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Transit Agency Service Vehicles - Deputy Director Riske-Gomez
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) Request to adopt the findings supporting a sole-source acquisition for the purchase of one Ford Explorer and one TRAX service truck.
b) Request to find that waiving the formal competitive bidding process is in the best interest of the Tehama County Transit Agency Board based on the sole-source findings and documented procurement justification.
c) Request to award the sole-source purchase of one Ford Explorer in the amount of $39,2293.50, and further authorize the Purchasing Agent, Executive Director, or designee to sign all purchase documents necessary to complete the acquisition.
d) Request to award the sole-source purchase of one TRAX service truck to Corning Ford in the amount of $60,331.75, and further authorize the Purchasing Agent, Executive Director, or designee to sign all purchase documents necessary to complete the acquisition.
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Financial Impact:
The cost for these vehicle purchases was requested and approved during the FY 25-26 Mid-Year Fiscal process and has been included in the appropriate Transportation / Transit budget account.
Background:
The Tehama County Transit Agency Board has identified the need to purchase one Ford Explorer and one TRAX service Ford truck to support transit operations, field response, staff transportation, equipment transport, maintenance coordination, and day-to-day service needs for the transit system. The Ford Explorer will provide reliable transportation for staff and support administrative, and field duties associated with transit operations. The TRAX service truck will provide operational support for field response, equipment transport, maintenance coordination, and other duties necessary to support safe and reliable transit service.
Staff are requesting approval to waive the formal competitive bid process and authorize purchase of the vehicles from Corning Ford. The requested waiver applies to the formal sealed bid process, including broad public advertising, formal bid opening, and award through the formal bid procedure.
Staff have solicited and reviewed dealership quotes from Corning Ford, Oroville Ford, and Crown Ford in Redding to evaluate pricing, vehicle availability, specification compliance, delivery timing, and long-term service support. Based on this review, Corning Ford provides the best overall value to the County due to vehicle availability, responsiveness to the Department’s specifications, local vendor status, proximity to the Department’s operating location at 1515 Schwab Street in Red Bluff, and access to local dealer support.
Waiving the formal competitive bid process is in the County’s best interest because it allows staff to acquire the needed vehicles in a timely manner, supports fleet compatibility and standardization, maintains continuity of transit operations, documents cost reasonableness through review of available dealership quotes, and supports safe, reliable, and efficient public transportation services throughout the County.
Approval of this item will allow TCTAB to proceed with the purchase of one Ford Explorer and one TRAX service truck from Corning Ford.
Bid Waiver Justification:
Approval of this purchase is requested based on the following findings:
Availability and Operational Need: The Ford Explorer and TRAX service truck are necessary to support ongoing transit operations, field response, equipment transport, staff transportation, maintenance coordination, and service continuity for the TRAX system.
Quote Review and Cost Reasonableness: Staff have solicited quotes from Corning Ford, Oroville Ford, and Crown Ford in Redding for vehicles meeting the Department’s operational needs and specifications. Staff have reviewed the responses for pricing, availability, delivery timeline, specification compliance, and overall value to the County. Based on this review, the proposed purchase from Corning Ford is determined to be fair, reasonable, and in the best interest of the County.
Local Vendor and Service Support: Corning Ford is a local Tehama County dealership and local vendor as defined in Tehama County Code section 4.24.010(D), which recognizes a local vendor as one that maintains a place of business, transacts business, and maintains inventory for sale in the County. Corning Ford is also one of the closest available Ford dealerships to the Department’s operating location at 1515 Schwab Street in Red Bluff. Purchasing from a local dealership supports efficient warranty coordination, manufacturer recall work, software updates, and routine dealer support, while reducing staff travel time, fuel costs, vehicle downtime, and disruption to transit operations.
Fleet Compatibility and Standardization: Purchasing Ford vehicles through Corning Ford supports fleet consistency, operational compatibility, and efficient maintenance coordination for the TRAX system.
Operational Continuity: Timely acquisition of these vehicles will allow TCTAB and TRAX staff to continue providing reliable support for public transportation services throughout the County and avoid delays associated with the formal sealed bid process.
Public Interest: Waiving the formal bid process is in the best interest of the County because it avoids unnecessary delay, supports timely acquisition of vehicles needed for transit operations, documents cost reasonableness through review of available dealership quotes, reduces long-term staff travel and vehicle downtime for service and recall work, and supports safe, reliable, and efficient transit service.
Approval of this item will allow TCTAB to proceed with the purchase of one Ford Explorer and one TRAX service truck from Corning Ford.