The Kenai City Council adopted a resolution approving the use of the fleet replacement fund for the purchase of four Ford Police Interceptors utilizing the Alaska Equipment Fleet Contract. The city conducted an evaluation of utility vehicles within its fleet to determine the efficiency of current vehicles and replacement needs of aged vehicles.
“The four vehicles actually represent the two vehicles that were slated for replacement in FY22, so last fiscal year and then the other two are for this current fiscal year, FY23,” according to City Manager Paul Ostrander. “We were unable to replace the vehicles in FY22 because Ford was not recognizing Alaska state contract pricing. Just recently, we have an opportunity to buy these four interceptors under the state contract pricing. This would get all of the vehicles that we need for both FY22 and FY23 and we still think that delivery of these is probably potentially in excess of 12 months.”
The Police Department requested the order and purchase of four Ford Police Interceptors for a total estimate cost of $185,680. Installation of the police vehicle equipment will be done in-house by the city shop with these purchases rather than outsourced to a vendor for installation of the equipment. Based on the cost savings, the cost of equipment purchase/installation is estimated to be approximately $11,000 per vehicle based on recent outfitting.
Kenai Municipal Code allows the city to purchase equipment without giving an opportunity for competitive bidding if the equipment is purchasable under the contract of another government agency in which contract the city is authorized to participate.