Wildland Type Six (6) Fire Engine

The City of Santa Cruz Fire Department is seeking to procure a Wildland Type Six (6) Fire Engine through a competitive bidding process. The procurement is specifically for a specialized off-road firefighting vehicle designed for rescue situations, to be mounted on an F-550 chassis or equivalent. The fire engine must feature four-wheel drive, an auxiliary fire pump, a 300-gallon water capacity, foam system, and higher ground clearance to support off-road operations. Key requirements include compliance with NFPA and DOT standards, a crew cab with four doors, diesel engine, and enclosed compartments for tool and hose storage. The solicitation was released on November 6, 2023, with bid questions due by November 20, 2023, and the final bid submission deadline set for December 13, 2023, at 2:00 pm. Evaluation criteria will focus on lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with a 10% bid bond or cashier's check required as a proposal guarantee. The successful vendor must deliver the apparatus within 18 months of the bid award.

The procurement offers local business preferences, with a 2% preference for local businesses and an additional 4% for locally owned businesses. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, the bid documents indicate an openness to diverse vendor participation. The contract includes provisions for potential piggyback contracting, allowing other government agencies to potentially utilize the same contract terms. Insurance requirements are comprehensive, mandating $2 million in commercial general liability, $1 million in automobile liability, and statutory workers' compensation coverage. Vendors must provide insurance certificates naming the City of Santa Cruz as an additional insured, with policies from insurers rated no less than A:VII by A.M. Best. While a specific budget range is not disclosed, the complexity of the specialized fire apparatus suggests a significant investment, likely in the range of $250,000 to $500,000 depending on specific configurations and equipment.