TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Beth Beatty, City Manager
SUBJECT:
title
Approve the Purchase of Three (3) Ford Expeditions from D’Orazio Ford in the amount of $178,560.78
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BACKGROUND:
The approved 2024 budget includes the purchase of two (2) Joliet Fire Department (JFD) Staff Vehicles. Additionally, the JFD has been awarded a grant allowing for the purchase of a like vehicle for the use of wellness checks in the immediate City areas that Joliet serves (known as the Paramedicine Program).
In coordination with the Joliet Fire Department, Fleet Services polled local dealers for available stock to serve the immediate needs of the department. If no suitable vehicles had been located, Fleet Services would have placed an order with the manufacturer. Manufacturer orders have not guaranteed receipt of vehicles in recent years or delivery times have been erratic. Three (3) suitable vehicles have been located, and the City has been able to negotiate Fleet pricing for these units (versus the typical walk in pricing). The Public Service Committee and Public Safety Committee reviewed this memo at their January 2, 2024 meetings and both recommended for approval by full Council.
CONCLUSION:
Local dealers that the City has on-going relationships with were contacted and polled for their availability and ability to order the requested units. Rod Baker Ford, D’Orazio Ford, Ron Tirapelli Ford, Inc., Sutton Ford, Castle Ford, and Willowbrook Ford were contacted for the availability of like Ford products. All but D’Orazio Ford stated that none are nor will be available for the foreseeable future. These vehicles became available due to another fire department cancelling an order, so they happen to be outfitted correctly (in both color and electronics) for our needs and are available for purchase at fleet pricing levels. The pricing of these units is as follows:
• $59,520.26 each X 3 = $178,560.78 total
These three (3) units fill the City’s need at an appropriate pricing level.
Section 2-438 of the City of Joliet Code of Ordinances states that purchases over $25,000.00 may be awarded without written specifications or bidding under certain circumstances. One (1) of these circumstances applies:
(f) Purchases when authorized by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all members of the City Council then holding office.
Sufficient funds ($119,040.52) exist utilizing the Fire Department Capital Improvement Fund (Org 300700200, Object 557500, $119,040.52) for two (2) of these units, and grant funding for one (1) of the units (Org 30070020, Object 557500, Project CPP24, $59,520.26).
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based upon the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council approve the purchase of three (3) Ford Expeditions, in the amount of $178,560.78, from D'Orazio Ford.
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