It is recommended that the City Council:
  
1. Authorize the transfer of $599,924.00 from the Enterprise Resource Planning Capital Projects Fund to the New Equipment Purchases Fund;
  
2. Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the New Equipment Purchases Fund by $599,924.00; and
  
3. Authorize the purchase of one new Rosenbauer General Safety pump truck fire apparatus for the Fire Department from Emergency Vehicles of Texas using Houston-Galveston Area Council Cooperative Contract No. FS12-07 for a total cost of $599,924.00, with payments due 30 days after receipt of invoice.

The requested apparatus will be used by firefighters to transport personnel and equipment to fires, hazardous incidents and other emergency situations. The Fire and Equipment Services Departments have reviewed the pricing and find it to be competitive. This apparatus is an addition to the City's fleet for the new frontline Fire Station No. 34 located at 14101 Sendera Ranch Boulevard.

The purchase of the new apparatus cannot be delayed because the timing of the order is critical in allowing the manufacturer to build and deliver the truck before the early 2010 scheduled opening of the new Fire Station. The time in which the order for the new apparatus is placed is an important factor in training of firefighters in the operation of the new unit before the new station opens. There are no other means to reduce costs based on the current mission expectations for this station.
  
State law provides that a local government purchasing an item under a cooperative purchasing agreement satisfies state laws requiring that the local government seek competitive bids for purchase of the item. Houston-Galveston Area Council contracts have been competitively bid to increase and simplify the purchasing power of local government entities across the State of Texas.
  
The transfer of funds from the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Capital Projects Fund is necessary to fund this fire apparatus purchase. ERP Phase I actual costs were less than the estimates established when tax notes were sold for both ERP and fire equipment; therefore, the surplus ERP funds may be used to purchase fire equipment.
  
M/WBE - A waiver of the goal for M/WBE subcontracting requirements was requested by the Purchasing Division and approved by the M/WBE Office because the purchase of goods is from sources where subcontracting or supplier opportunities are negligible.