SR 05-23-2022 5D
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 23, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.D
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Edward F King, Director, Department of Transportation, Transit Maintenance
Subject: Award Bid to Battery Power, Inc. for Fire Department and Transit Bus
Batteries
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption (Class 1 Existing Facilities) pursuant to
Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award Bid #4451 to Battery Power, Inc. to provide heavy-duty low-voltage
batteries for use on transit buses and Fire Department heavy-duty apparatus;
and
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Battery
Power, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $675,524, including a $61,411
contingency, and a 2% annual cost escalator, over a five-year period with future
year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The City’s fleet of transit buses and heavy-duty Fire Department apparatus experience
heavy, daily use in service of the Department of Transportation’s and Fire Departments’
core missions. The Big Blue Bus, a division of the Department of Transportation (DOT),
operates 195 transit buses running approximately 4.5 million miles across 69 square
miles of Santa Monica and western Los Angeles. The Fire Department operates 25
heavy-duty apparatus to support its public safety services. These vehicles require
regular replacement of batteries to ensure reliability. Staff recommends that Bid #4451
be awarded to Battery Power, Inc. to provide batteries for transit buses and heavy-duty
Fire Department apparatus for a five-year period in an amount not to exceed $675,524.
5.D
Packet Pg. 364
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Discussion
The City’s fleet of transit buses and heavy-duty Fire Department apparatus require
heavy-duty batteries that can withstand extended periods of amperage draw from
electronic equipment that continues to operate after the engine has been shut off while
retaining enough charge to operate the engine’s starter motor. These batteries power
critical electronic systems including onboard surveillance, methane detection, head
sign, and farebox systems that continue to draw power after the engine has been shut
off. In addition to withstanding the constant amperage draw of these systems, these
batteries must also be able to charge quickly once the engine has been started.
DOT has historically identified DEKA and Odyssey batteries as being capable of
operating successfully under the heavy-duty cycles placed on transit buses and Fire
vehicles. The award of Bid #4451 to Battery Power, Inc. would allow DOT staff to
replace bad batteries in a timely manner allowing for the continued operation of transit
buses and Fire apparatus.
Vendor Selection
Bidder Recommendation
Best Bidder Battery Power, Inc.
Evaluation Criteria Price: ability, capacity, and skill of bidder to provide
Odyssey and DEKA batteries, and experience
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.180
Bid Data
Date Posted Posted On
Advertised In (City Charter &
SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date
Publicly
Opened
3/31/2023
City's Online
Bidding Site Santa Monica Daily Press 9 4/19/2023
Submittals Received
Battery Power, Inc. $ 675,524
Advanced Battery Systems, Inc. $ 739,455
Elliot Auto Supply Co Inc. $ 739,611
5.D
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Bidder Justification
Bids were evaluated based on the criteria in SMMC 2.24.180 including price, ability to
provide service, experience, and capacity to provide reliable service. Staff
recommends Battery Power, Inc. as the best bidder based on experience providing
heavy-duty vehicle batteries to SMDOT and as the lowest cost bidder.
Environmental Review
The project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA
Guidelines. Section 15301 exempts Class 1 (Existing Facilities) projects from CEQA,
which include the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor
alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or
topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former
use. The contract award would address the maintenance responsibilities of
existing transit buses, and therefore, it has been determined that the project
is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Big Blue Bus Fund and the
General Fund to award a purchase order with Battery Power, Inc. for the purchase of
heavy-duty vehicle batteries. Funding will be included in the FY 2023-25 Proposed
Biennial Budget for Council approval. Future year funding is contingent on Council
budget approval.
Purchase Order Request
FY2023-24 Budget
Request Amount
Future Years
Amount Department Account # Total Purchase
Order Amount
$113,007 $537,517 C6004750.689000 $650,524
$5,000 $20,000 01190001.529470 $25,000
5.D
Packet Pg. 366
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Prepared By: David Nanjo, Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Battery Power Oaks
5.D
Packet Pg. 367
5.D.a
Packet Pg. 368 Attachment: Battery Power Oaks (5700 : Award Bid for Fire Department and Transit Bus Batteries)