Report Prepared by: Jeremy Franklin, Battalion Chief
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of a Contract to Purchase a Type 6 Fire Engine and Accessories from Golden State Fire Apparatus in the Amount of $388,443.98 Plus 10% Contingency Utilizing a Government Procurement Program
REPORT IN BRIEF
Approval to waive the competitive bidding requirements based on standardization and cooperative purchasing, approval to purchase a Type 6 Fire Engine and Accessories from Golden State Fire Apparatus in the amount of $388,443.98 plus 10% contingency utilizing a competitively bid contract through the Houston-Galveston Area Council procurement program.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving to waive the City’s competitive bidding requirement as permitted by Merced Municipal Code Section 3.04.210 based on standardization and authorizing the purchase to be made with a cooperative purchasing agreement through the Houston-Galveston Area Council competitively bid for a Type 6 engine and accessories: and,
B. Approving the purchase of Type 6 Fire Engine from Golden State Fire Apparatus in an amount not to exceed $388,443.98, plus 10% contingency: and,
C. Authorizing the City Manager to execute any necessary documents for the purchase specified above; and,
D. Authorizing the Purchasing Supervisor to issue the Purchase Order.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to conditions other than recommended by staff (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Title 3, Article III of the Merced Municipal Code, Purchases Over Thirty-nine Thousand Dollars.
Section 3.04.210 - Exemptions from competitive bidding.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, competitive bidding requirements for purchases in excess of thirty-nine thousand dollars ($39,000), the “bidding threshold”, may be waived with the approval of the City Council. Waivers may be authorized for, but are not limited to, cooperative purchasing in conjunction with other governmental entities, professional services, annual service or supply agreements, or purchases necessary for standardization on particular types of equipment. The bidding threshold shall be adjusted for inflation utilizing the same index and methodology as the bidding threshold in Section 3.04.080 of this code.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
The Merced Fire Department is requesting City Council to authorize the purchase of one Golden State Fire Apparatus Type 6 Fire Engine and Accessories for the purchase price of $388,443.98 and to that price we are adding a 10% contingency amounting to a total price of $427,288.38 from Boise Mobile Equipment using the Houston-Galveston Area Council Government Cooperative Purchasing Program (HGAC) and waiving the competitive bidding threshold due to the need of standardizing our apparatus fleet.
The Type 6 engine will be procured through the HGACBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program. All products and pricing available through HGACBuy are established through a formal, open, and competitive bidding process, ensuring compliance with public procurement standards. Merced Municipal Code Section 3.04.210 (Exemptions from Competitive Bidding) authorizes the City to utilize cooperative purchasing agreements with other governmental entities, allowing for an efficient and compliant acquisition process.
In 2010, the City Council approved the use of HGACBuy, and the City has since successfully utilized the program to procure public works equipment and vehicles. The Houston-Galveston Area Council is a regional council of governments operating under the laws of the State of Texas and governed by a board of elected officials. With more than 30 years of experience, HGAC administers competitively awarded contracts that are made available to local governments nationwide through the HGACBuy program. This program specializes in capital-intensive equipment and services that require detailed technical specifications and thorough evaluation of bid responses.
By leveraging HGACBuy, the City benefits from nationally solicited contracts that typically result in more competitive pricing than could be achieved through a local bidding process. This approach eliminates the need to develop complex specifications and manage a full bid cycle, resulting in both time and administrative cost savings. There are no membership fees associated with HGACBuy; however, a nominal transaction fee of $1,000 applies to each purchase.
The City of Merced is eligible to participate in the HGACBuy program through its executed Interlocal Cooperative Purchasing Agreement under the Texas Interlocal Cooperation Act.
This purchase also supports the Merced Fire Department’s ongoing fleet standardization efforts. The department has been working toward aligning its apparatus with Pierce Manufacturing to improve operational consistency, maintenance efficiency, and parts availability. As BME Fire Trucks has been acquired by Pierce, this purchase further advances that standardization strategy while maintaining compatibility across the fleet.
The Merced Fire Department (MFD) staffs five front-line Type 1 engines and one truck company daily. These apparatuses are primarily designed for structural firefighting and are most effective when operating on paved surfaces and within traditional urban environments. MFD staffs one Type 6 squad out of Fire Station 53. Squad 53 has proven to provide a more efficient method to supplement our service delivery.
The addition of a Type 6 engine enhances the department’s operational flexibility by providing a unit that is smaller, lighter, faster, and more maneuverable than the existing fleet. This increased mobility allows for improved access to areas that are difficult to reach with larger apparatus, particularly within the Merced service area’s outlying, rural, and interface zones. Equipped with fire suppression capabilities and essential equipment, the Type 6 engine supports quicker response times and more effective initial attack operations, ultimately improving the department’s ability to protect homes, property, and critical infrastructure. This additional Type 6 Engine will replace the current squad as front line so that we will have a reserve. This will also give MFD the ability to staff an additional squad should staffing allow.
In addition to its fire suppression role, the Type 6 engine can be configured to support Advanced Life Support (ALS) service delivery. By carrying ALS equipment and staffing with appropriately trained personnel, the unit can function as a rapid-response medical resource. Its agility allows for faster access to medical emergencies in congested, remote, or otherwise restricted areas, improving patient contact times and enhancing overall emergency medical service outcomes. This capability strengthens MFD’s all-hazards response model and ensures continuity of ALS care across the service area.
From a fiscal perspective, the Type 6 engine presents a cost-effective alternative to traditional Type 1 apparatus. Both the initial acquisition cost and long-term cost of ownership are significantly lower. The Type 6 offers improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and decreased maintenance expenses. Additionally, incorporating a Type 6 into the fleet reduces wear and operational demand on larger, more expensive apparatus, thereby extending their service life and maximizing the City’s investment in its firefighting resources.
Overall, the integration of a Type 6 engine enhances MFD’s operational capability, improves emergency response effectiveness-including ALS delivery-and provides a fiscally responsible solution for expanding service capacity.
No additional staffing and minimal training will be required for the operation
of the vehicle.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Funds of $400,000 for the acquisition of the Type 6 Engine were approved in the FY 2025-26 adopted budget: by 50% split between Measure C and Measure Y Funds. If the purchase and equipment costs exceeds the allocated $400,000, the Fire Department will fund the additional needed from within the adopted budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. H-GAC Contract and Quote
2. Golden State Product Proposal