sr-060909-1cCity Council Meeting: June 9, 2009
Agenda Item: ~'^~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Stephanie Negriff, Director of Transit Services
Subject: Award of a Contract to Purchase Alternative Fuel Articulated Transit
Coaches
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council Award Bid #2969 to North American Bus
Industries Inc. (NABI) to purchase eleven (11) articulated low floor compressed natural
gas (CNG) transit coaches and miscellaneous spare parts, with options to purchase up
to an additional ten (10) over a four year period and authorize the City Manager to issue
a Notice to Proceed with NABI in the amount of $11,628,563.
Executive Summary
Articulated buses are desired to operate on Big Blue Bus Rapid 3 and Rapid 7 services
in order to improve operational efficiency and service quality. The total cost of this
procurement includes vehicle unit costs, spare parts, tax, training, Americans with
Disability Act (ADA) equipment, and a 10% contingency. The eleven- vehicles
recommended for purchase will replace eleven 40-foot buses that have exceeded their
useful life.
Three of the buses will be purchased using American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
(ARRA) economic stimulus funding in the amount of $2,854,122.
Background
In June 2005, Big Blue Bus implemented its first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route on
Lincoln Blvd. and began operating a second BRT line on Pico Blvd. in September 2008.
Upon inception, these lines were determined to be ideal for using 60-foot articulated
buses, due to the routes' straight-line configuration and high ridership demand.
Articulated buses provide 33% more seating capacity than a standard 40-foot transit
coach. The benefit of operating articulated buses on high demand routes such as
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Rapid Blue service is the ability to carry more passengers per bus trip, which will allow
the City to manage its transit labor and fuel costs more efficiently.
The 60-foot articulated buses will replace 1995 diesel powered 40-foot buses which
have exceeded their 12 year life cycle. In addition to the efficiency enhancements that
this new subfleet will provide, these buses will reduce peak period overcrowding on
Rapid Blue services, improving passenger comfort and service quality.
Upon delivery of these vehicles in FY 2009-10, the City's new transit maintenance
facility will be completed and fully operational. The facility provides three bus bays
designed to accommodate the maintenance and repair of these larger transit coaches.
Discussion
Vendor Selection
In February 2009, the City published Notices Inviting Bids to furnish and deliver up to
twenty-one (21) 60-foot advanced design, low floor, alternative fuel transit vehicles in
accordance with City specifications. Bid forms were posted on Planet Bids and notices
were advertised in accordance with City Charter and Municipal Code provisions. One
bid was received and publicly opened on April 22, 2009 per the attachment.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The total project cost is $11,628,563 which includes vehicle unit costs, spare parts, tax,
training, ADA equipment, and a contingency as follows:
Eleven coaches including spare parts and training $10,649,448
Contingency (10%) $979,115
Funds in the amount of $21,000,000 for this purchase are available in account
0410519.589000. Three of the buses will be purchased using ARRA economic stimulus
funding in the amount of $2,854,122.
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Prepared by:
Ralph Merced, Transit Maintenance Manager
Approved:
nie Negriff
r of Transit Services
Attachment
Forwarded to Council:
ARTICULATED BID #2969
Base Bus Unit Cost
Tax 9.75%
ADA Equipment
Delivery Cost
Extended Warranty -Engine
Extended Warranty -Transmission
Total Cost Per Bus
Additional One Time Cost
Spare Parts
Publications
Continental APC Profiling Charge
Training
rsi,sia.uu rbS,Y58.5/ 775,856.33 799,132.02 823,105.98
95,887.16 98,763.77 101,726.68 104,778.48 107,921.84
17, 076.00 17,588.28 18,115.93 18,659.41 19,219.19
4,658.00 4,797.74 4,941.67 5,089.92 5,242.62
5,963.00 6,141.89 6,326.15 6,515.93 6,711.41
3,393.00 3,494.79 3,599.63 3,707.62 3 818 85
858,296.16 884,045.04 910,566.39 937,883.38 966,019.88
252,139.00 259,703.17 267,494.27 275,519.09 283,784.67
13,611.00 No Cost No Cost No Cost Na Cost
37,143.00 No Cost No Cost No Cost No Cost
47, 001.00
$349,894.00 No Cost No Cost No Cost No Cost
CostRf`~ysVUtt~911,~h~r~es3~.'. ,.r...._',v ~ ..~~.$$5&~~~6~a~~ _ ., . ,..~ ~ `. <
u~.. <...
Total Per Order ~ ~~ ~ _,._w. ~~,< ~._._+ .~.~. r .. ~ _ _ ~ ~b~ ~ _.. _~
$9,441,257.71
One Time Costs $349,894.00
Contingency (10%) $979,115.17
Total $11,628, 563.03
Reference Contract No.
9126 (CCS).