TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve Utilization of Sourcewell Contract Number 032824-CER With Certified Stainless Service, Inc. dba West-Mark for a One Time Purchase of a High Water Rescue Vehicle in Fiscal Year 2027 Utilizing Sarasota County Community Development Block Grant Funding in an Amount Not to Exceed $478,823.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve utilization of Sourcewell Contract Number 032824-CER with Certified Stainless Service, Inc. dba West-Mark for a one time purchase of a High Water Rescue Vehicle in Fiscal Year 2027 utilizing Sarasota County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding in an amount not to exceed $478,823.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve utilization of Sourcewell Contract Number 032824-CER with Certified Stainless Service, Inc. dba West-Mark for a one time purchase of a High Water Rescue Vehicle in Fiscal Year 2027 utilizing Sarasota County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding in an amount not to exceed $478,823.
• Pros: Provides North Port Fire Rescue with a specialized High Water Rescue Vehicle to enhance flood and disaster response capabilities while utilizing competitively procured cooperative pricing and Sarasota County Community Development Block Grant funding to minimize cost.
• Cons: Reliance on a Cooperative Contract may limit the City’s ability to independently negotiate pricing or terms.
Option 2: Deny the utilization of Sourcewell Contract Number 032824-CER with Certified Stainless Service, Inc. dba West-Mark.
• Pros: Allows the City to conduct an independent competitive solicitation tailored to its specific operational, technical, and pricing requirements.
• Cons: Would require additional time and administrative effort to complete the procurement process, potentially delaying the purchase of this rescue vehicle. The City may not achieve the same level of pricing advantage available through Sourcewell’s aggregated purchasing power.
Background Information
The North Port Fire Rescue Department seeks to utilize a Cooperative ("Piggyback") Contract established between Sourcewell and Certified Stainless Service, Inc. dba West-Mark (Contract Number 032824-CER) for the purchase of a High Water Rescue Vehicle to support emergency response operations and disaster response capabilities.
Sourcewell awarded Contract Number 032824-CER through Solicitation RFP #032824 for Class 4-8 Chassis and Cabs with Related Equipment, Accessories, and Services. The Contract became effective on July 3, 2024, and expires on July 9, 2028, with provisions allowing up to three additional one-year extensions upon mutual agreement between Sourcewell and West-Mark.
The purchase of a High Water Rescue Vehicle will enhance the North Port Fire Rescue Department’s ability to respond during flooding events, hurricanes, tropical storms, and other natural disasters by providing a specialized platform capable of traversing flooded roadways and accessing areas that may be unreachable by conventional emergency vehicles. The vehicle will support emergency evacuations, rescue operations, transportation of personnel and equipment, and delivery of critical services during disaster conditions.
The use of the Sourcewell Cooperative Contract is cost-effective for the City as it leverages nationally competitive pricing that has already been publicly solicited and awarded through a formal procurement process. Utilizing this Contract streamlines procurement, reduces administrative burden, and ensures timely acquisition of a critical emergency response asset while maintaining compliance with procurement requirements.
The City may utilize this Cooperative Contract because the scope of the awarded contract aligns with the City's operational needs, the Contract was competitively procured, and the pricing has been reviewed and determined to be fair and reasonable. Use of the Contract promotes efficiency, supports continuity of operations, and is consistent with the City's procurement policies.
The underlying Sourcewell solicitation was conducted through a formal competitive process substantially similar to the City of North Port's procurement requirements and includes provisions permitting cooperative use by eligible governmental entities throughout the United States and Canada.
The utilization of Sourcewell Contract Number 032824-CER with Certified Stainless Service, Inc. dba West-Mark for a one time purchase of a High Water Rescue Vehicle in Fiscal Year 2027 utilizing Sarasota County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding in an amount not to exceed $478,823 has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
The purchase of the High Water Rescue Vehicle is anticipated in Fiscal Year 2027. The total vehicle cost is $478,823, budgeted in Project F26HWG. The North Port Fire Rescue Department has been awarded grant funding providing reimbursement of $324,000. The remaining $155,126 will be funded with $62,823 from the Fire Rescue District Renewal and Replacement Fund, account number 323-2222-522.64-00, and $92,000 from Fire Rescue Capital Machinery and Equipment, account number 110-2222-522.64-00. Expenditure of funds is contingent upon appropriation of the City match dollars within the adopted Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
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.
The North Port Fire Rescue Department will utilize the established internal procurement process for all purchases under this Contract to ensure continued administrative oversight and compliance with City procurement policies and procedures.
Attachments:
1. Contract
2. Award and Solicitation
3. Quote
Prepared by: Deanna Marshall, Senior Business Manager
Department Director: Scott Titus, Fire Chief