ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: November 6, 2001
Author/Local: T. Ban/323-7882

RTS No. 02373

CC File No. 1805

Council: November 20, 2001

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Award of Tender No. PS01035: The Supply of Delivery of Street Flusher Trucks

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council accept the best value and low bid meeting specifications for Item 1 from Volvo Trucks of Vancouver for three (3) Volvo model WX42 single axle tilt cab truck chassis at a total purchase price of $293,655 plus the 7% GST (less any municipal rebate received), the PST and the Provincial Environmental Levy, subject to a contract satisfactory to the Director of Legal Services;

AND THAT Council also accept the sole bid meeting specifications for Item 2 from Vimar Equipment for three (3) Omco model EHF400 street flusher bodies at a total purchase price of $271,863 plus the 7% GST (less any municipal rebate received), the PST and the Provincial Environmental Levy, subject to a contract satisfactory to the Director of Legal Services.

COUNCIL POLICY

The policy of Council is to award contracts for the purchase of equipment, supplies and services that will give the highest value based on quality, service and price.

Contracts with a value over $300,000 are referred to Council.

DISCUSSION

Tenders for the above were opened on August 29, 2001 and referred to the General Manager of Engineering Services, and the Manager - Material Management for report. The 7% GST (less any municipal rebate received), the PST and the Provincial Environmental Levy are inaddition to all pricing shown in this report. This tender was advertised in local newspapers and the internet.

This tender consisted of two items. Item 1 requested prices for three (3) single axle tilt cab truck chassis and Item 2 requested prices for three (3) street flusher bodies.

Item 1

Three bids were received from three suppliers with individual unit prices ranging from $69,470 to $96,460.

Bid 1 from Western Star and Sterling Trucks for $69,470 and Bid 2 from Freightliner of Vancouver for $72,328 do not meet the tender's minimum engine specifications and are unacceptable. The minimum engine power requirement is needed because that is the minimum acceptable power needed to drive the hydrostatic flusher body.

Bid 3 from Volvo Trucks of Vancouver for $96,460 is acceptable and is recommended.

Item 2

Bid 1, the only bid, from Vimar Equipment is acceptable and is recommended. Even though the tender was advertised to all local providers of street flusher bodies, but only Vimar choose to respond.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The three flusher trucks had been scheduled for replacement in the 1998 replacement program as they had reached the end of their planned lives. The original 1998 replacement program budgeted $300,000 (in 1998 dollars) for the purchase and retrofitting of three new truck chassis while re-using the existing flusher bodies.

However, the existing flusher bodies cannot be cost effectively retrofitted to the new truck chassis. In addition, the existing flusher bodies would be near the end of their planned life once installed on the new trucks. Consequently, the Engineering Department recommends that both new truck chassis and new flusher bodies be purchased at this time. The complete purchase cost of the three new flusher trucks (i.e. new chassis and new body) is budgeted for $630,000 and will be provided from the Truck Plant Account.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, we recommend acceptance of Bid 3 for Item 1 from Volvo Trucks of Vancouver, for three (3) Volvo model WX42 chassis at a total cost of $293,655 ($96,460each plus $1425 each additional 5 Year warranty coverage). We also recommend acceptance of the only bid for Item 2 from Vimar Equipment for three (3) Omco model EHF400 street flusher bodies at a total cost of $271,863 ($82,833 each plus $5,880 each for the Robo Flush Paralift System, and $1908 each for the Remote Front Nozzle Swivel Control).

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver