SR-111296-6G
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Contract 6566 (CCS) .,
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TD JBC' PHB.jW\f.trans\admm\cQuncll\wpfiles\newbus 1 Santa MOnica, California
Council Meeting: November 12, 1996 NOV 1 2 1996
TO Mayor and CIty CouncIl
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Authonze the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract to
Purchase ThirtY-SIX (36) New Low-Floor, Clean Diesel Transit Buses, with
an Option for Thirty-one (31) Buses
Introductton
The Transportation Department maintains a program of replacing Its older transit buses
to provide safe, reliable, comfortable service to the patrons of Santa MOnlca's Big Blue
Buses This report recommends that the City Manager be authonzed to enter Into a
contract with New Flyer of Amenca to furnish and deliver thirtY-SIX (36) new 40-foot, low-
floor, clean diesel buses, with miscellaneous spare parts In the amount of $10,008,038
to replace overage eXIsting buses The contract Includes an option for an addItional
thirty-one (31) buses In an amount not to exceed $9,036,210
Back~round
The TransportatIon Department maintains a capItal Improvement program to replace aging
buses on an ongoing basIs Under this program, the Department replaces buses after
they reach 12 years of age Experience indicates that buses that eyceed thiS age are
more costly to maintaIn and suffer from major corrosion due to the CIty'S proxImity to the
ocean A revIew of the condition of our current fleet indIcates that replacement should
not be delayed
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NOV f 2 199&
In FY 1995-96, the Department scheduled 11 buses for replacement rn the City's Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) The FY 1996-97 budget calls for the replacement of 25
buses The CIP also Includes the programming of 16 replacement buses In FY 1997-98
and 15 buses In FY 1998-99
Due to major changes occurring In bus technology 1 In FY 1995-96, Transportation
Department staff began researching available buses A new, low-floor bus design was
tested In service The overwhelmingly positive response has convinced the Department
that the next order of buses should be of low-floor design
Currently, the Transportation Department IS working on an alternative fuels conversion
program, which Includes the completion of the compressed natural gas (CNG) dispenSing
faCility within four years Specifications for the buses ordered now Will allow for
conversIon of the engines and fuel tanks to natural gas
Purchase of the buses has been complicated by current manufacturer backlogs A major
manufacturer has left the field, resultlng In long delays for bus dellvenes, approaching two
years and more Because the Department needs to purchase buses qUickly to replace
12-year old equipment, staff recommends a JOint purchase with the Long Beach Public
Transportation Company for low-floor buses Because Long Beach used federal
procurement gUidelines when competitively bidding their buses, the procedure meets the
City criteria for jOint purchaSing under Section 2 24 080 of the Santa Momca MUniCIpal
Code ThiS Will allow the Department to take delivery about a year and a half earlier than
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could normally be expected
Flnanclal/Bud~etary ConSiderations
Funds for the purchase of 36 buses are In capital Improvement accounts 41-750-658-
20096-8900-99519 and 41-750-658-20097-8900-99519 Although the option orders are
listed In the C1P, appropnatlons for the option orders have not been requested Per City
policy, the option will not be exercised until funds have been appropnated
Recommendation
CIty staff recommends that the City Council authonze the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a contract with New Flyer of Amenca for the purchase of thirtY-SIX (36) buses
with an option for up to thirty-one (31) additlonal buses The option Will be at the
pleasure of the City and Will not be exercised until after suffICient funds have been
appropnated
Prepared by John B Catoe, DIrector of Transportation
Pat Butters, Maintenance Manager
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