City of Lawrence

Finance Department

MEMORANDUM

DATE:	April 28, 2011
TO:	David L. Corliss
	City Manager
FROM:	Alan D. Landis
	Purchasing Specialist

ONE (1) SIDE Load Refuse TruckS – Public Works – Bid#1118

Public Works Solid Waste requested bids for a side load refuse truck.  Solid Waste equipment is replaced according to our equipment replacement schedule.  The equipment replacement schedule is based on age, mileage, hours of use, and cost of maintenance and upkeep.  We received ten bids from three companies.  The difference in the bid amounts shown on the attachment is due to different combinations of the make of the chassis, the make of the packer, and transmission. 

The low bid from all three vendors did not meet specifications due to the transmission bid being too light for our application.  The second low bids from all bidders met the specifications.  Downing did not bid the backup camera but priced it in their bid. American did include it in their bid.  Both vendor’s backup cameras cost $1,253.00.  The Maintenance Garage can install a backup camera for approximately $500; therefore we elected to delete the camera from the bid bringing American Equipment’s bid down to $169,887.00.  Downing’s bid of $169,662.00 is the low bid that met specifications. 

Solid Waste has a 2003 rear load refuse truck that meets the criteria for replacement. The low bid from Downing offered $40,000 for the truck as a trade in price.  We have been monitoring trucks on Gov Deals and they have not recently sold any rear load trucks, however the 2003 front load trucks have been selling from $27,500 to $37,000. 

This purchase was approved in the 2011 budgeting process.

Please see attachment.

Recommendation Action:

Award low bid for one (1) side load refuse trucks for Public Works Department to Downing Sales and Service for $169,662.00.  (Public Works/Solid Waste)

cc:	Cynthia Wagner	Chuck Soules	Steve Stewart
	Dianne Stoddard	Tammy Bennett	Diane Trybom
	Jonathan Douglass	Bobbie Walthall	Craig Pruett