Recommend approval to procure four Fire Engines/Pumpers and one Aerial Ladder truck from Sutphen Corporation for $4,500,000.

Savannah Fire Department will use these fire apparatus to replace five fire apparatus reaching their end of service life (engine/pumper units 4518, 4519, 4520, 4521, and aerial ladder 1517). The primary purposes of a fire pumper include transporting firefighters and water to an incident and carrying equipment for a wide range of firefighting and rescue tasks. The primary purpose of an aerial ladder truck is to give a height advantage to fire suppression with high-capacity water pumps and the rescue of victims at above grade incidents of greater than 35 feet. Additionally, fire ladder trucks carry technical rescue equipment for victim rescue and extrication.

Tasks involved in firefighting operations include suppression, hazardous material mitigation, and technical rescues. A Fire Engine includes large water tank capacity, high-capacity pumps to flow water through the fire hose, and water/foam high capacity monitors with reasonable reach distance. Fire aerial trucks have a 100’ boom style ladder that can reach up to 8 stories and work at a -12* angle. These new fire apparatus will be designed to limit potential contaminants from the crew area, reducing a firefighter’s chances of developing cancer with up-to-date technology added in the cabs to filter air and remove carcinogens at the rate of 300 CFM (cubic feet per minute).

The new fire apparatus will help Savannah Fire support the City of Savannah’s Strategic Initiatives to ensure citizens feel safe in their neighborhoods. It also helps Vehicle Maintenance continue to standardize the fire fleet, which streamlines preventive maintenance, allows technicians to be trained on a specific apparatus, enables stocking of parts, and reduces downtime to the citizens we serve.

Traditionally, fire apparatus are ordered in the prior year to be delivered in the replacement year set by Fleet Services. However, in this case, due to production setbacks from COVID-19, the fire apparatus ordered now will be delivered 22 months from the date of an issued PO number to the vendor from the City of Savannah. The expected arrival date is 1st quarter 2024. As per the vendor sales agreement, no payments will be required by the City of Savannah until the delivery of the apparatus.

This is a sole source purchase because by using the established vendor, Sutphen Corporation ensures pricing is directly in line with industry standards. It allows Savannah Fire to continue to standardize its fire fleet of apparatus to match operational functions and setup across the department while enabling an apparatus to be repaired quickly with the same parts.

Delivery: As needed.  Terms: Net 30 days. The vendor is:

S.S.         Sutphen Corporation (6450 Eiterman Road, Dublin, OH)^(D)                          $4,500,000

A pre-bid conference was not conducted as this is a sole-source procurement. (D) Indicates non-local, non-DBE business. Recommend approval.

Approval