Title
Resolution to Approve the Purchase of an Elgin Street Sweeper from Bell Equipment Company (State of Michigan $273,300.00)
Memorandum
The attached resolution authorizes the purchase of a 2011 Elgin Waterless Pelican series street sweeper powered by a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) engine, for the total amount of $273,300.00, from Bell Equipment Company, Lake Orion, Michigan. This unit will replace a 2001 street sweeper currently used by the Public Services Area, Field Operations Unit.
The sweeper being replaced has been in service ten years and has 5,960 hours of use. Over the last two year, this unit has been taken to Fleet Service for maintenance and repairs 87 times of which 33% have been for breakdowns. The total cost of all repairs over the same time frame have exceeded $113,250.00 Not only are the repairs costly but the excessive down time is crucial as there are no backup or spare sweepers in the fleet.
The Field Operations Unit currently operates a fleet of five mechanical (Pelican series) street sweepers and one vacuum street sweeper. The five Pelicans are used to pick up the larger items and the majority of small debris. The vacuum is used as a second or "finishing" sweeper to pick up the small debris that the mechanical sweepers cannot pick up.
Four of our mechanical sweepers and the vacuum sweeper require that water be sprayed on the roadway to get the dust down during the sweeping operation. This makes the smallest debris or "fines" heavier and harder for the mechanical sweeper to pick up. The most recent street sweeper we purchased and the unit proposed in this resolution are waterless sweepers. This type of sweeper has skirting that completely surrounds the bottom of the unit to contain the dust, which is then pulled through a high capacity air filter by two fans. By bringing the fines into the air and drawing them into the filter, this unit collects the fines in an amount equal to the efficiency of the vacuum sweeper. An important advantage of the waterless sweeper is its ability to sweep in sub-freezing weather, which is important for late fall & early spring sweeping.
On August 26, 2009 the Clean Energy Coalition (CEC) announced it was awarded $14.97 Million in grant funds from the US Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These funds are for the CEC's "Michigan Green Fleet" project to expand the use of alternative fueled and advanced technology vehicles and infrastructure across Michigan. The Fleet and Facility Unit of the Public Services Area collaborated with CEC on its application for this grant for the purchase of compressed natural gas powered and hybrid vehicles for the City's fleet.
The CEC has entered into a sub grantee agreement with the City of Ann Arbor to reimburse the City $69,390.00 towards the purchase of this sweeper making a net cost to the City of $203,910.00. This reimbursement amount is 100% of the additional cost related to purchasing a CNG powered engine and related subsystems on this sweeper. This engine will produce less greenhouse gas emission then the standard diesel powered engine and will reduce the cost of fuel to our current price of $1.95 per gasoline gallon equivalent for CNG compared to $3.18 per gallon of diesel fuel.
All of the City of Ann Arbor's street sweepers are Elgins and parts are interchangeable, which allows a substantial reduction in parts inventory.
Bell Equipment Company was awarded the bid for Street Sweeper by the State of Michigan through its MiDeal Cooperative Purchasing Program.
The Fleet and Facility Unit has budgeted adequate funds for this purchase. Bell Equipment Company received Human Rights approval on October 1, 2010.
Staff
Prepared by: Thomas A. Gibbons, Financial Analyst-Fleet and Facility Unit
Reviewed by: Matthew J. Kulhanek, Fleet & Facility Manager, Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Fleet & Facilities Unit needs to purchase a replacement Elgin street sweeper for the City's fleet;
Whereas, It is in the City's best interest to continue to standardize street cleaning equipment;
Whereas, Bell Equipment Company was awarded the bid for Street Sweepers by the State of Michigan through its MiDeal Cooperative Purchasing Program; and
Whereas, Bell Equipment Company received Human Rights approval on October 1, 2010;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the issuance of a purchase order to Bell Equipment Company for the purchase of one 2011 Elgin Pelican Waterless street sweeper in the amount of $273,300.00;
RESOLVED, That funds for this purchase come from the 2011 Motor Equipment budget with funds to be available without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That the sweeper being replaced (no. 4745) be sold at the next City vehicle auction; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is authorized to take the necessary actions to implement this resolution.