TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Approving Utilization of Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Cooperative Contract Number AM10-23 With Frazer, Ltd. for the Purchase of an Ambulance in an Amount Not to Exceed $441,778; and Approve the Associated Purchase Agreement and Quote Between the City of North Port and Frazer, Ltd., Contingent Upon City Commission Approval of the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract (ILC).
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve utilization of Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Cooperative Contract Number AM10-23 with Frazer, Ltd. for the purchase of an ambulance in an amount not to exceed $441,778; and approve the associated Purchase Agreement and quote between the City of North Port and Frazer, Ltd., contingent upon City Commission approval of the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract (ILC).
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve utilization of Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Cooperative Contract Number AM10-23 with Frazer, Ltd. for the purchase of an ambulance in an amount not to exceed $441,778; and approve the associated Purchase Agreement and quote between the City of North Port and Frazer, Ltd., contingent upon City Commission approval of the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract (ILC).
• Pros: Provides for the timely acquisition of a fully equipped ambulance necessary for frontline EMS operations. Utilizes awarded HGAC Contract pricing, leveraging cooperative purchasing to secure pricing while reducing procurement time and administrative effort. The Purchase Agreement ensures the ambulance is built to North Port Fire Rescue Department specifications while applying H-GAC Contract pricing, supporting operational readiness and continuity of emergency services.
• Cons: Reliance on a Cooperative Contract limits the City's ability to independently negotiate terms outside the H-GAC Contract structure.
Option 2: Deny utilization of H-GAC Cooperative Contract Number AM10-23 with Frazer, Ltd. and the associated Purchase Agreement.
• Pros: Allows the City to develop and issue its own competitive solicitation tailored specifically to the City's ambulance specifications and desired Contract terms.
• Cons: Would require significant additional time and administrative effort, potentially delaying delivery of a critical ambulance. The City may also not achieve the same pricing advantage available through H-GAC's cooperative purchasing structure.
Background Information
The Fire Rescue Department seeks to utilize a Cooperative ("Piggyback") Contract established between the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) and Frazer, Ltd., Contract Number AM10-23, for the purchase of a new ambulance.
Utilization of this Cooperative Contract provides for the following:
Ø Timely acquisition of a fully equipped ambulance necessary for frontline EMS operations.
Ø Ability to utilize awarded HGAC pricing, leveraging cooperative purchasing to secure pricing while reducing procurement time and administrative effort.
The Purchase Agreement ensures the ambulance is built to North Port Fire Rescue specifications while applying HGAC contract pricing, supporting operational readiness and continuity of emergency services.
The City's authority to participate in the HGACBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program is established through execution of an HGACBuy Interlocal Contract (ILC) between the City and H-GAC. Approval of the ILC is being presented to the City Commission as a separate agenda item.
Approval and execution of the ambulance purchase contemplated by this agenda item are contingent upon City Commission approval of the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract (ILC). If the City Commission does not approve the ILC, the City will not proceed with the purchase under H-GAC Cooperative Contract Number AM10-23 pursuant to this agenda item. Upon approval of the ILC, the City may utilize H-GAC Cooperative Contract Number AM10-23 with Frazer, Ltd. for the proposed ambulance acquisition.
A Purchase Agreement between the City of North Port and Frazer, Ltd. is required to complete the transaction. The Purchase Agreement establishes the binding terms for the acquisition, identifies the specific unit configuration and North Port Fire Rescue requirements, and applies the pricing available through H-GAC Contract Number AM10-23. The ambulance will be built to meet North Port Fire Rescue's operational and safety requirements, supporting emergency response, patient care, and transport capabilities. Replacement and expansion of fleet assets are critical to maintaining service levels, reliability, and response readiness.
The total cost of the ambulance will not exceed $441,778. Utilization of the H-GAC cooperative contract provides access to established pricing and eliminates the need for the City to conduct a separate solicitation for this acquisition, reducing administrative burden and procurement timelines.
The City may utilize this Cooperative Contract because the scope aligns with the City's needs; the Contract was publicly solicited and awarded; and the pricing has been determined to be fair and reasonable. Use of the Contract promotes efficiency and supports continuity of Fire Rescue operations while remaining consistent with the City's procurement policies.
H-GAC Cooperative Contract Number AM10-23 along with the Purchase Agreement and associated quote between the City of North Port and Frazer, Ltd. have been reviewed by the City Attorney and are legally correct as to form.
The Purchase Agreement and associated quote between the City of North Port and Frazer, Ltd. was provided to the City Clerk's Office on August 13, 2026, for signature, subject to City Commission approval and contingent upon approval of the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract (ILC).
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
Financial resources for the purchase of the ambulance are budgeted within the Fire Rescue Department's Capital Improvement Plan, Project F24FSA - Future Fire Station A, account number 306-2222-522.64-00. The total expenditure will not exceed $441,778.
No expenditure or purchase pursuant to this agenda item will proceed unless the City Commission approves the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract (ILC) authorizing the City's participation in the HGAC Buy Cooperative Purchasing Program.
Procurement
The utilization of this Cooperative Contract is consistent with Chapter 2, Administration, Article VIII, Procurement, Section 2-403(a)(4)(a) of the Code of the City of North Port, Florida.
H-GAC Contract Number AM10-23 was publicly solicited and awarded. Subject to City Commission approval of the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract (ILC), the City will utilize Contract Number AM10-23 with Frazer, Ltd. and execute the associated Purchase Agreement to finalize the ambulance acquisition.
The Fire Rescue Department will utilize the established internal procurement process for this purchase to ensure continued administrative oversight and compliance with City policy.
Attachments:
1. Contract
2. Frazer Purchase Agreement
3. Frazer Quote
Prepared by: Deanna Marshall, Senior Business Manager
Department Director: Scott Titus, Fire Chief