HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12t - Purchase of Police Patrol VehiclesPurchase Order for Police Patrol Vehicles
August 20, 2024
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DATE: August 20, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Paul Cranmer, Public Works Services Director
By: Carlos Aguilar, General Services Superintendent
SUBJECT: PURCHASE ORDER WITH MICHAEL HOHL MOTOR COMPANY FOR
THE PURCHASE OF SIX CHEVROLET TAHOE POLICE PATROL
VEHICLES IN THE AMOUNT OF $399,036.54
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Waive the Formal Bid Process and Approve
SUMMARY
The Fiscal Year 2022-23, Fiscal Year 2023-24, and Fiscal Year 2024-25 Equipment
Replacement Funds provide for the replacement of patrol vehicles in the Police
Department. Due to unprecedented manufacturer delays and persistent supply chain
issues that have continued since the COVID-19 pandemic, obtaining police pursuit
vehicles has been extremely challenging. After an extensive search, the Public Works
Services Department has identified a vendor that can quickly supply and deliver six
Police Patrol vehicles.
It is recommended that the City Council approve a sole source Purchase Order with
Michael Hohl Motor Company for the purchase of six Chevrolet Tahoe Police Patrol
vehicles, in the amount of $399,036.54.
BACKGROUND
The Fiscal Year 2022-23 Equipment Replacement Budget provided for the replacement
of six patrol vehicles in the Police Department. In November 2022, an order for six
patrol vehicles was placed with the National Auto Fleet Group, a nationwide cooperative
purchasing program the City has successfully used for over a decade. Of the six, only
three patrol vehicles were delivered, with two arriving in March 2024 and one that was
delivered on August 5, 2024. The order for the remaining three patrol vehicles has been
cancelled by the manufacturer.
The Fiscal Year 2023-24 Equipment Replacement Budget provides for the replacement
of three patrol vehicles. While a budget was available, the PWSD was not able to place
Purchase Order for Police Patrol Vehicles
August 20, 2024
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any orders due to major manufacturer production delays, as only a very limited number
of police patrol vehicles were being built nationally. In April 2024, the National Auto
Fleet Group notified the PWSD that an order for two Police Patrol vehicles was
unexpectedly cancelled by a local municipality and offered them to the City of Arcadia
for purchase. Fortunately, the two units were available for immediate delivery. This type
of last-minute purchase is extremely rare and is often offered at random.
The Fiscal Year 2024-25 Equipment Replacement Budget provides for the replacement
of three patrol vehicles. Again, no orders could be placed due to manufacturer delays. It
is likely that any police vehicle orders placed with the National Auto Fleet Group will
continue to experience significant delays or face potential cancellations. Specifically, the
Public Works Services Department (“PWSD”) has confirmed that any orders placed
today would take six months to one year to complete.
With the cancellations, the City is in need of, and has available budget for, six Police
Patrol vehicles. The severe delay in the delivery of police vehicles has affected the
Police Department’s operations and can impact public safety. The Police Department is
currently using police vehicles that are older in age, higher in mileage, and require
frequent maintenance as replacement vehicles cannot be obtained. Furthermore,
several police vehicles have been permanently put out of service from accidents and
mechanical issues that cannot be overcome, resulting in a serious reduction to the
fleet’s size.
After an extensive search, six patrol vehicles have been found for purchase and
immediate delivery. The vehicles being replaced meet the mileage, age, and/or
maintenance requirements of the City’s Vehicle Replacement Program. The proposed
replacements for black and white patrol vehicles are 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe Police
Patrol vehicles. The six vehicles to be replaced are one 2015 Ford Patrol Explorer, four
2017 Ford Patrol Explorers, and one 2019 Ford Patrol Explorer. While the City typically
utilizes only Ford patrol vehicles, switching to a Chevrolet product at this time is
warranted in order to replenish the fleet.
DISCUSSION
The new Chevrolet Tahoe Police Patrol vehicles will be equipped with a 355
horsepower 5.3L V-8 engine, 10-speed transmission for greater acceleration and fuel
economy, and all-wheel drive capability. These features provide for superior handling
during high-speed pursuits and best-in-class crash safety. Additionally, this vehicle has
a large cargo capacity for storing police gear, high rated ballistic doors, and wide seats
to accommodate gun holsters and belts. This model has also proved to be more fuel
efficient than previous police pursuit vehicles and is factory prewired for emergency
lighting accessory installations.
Purchase Order for Police Patrol Vehicles
August 20, 2024
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Funds in the amount of $530,516.45 are available in the combined Fiscal Year 2022-23,
2023-24, and Year 2024-25 Equipment Replacement Budgets for the purchase of black
and white patrol vehicles. The PWSD has identified a vendor that has six Chevrolet
Tahoe police pursuit vehicles in stock and ready to be delivered at a total cost of
$399,036.54. After an extensive search, no other vendor has been identified as having
police vehicles in stock, or can deliver vehicles without delays or cancellations. The
Michael Hohl Motor Company has guaranteed the swift delivery of the critically needed
police vehicles. Therefore, utilizing a sole source Purchase Order is necessary.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost for each Chevrolet Tahoe Police Patrol vehicle is $66,506.09, for a total
vehicle cost of $399,036.54 for six units. Funds in the amount of $530,516.45 are
available in the combined Fiscal Year 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 Equipment
Replacement Budgets for the purchase of black and white patrol vehicles. Therefore,
sufficient funds are available for this purchase. The total cost to outfit and prepare all six
vehicles is approximately $240,000 and will be handled under a separate Purchase
Order utilizing separate budgets.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); waive the formal
bidding process; and approve a Purchase Order with Michael Hohl Motor Company for
the purchase of six Chevrolet Tahoe Police Patrol vehicles in the amount of
$399,036.54.
Attachment: Michael Hohl Motor Company Quote