Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Captain Stephen A. Zarnowiec
CC:	Debbie Van Saun, Asst. City Manager W. Ronald Olin, Chief of Police
Date:	February 21, 2007
RE:	February 27, 2007 City Commission Agenda

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the February 27, 2007 meeting:

Approve sole source bid specification for 2007 police patrol vehicles

Background Information:

The Lawrence Police Department has a vehicle replacement program that involves replacing a portion of the fleet each year in order to effectively manage maintenance costs and to provide safe, reliable vehicles for a variety of police operations. In past years, the purchase of police vehicles has been accomplished utilizing the Kansas City metropolitan bid process.

Current Status:

Following direction from the City Manager regarding the use of a pre-purchase vehicle/job appropriateness survey and analysis by the Central Maintenance Garage Manager, we have reviewed bid specifications with the intention of bidding one specific make and model in order to maximize efficiency and performance and minimize unnecessary support costs, associated duplication of parts inventories, and mechanic diagnostic/training costs. Additionally, with one vehicle spec, we can use the same emergency equipment mounts, consoles for the internal radio/siren equipment, mobile data computer mounts, and protective prisoner partitions throughout the fleet. It is the joint recommendation of the Garage Manager and the Police Chief to utilize the make and model specification of the Ford Crown Victoria Police Package for the 2007 bid.

Funding:

The 2007 operating budget for the Police Department contains funding for the purchase of eleven (11) patrol vehicles in 2007.

Action Request:

Police Department staff requests approval from the City Commission to proceed with the 2007 police patrol vehicle bid process utilizing the specifications for the Ford Crown Victoria Police Package.