| | | | | | | | Council Communication
Department: City Clerk
Case/Project No.:
Submitted by: Justin James, Fire Chief | Resolution 19-285
ITEM 6.F. | Council Action: 12/16/2019 |
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| | | | | | | | Description
Resolution authorizing the purchase of a 100' Mid-Mount Aerial Apparatus for the Council Bluffs Fire Department |
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| | | | | | | | Background/Discussion
In the spring of 2019 the Council Bluffs Fire Department formed an apparatus committee to begin the process of commencing a search for a replacement aerial apparatus for T32 stationed at the Fire Department Headquarters. During the months to follow committee members researched all of the fire apparatus manufactures who were building mid-mount aerials. During the course of this research the committee was given the parameters that the apparatus must be able to efficiently operate in the current assigned response zone and have an overall height with which allows it to be utilized in Fire Station 2 if needed. In order to meet these benchmarks the following restrictions were placed on the apparatus size:
Overall height of less than 11’4” so as to fit in all stations
Overall length of less than 44’0” to meet response zone travel requirements
A minimal rear over hang as to eliminate excessive tail swing.
Steel ladder construction as a safety element.
Meet the Aerial Standard for ground ladders and equipment as required by ISO.
Have an aerial ladder of 100’ or greater.
Platform Aerial construction.
The height restriction limits our choices to a mid-mount construction rather than rear-mount and there are currently 7 manufactures that are constructing the mid-mount configuration. Of these only 4 are manufacturing a steel 100’ platform style aerial ladder. Of these 4 only one, Pierce, meets all of the requirements that CBFD has listed.
The Pierce apparatus has an overall length of approximately 43’8” making it 3’8” shorter than the nearest competitor. The height is approximately 11’0” and the tail swing is 161” making it over 24” less than the nearest competitor. The overall length of the chassis located behind the center of the rear axles is over 40 inches shorter than the competitors.
The next challenge for the committee was to research build avenues that allowed for CBFD to receive the apparatus we need within the constraints of its operational parameters. One such avenue is government purchase consortiums. The City of Council Bluffs currently belongs to the HGAC buying consortium and in checking with Reliant and Pierce they also participate in the HGAC consortium. The build spec that Reliant has provided meets the HGAC consortium costs and guidelines. We are requesting that we accept the build specification that Reliant has provided to build a Pierce 100’ Ascendant Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower per the HGAC guidelines.
Aerial Apparatus within the Council Bluffs Fire Department are used frequently and are an important part of our overall response to emergencies within our city. It is crucial that the apparatus that we purchase be up to the task at hand and be built to a standard that can perform at this rigorous level. Aerial Apparatus are expected to be in service for at least a 20 year period and they have a direct effect on our firefighter’s ability to perform their job. Aerials are often times used to perform duties other than firefighting operations. In Council Bluffs we often find ourselves using them for high or low angle rescues. Their ability to access difficult terrain areas within our city is vital to these types of operations. Finally, by purchasing this apparatus we will have 3 100’ steel platform ladders allowing us to receive full credit on our ISO rating for aerial devices.
For these reasons we are asking for your approval to award the 100’ Mid Mount Aerial Platform bid to Reliant Fire Apparatus (Pierce Manufacturing) for the amount of $1,349,642.00. |
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| | | | | | | | Recommendation
Approval of the Resolution. |
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