TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Jeff Price, Fleet Services Director
SUBJECT:
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Purchase of 4 Complete Horton Ambulances from Foster Coach in the amount of $1,529,756.00
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BACKGROUND:
The Joliet Fire Department and Fleet Services have developed a schedule for equipment replacement over the next 5 years. 2 Ambulances were funded in the budget in 2024, 2 in 2025 and 2 in 2026. In the current market it takes 30 months at a minimum to order and receive a completed unit. This means a unit ordered today would not be received until mid-2027 at the earliest, past the planned replacement for all 6 units. The future 4 units have been moved until 2026 for budgeting purposes, but still would not be paid for until 2027. By ordering now, the City of Joliet would stay on plan and avoid the typical price increases experienced year over year in the industry. After a discussion with the Finance Director and a review of the City funds, it was determined that sufficient funds are expected to be available to commit to these units.
CONCLUSION:
The City of Joliet has standardized their Ambulance purchases to Horton Emergency Vehicles in prior years. Fleet Services and the Joliet Fire Department interviewed several other builders with our exact specifications this year. Most could not meet the safety standards and testing we require. The one supplier who did submit a competing bid was 15% higher. Foster Coach is the area distributer for Horton Ambulances and has a long-standing relationship of superior service with the city. In prior years they have been the only bidder on our equipment specifications, which lead to this standardization. Additionally, Horton is a Sourcewell participating supplier and utilizes government standardized pricing.
Sufficient funding will exist in the Capital Improvements / Fire Department Fund (Org 30070020; Object: 557500) for this purchase in 2026, payable in 2027 upon completion on the units.
Section 2-438 of the City of Joliet...
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