TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Greg Ruddy, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT:
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Approval of Purchase of One (1) Ford Expedition SSV from Ron Tirapelli Ford for $52,782.00
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BACKGROUND:
On December 17, 2024, the 2025 City budget was approved by City Council. Within the Grants and Special Revenues Fund (Fund no.220) $75,000 was set aside for a Joliet Fire Department administrative vehicle. This unit is to be utilized to fulfill roles via recent promotions within the department and will be upfit accordingly.
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 were available, then Fleet would order vehicles with no guarantee of receipt or delivery times as has occurred in the past. One vehicle was available from 2025 stock at one dealership. All others would need to order 2026 units with substantial price increases when the order banks became available.
CONCLUSION:
Local dealers that the City has on-going relationships with were contacted and polled for their availability and ability to order the requested unit. Rod Baker Ford, D'Orazio Ford, Ron Tirapelli Ford, Sutton Ford, Castle Ford, and Willowbrook Ford were contacted for the availability of like Ford products. All but Ron Tirapelli Ford stated that none are nor will be available for the foreseeable future. This vehicle became available due to another municipality cancelling an order, so they happen to be outfitted correctly (in both color and electronics) for our needs and could be sold to the City of Joliet at Fleet pricing levels. The price of this unit would be: $52,782.00
The 2026 unit build dates have not been set for the next model year, and the base price for the unit is expected to be higher, so it is in the best interest to purchase a new unit this year versus ordering a unit next year.
This unit fulfills the City's need at an appropriate pricing level....
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