TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Beth Beatty, City Manager
SUBJECT:
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Purchase of Two (2) Complete Horton Ambulances from Foster Coach in the Amount of $764,878.00
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BACKGROUND:
On November 21, 2023, the 2024 City of Joliet's Budget was approved by City Council. Two (2) Ambulances were funded in the budget. After a discussion with the Finance Director and a review of the City's funds, it was determined that sufficient funds were available to commit to these units. The lead time on ambulance builds is expected to take 30 months at a minimum, so the budgeted funds will not be expected to be distributed until mid-2027.
The Public Safety Committee will review this matter.
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 the City's exact specifications this year. Most builders could not meet the safety standards and testing the City requires. 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 the City's equipment specifications, which lead to this standardization. Additionally, Horton is a Sourcewell participating supplier and utilizes government standardized pricing.
Funds will need to be included in the Capital Improvements/Fire Department Fund (Org 30070020; Object: 557500) for this purchase when completing the 2027 fiscal year budget.
Section 2-438 of the City of Joliet Code of Ordinances states that purchases whose estimated cost is in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be awarded without written specifications or bidding under certain circumstances. One of these circumstances applies:
(f) Purchases when authorized by a concurring vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Mayor an...
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