SR-510-003 (14)
BBB:SN:RM:\trans\admin\council\NABI
Council Meeting: September 10, 2002 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Authorize the City Manager to Increase Contract with North
American Bus Industries, Inc., for the Purchase of Thirty-seven
New Forty-foot, Low-floor, Lightweight, Liquid Natural Gas Powered
Transit Buses and Miscellaneous Spare Parts in the Amount of
$250,000 for Changes Required to Original Bus Specifications, Bid
#2772, Contract #7634
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Manager be authorized to increase
Contract #7634 with North American Bus Industries, Inc. (NABI), to furnish and
deliver 37 new 40-foot, low-floor, lightweight, liquid natural gas powered buses,
with miscellaneous spare parts in the amount of $250,000.
Background
In November 1999, the Transportation Department placed an order for 37 new
transit buses as part of a capital improvement program to replace and expand
the existing fleet. The build cycle for an order of this nature is typically 24-30
months. During the course of that build cycle, a number of tests are performed to
ensure that the most up-to-date, appropriate components are included as part of
each bus. The buses have a scheduled useful life of 12 years so it is important
to be sure that the buses are delivered with the best possible configuration and
components to serve the City?s needs over this 12-year period.
In the course of building this order, the Big Blue Bus made changes to the
original specifications in order to obtain the best possible configuration and
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components. These changes included additional safety measures (fire sensors
and curb guards), improvements in component quality (by-pass filters, fuel fill
ports), ease of maintenance (transit windows) and upgrades (bike racks) that
became available during the course of the build cycle. This request to increase
the contract is to cover these improvements and changes to the original bus
order.
Financial/Budgetary Considerations
The amount of the original contract was $13,071,453. The requested increase of
$250,000 represents less than a 2% variance on the original contract, which is
well within normal contingencies for this type of contract.
Funds are available in account C41011699.589000 in the Transportation capital
reserve funds for this increase.
Recommendation
City staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to
increase the contract with North American Bus Industries, Inc., for the purchase
of 37 new forty-foot, low-floor, lightweight, LNG powered transit buses with
miscellaneous spare parts.
Prepared by: Stephanie Negriff, Acting Director of Transportation
Ralph Merced, Transit Maintenance Manager
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