULE & CHASSIS, crews had to either place their
V. MANUEL PEREZ
DISTRICT 4
food in a compartment with carcinogen latent equipment or in the patient
compartment that transports the sick, dead or dying to the Iospital
MARION ASHLEY
several times a day.
DISTRICT 5
I https://www.ems.gov/pdf/EMSWorldAmbulanceCrashArticiesSept2Ol5.pdf
3. Compartment upgrade
a. As discussed earlier, this MODULE was initially built to accommodate several
natural gas cylinders. When the MODULE was remounted to the 2010 Ford
CHASSIS, the tanks were removed leaving gear unsecured inside the
compartment.
b. Not included in the bid to remount Medic 267 would be several thousand dollars
in metal work to design shelving and brackets to secure tools and equipment.
4. Continued remount options
a. By standardizing the MODULE, it will ensure that it is capable of being
remounted for the foreseeable future.
i. As long as the MODULE is structurally sound, and manufacture
recommends remounting.
In closing, FIRE is recommending that the current Medic 267 be traded in and replaced with a new
MODULE and CHASSIS for the reasons listed above. Upon delivery, the new ambulance will be
placed into service as Medic 67 and the 2014 Dodge 4500 Frazer Ambulance (3C7WRKBL5EG133)
be placed into reserve status as M267.
Submitted By:
Bryan White
Battalion Chief
CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire
Proudly Serving Palm Desert
Reviewed and Concur:
Eddy Moore
Deputy Chief Eastern Operations
CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire
PROUDLY SERVING THE
UNINCORPORATED AREAS
OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
AND THE CITIES OF:
BANNING
BEAUMONT
CANYON LAKE
COACHELLA
DESERT HOT SPRINGS
EASTVALE
INDIAN WELLS
INDIO
JURUPA VALLEY
LAKE ELSINORE
LA QUINTA
MENIFEE
MORENO VALLEY
NORCO
PALM DESERT
PERRIS
RANCHO MIRAGE
RUBIDOUX CSD
SAN JACINTO
TEMECULA
WILDOMAR
BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS:
KEVIN JEFFRIES
DISTRICT 1
JOHN TAVAGLIONE
DISTRICT 2
CHARLES WASHINGTON
DISTRICT 3
V. MANUEL PEREZ
DISTRICT 4
MARION ASHLEY
DISTRICT 5
SHAWN C. NEwmAN - FIRE CHIEF
2 10 WEST SAN JACINTO AVENUE, PERRIS, CA 92570-1 91 5
BUS: (951) 940-6900 FAX: (951) 940-6373 WWW.RVCFIRE.ORG
Date: January 8, 2019
To: Stephen Aryan, Risk Manager
City of Palm Desert
From: Eddy Moore, Deputy Chief
Riverside County Fire
Re: Sole Source Purchase Justification — Ambulance
The Fire Department is recommending the sole source purchase of a specified ambulance
from Frazer Ltd, Houston Texas. The following justifications are provided in support of this
purchase.
• Only known manufacturer of this product:
Based on extensive research, Frazer is the only manufacturer of an ambulance that has a
generator powered patient care module. In this design, all electrical for lighting, air-
conditioning, on -board medical equipment, as well as all sirens and warning lights are
powered by a separate on -board generator. In other traditional ambulances, power is
derived from the engine -driven alternator. This is often inadequate, and has proven to be
unreliable, and prone to breakdown — especially in our desert climate. Additionally, these
units have a separate 1 ton heavy duty, residential -style air conditioning/heating module
which has proven effective in our desert climate. The ability to connect these units to a shore
line while in quarters allows us to respond with a pre -cooled or heated unit which is important
for the medications and fluids we carry as well as patient comfort.
• Compatibility to existing ambulance fleet:
The cities of Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells and Indio have been purchasing
Frazer ambulances since 1999. Currently there are 18 ambulances in the fleet, all of which
are Frazer ambulances. Standardization provides operational benefits in the form of
common layout, uniform storage of supplies and ease of use by Paramedics under stressful
situations. Maintenance issues are improved via a standardization of parts, allowing a ready
inventory of spares. Familiarity of systems and equipment also produces a reduction in
repair time by mechanics.
• Cost savings:
The purchase of the Frazer Type I ambulance aids in future savings to the partner cities, as
these ambulances are designed for the patient compartment to be refurbished
and remounted on a new chassis as replacement cycles are reached. Once the unit has
become worn out, the department will only need to refurbish and remount the patient
compartment instead of replacing the entire ambulance, therefore reducing the ambulance
replacement by approximately 15-20%, while producing a product that is essentially new.
This is done by the replacement of the cab/chassis with a brand new one, and the removal
and complete refurbishment of the patient care compartment.
Consequences of not securing this specific item:
A. The loss of generator powered, commercial air conditioning/heating units as part of the
integrated ambulance specification.
B. The inability to remount the ambulance box on a new chassis in the future.
C. Possible increase in repair costs.
D. Possible increase in out of service time for repairs.
E. The lack of a standard for ambulances within the department.
In summary, the desert climate we operate in is unique compared with many areas of the
United States. The harsh summer weather puts an incredible burden on air conditioning and
electrical systems of ambulances. The proper functioning of the ambulance in general, and
these systems specifically are critical to our emergency response, care and treatment of our
residents. Through our extensive history and use, the Frazer Units have been determined to
meet our needs and provide reliable service. We recommend the continued sole source
purchase of these vehicles.
Respectfully Submitted,
Eddy Moore
Deputy Chief of Eastern Operations