Item 6-I

Council Meeting: 4/14/98                         Santa Monica, CA

          TO:       Mayor and City Council

          FROM:     City Staff

          SUBJECT:  Recommendation to Award Purchase Orders for the
          Purchase of Three New 1998 Ford Crown Victoria Sedans
          (One -- Bob Wondries Ford; Two -- Don Kott Ford), Bid
          #2667 and Notify Council of an Exception to Resolution
          No. 8966 (CCS)

Introduction
This report recommends the purchase of three new 1998 Ford Crown
Victoria sedans.  One bi-fuel vehicle (CNG/gasoline) will be
purchased from Bob Wondries Ford ($27,710.92) for the
Transportation Department and two gasoline powered vehicles will
be purchased from Don Kott Ford ($44,507.30) for the
Administration and Operation Divisions, Police Department.  These
awards require notification of an exception to Council policy
(Resolution No. 8966(CCS)) regarding conducting business with
firms doing business in or with Burma.

Background
On January 13, 1998, the City Council approved Bid #2667 for the
purchase of bi-fuel (CNG/Gasoline) 1998 Ford Crown Victoria
vehicles from Bob Wondries Ford and gasoline powered vehicles
from Don Kott Ford.  The manufacturer cut-off date for ordering
1998 Ford Crown Victoria sedans was 3/31/98.  In order to meet
that deadline staff issued purchase orders to Bob Wondries Ford
and Don Kott Ford in accordance with the terms and conditions of
Bid #2677 and indicated "pending Council approval April 14,
1998".  Both vendors have confirmed that they are willing to
extend their prior bid at the same price, terms and conditions
for the purchase of these three additional vehicles.  All
vehicles meet City specifications.

This purchase is consistent with the provisions of Ordinance
Number 1743(CCS) Section 2.24.080(2) of the City Municipal Code,
which allows exceptions to competitive bidding when competitive
bid procedures have already been utilized.

Ford is the only manufacturer of a full-sized vehicle that can
accommodate computer and equipment control consoles used in City
detective vehicles.  Additionally, Ford, and the Crown Victoria
model, in particular, is the only vehicle with manufacturer-
installed bi-fuel capability.

The bi-fuel vehicle will be used by Transit Service Division
supervisors for overseeing bus routes and emergency response. 
This vehicle must be bi-fuel because these vehicles may travel
outside of the range of a CNG fueling station, depending on the
location of an emergency.  
 
The two gasoline powered vehicles will be used to respond to
emergencies throughout the City.   These two vehicles will
replace two vehicles that have high miles and are in disrepair.

The purchase of these three vehicles (bi-fuel and gasoline
powered) is consistent with the City's reduced emission fuel
policy which excludes emergency response vehicles from the CNG
powered requirement. 

Budget/Financial Impact
Fiscal Year 1997/98 appropriation for the one bi-fuel vehicle is
in the Capital Improvement Budget, account number 41-750-657-
20098-8900-99115, "Service Vehicles" ($27,710.92).

Fiscal Year 1997/98 appropriation authority for the two gasoline
powered vehicles are in the Office of Administrative Services
Division,  account number 01-300-304-00000-8806-00000
($22,253.65) and Operations Division, Police Department, account
number 01-300-305-00000-8806-00000 ($22,253.65).  

Recommendation
It is recommended that award be made under the provisions of Bid
#2667 as follows: (a) Bob Wondries Ford (bi-fuel) in the amount
of $27,710.92, including applicable sales tax; and (b) Don Kott
Ford (gasoline) in the amount of $44,507.30, including applicable
sales tax.