HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo re: Purchase of 2000 Gallon Tanker Truck
MEMO.
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December 20,1999
TO: Mayor, Councilmembers and City Manager
FROM: Suesan Lea Pace
SUBJECT: Contract for Purchase of 2000 Gallon Tanker Truck
Summary
The purpose of this memorandum is to suggest to the City Council that they may want
to consider rescinding authority for the Mayor and City Manager to enter into a contract
with Custom Fire of Osceola, Wisconsin for the acquisition of a 2000-gallon tanker
trunk, and to reject all bids received pursuant to the RFP dated September 11, 1999
and rebid the equipment purchase.
Background
At its December 6, 1999 meeting the City Council approved a motion authorizing the
Mayor and City Manager to enter into a contract with Custom Fire for the acquisition of
a 2000 gallon tanker truck.
The City received two bids on the truck; one from Custom Fire in the amount of
$136,790, and one from Danko Emergency Equipment in the amount of $110,857. The
City rejected the Danko bid as non-responsive.
During the discussion at the Council meeting and the Council workshop which
immediately preceded the meeting, the City Council was provided information regarding
the cost to equip the Danko pumper truck with certain equipment that agreeably would
have made the trucks bid by Danko and Custom Fire reasonably comparable.
Discussion
Since the December 6, 1999 Council meeting, the City Manager and I have been
provided with written quotes from companies that design and build fire apparatus and
equipment, including tanker trucks attached as examples of the materials provided.
162@bP~~Ie.Meek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake. Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
These quotes are not for equipment comparable to the equipment specified in the City's
Request for Proposals for one (1) 2000 Gallon Tanker Truck, but they do show that the
City can purchase a tanker truck for less than either bid the City received.
A representative of the City has spoken with certain vendors of fire apparatus; including
vendors who requested copies of the City's RFP, but who chose not to bid.
[The] "fundamental purpose of competitive bidding is to deprive or
limit the discretion of contract-making officials in the areas which
are susceptible to such abuses as fraud, favoritism, improvidence,
and extravagance." Griswold v. County of Ramsey, 242 Minn. 529,
65 N.W.2d 647 (1954).
Recommendation
The City Council may want to:
1) Rescind its motion authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to execute a
purchase contract with Custom Fire for the purchase of a 2000 gallon tanker
truck.
2) Reject all bids submitted pursuant to the City's RFP dated September 11, 1999.
3) Appoint a committee to prepare specification and an RFP for one (1) 2000 gallon
tanker truck.
4) The Committee shall consist of the Fire Chief, the City Manager, two members of
the Fire Department Tanker Truck Committee, the City Engineer, the Mayor, one
Councilmember, and an independent person appointed by the City Manager.
5) The Committee shall complete the preparation of the specifications by January
15, 2000 and thereafter expeditiously advertise for bids.
SLPTANK.DOC