For City Council Meeting September 22, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
AUTHOR: Christopher P. Jensen, Fire Chief
Title
Request City Council to: (1) Adopt Resolution No. 8580 Amending Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Appropriating an Additional $2,241,793.24 to the EMS GEMT Fund 2209 (2) Adopt Resolution No. 8581 Amending Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Year Budget Appropriating an Amount of $850,000.00 to the Development Impact Fee - Fire Fund 2217 (3) Approve the Purchase of Seven (7) Type I Ambulances through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Cooperative Purchasing Program (HGACBuy Contract No. AM10-23), From Sterling McCall Ford and Frazer, Ltd., in the Amount of $3,074,775.00; (4) Approve the Purchase of Related Patient Care and Communications Equipment, Including Stryker Power-Load Cots and Stair Chairs in the Amount of $628,719.32, Zoll X Series Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillators in the Amount of $330,547.78, Zoll AutoPulse NXT Resuscitation Systems in the Amount of $55,919.84, and Motorola APX6500 Mobile Radios in the Amount of $51,831.30; for a Total Equipment Amount of $1,067,018.24; and, (5) Authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to Execute all Related Purchase Orders and Documents.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Adopt Resolution amending fiscal year 2026-2027 budget appropriating an additional $2,241,793.24 to the EMS GEMT Fund 2209;
2) Adopt Resolution amending fiscal year 2026-2027 budget appropriating an amount of $850,000.00 to the Development Impact Fee - Fire Fund account No. 2217;
3) Approve the purchase of seven (7) Type I ambulances from Sterling McCall Ford and Frazer, Ltd. through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) cooperative purchasing program, HGACBuy Contract No. AM10-23 (Quote Z5515), in the amount of $3,074,775.00;
4) Approve the purchase of ambulance patient care and communications equipment for the new units, as follows: Stryker power-load cots and stair chairs (Quote No. 11343599) in the amount of $628,719.32; ZOLL X Series cardiac monitor/defibrillators (Quote No. Q-156156) in the amount of $330,547.78; ZOLL AutoPulse NXT resuscitation systems (Quote No. Q-156155) in the amount of $55,919.84; and Motorola APX6500 mobile radios (Quote No. 3809412) in the amount of $51,831.30, for a combined equipment amount of $1,067,018.24 bringing the total combined ambulance and equipment purchase to $4,141,793.24; and,
5) Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all purchase orders, contract pricing worksheets, and related documents necessary to complete the purchases described herein, on behalf of the City.
BACKGROUND
The Rialto Fire Department currently operates a fleet of ten (10) ambulances - six (6) frontline units and four (4) reserve units - to provide emergency medical transport services to the community. These units must remain in safe and reliable operating condition to protect the health and safety of residents, visitors, and the paramedics and emergency medical technicians who staff them.
In 2024, the Fire Department transitioned its ambulance fleet from traditional Type I modular ambulances to a Ford Transit high-roof, van-style ambulance design. At the time, this change was intended to reduce the per-unit purchase cost and shorten manufacturer lead times. While the Transit-based units achieved those initial goals, the Department has since identified significant concerns with the overall reliability of these units in frontline emergency service. In addition, the limited interior cabin space of the Transit-based design has created ongoing challenges for both patients and crews, including a rougher ride quality during transport and insufficient room to safely and effectively perform paramedic treatment modalities while enroute to a hospital. The Department has received multiple patient complaints regarding the transit-based units, with patients describing an extremely rough ride and a feeling of claustrophobia due to the limited space inside the patient compartment.
To address these reliability and patient-care concerns, the Fire Department is requesting to replace its frontline ambulance fleet with new Type I modular ambulances. The Type I modular design offers significant operational and patient-care benefits over the current transit-based units, including a 14-foot modular patient compartment that provides substantially more usable space for paramedics to perform treatment during transport, and a liquid spring active suspension system that significantly improves ride quality, reducing the rough-ride conditions experienced by patients and crews in the current fleet. This purchase includes seven (7) new Type I ambulances, along with the associated patient care and communications equipment necessary to place the units into service.
Rather than issue an independent competitive solicitation, the Fire Department pursued the purchase of the ambulance chassis and modules through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) cooperative purchasing program, known as HGACBuy. H-GAC is a political subdivision of the State of Texas, organized under Texas interlocal cooperation law, that operates a nationwide government-to-government cooperative purchasing program. All products offered through HGACBuy, including the Type I ambulance chassis and module specifications applicable to this purchase, are first competitively bid or proposed by H-GAC in accordance with applicable public procurement laws, resulting in the award of a blanket contract to the selected manufacturer or dealer. Participating members, including the City of Rialto, may then purchase directly from that existing, competitively awarded contract without conducting a separate bid process of their own.
This method of procurement, generally referred to as cooperative or 'piggyback' purchasing, is authorized under California Public Contract Code Section 20118, which permits a local agency to procure supplies, materials, and equipment through a contract already competitively awarded by another public agency, without further bidding by the purchasing agency, and is consistent with the cooperative purchasing provisions of the Rialto Municipal Code, Chapter 2.48 (Purchasing). Because the ambulance chassis and module were competitively bid at the H-GAC level, no additional bidding by the city was required to complete this purchase.
In coordination with the ambulance purchase, the Fire Department obtained quotes for the patient care and communications equipment necessary to complete each unit, including power-load cots and stair chairs from Stryker, cardiac monitor/defibrillators and mechanical CPR devices from ZOLL Medical Corporation, and mobile radios from Motorola Solutions. This equipment was quoted under existing cooperative and national purchasing contracts held by the respective manufacturers, and in the case of the Stryker equipment, is necessary to maintain compatibility with the integrated power-load cot system built into the new ambulance modules and with the Department's existing fleet.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Ambulance Chassis and Module Purchase (HGACBuy)
On September 9, 2026, Sterling McCall Ford, an H-GAC authorized contractor (HGAC Contract No. AM10-23, Quote No. Z5515), prepared a revised Contract Pricing Worksheet for seven (7) Type I - 14' Ford F-550 Diesel 4x2 ambulances, Regular Cab, 108" CA, with steel wheels. This pricing supersedes the original worksheet previously provided to the Department and reflects updated module and chassis pricing obtained from Frazer, Ltd., the module manufacturer, in a corresponding customer quote (Estimate No. Z5515-0001, dated September 4, 2026). The revised pricing worksheet itemizes the base unit price, manufacturer-published options, and customer-requested unpublished custom options, consistent with H-GAC's required pricing format:
• Base unit price per H-GAC Contract AM10-23: $253,500.00 per unit
• Published options (manufacturer standard options): $115,400.00 per unit
• Customization options (manufacturer non-standard, customer-requested options): $22,100.00 per unit - equal to 5.99% of the base price plus published options, within H-GAC's 25% customization cap
• Subtotal per unit (A+B+C): $391,000.00; Total for seven (7) units: $2,737,000.00
• H-GAC order processing charge: $1,000.00
• California sales tax ($210,600.00), delivery to Rialto ($56,175.00), and a customer contingency fund ($70,000.00): $336,775.00
Total Purchase Price for seven (7) ambulances: $3,074,775.00
The Frazer, Ltd. Customer Quote itemizes the module ($306,750.00 per unit; $2,147,250.00 for seven units) and chassis ($84,250.00 per unit; $589,750.00 for seven units) pricing underlying the H-GAC worksheet, along with delivery, the H-GAC order processing charge, and the customer contingency fund, for a matching total of $3,074,775.00. A corresponding build specification and drawing package (Print No. 10546, Version 2) detailing the Type I - 14' module with side entry door forward, including exterior, interior, and floor plan layouts, was also provided by Frazer, Ltd. and is included as an attachment to this report.
The published options include equipment such as GPS traffic preemption, a traffic advisor, MEPS electrical system, anti-theft system, and a customer-provided power-load mounting system built into the module to accept the Stryker cot system discussed below. The customization options reflect module and chassis features specific to the Department's operational needs that fall outside H-GAC's standard published option list.
Patient Care and Communications Equipment
Stryker Power-Load Cots and Stair Chairs: Stryker Sales, LLC provided Quote No. 11343599, dated July 21, 2026, for seven (7) each of the MTS Power-Load system, the 6507 Power-PRO 2 cot (high configuration), and the 6257 Xpedition stair chair (high configuration). This equipment is designed to integrate with the power-load mounting system built into the new ambulance modules and to standardize equipment across the Department's fleet for safety, training, and maintenance efficiency. The equipment total is $576,806.79, plus estimated sales tax of $44,702.53 and shipping and handling of $7,210.00, for a grand total of $628,719.32.
ZOLL Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillators: ZOLL Medical Corporation provided Quote No. Q-156156, dated September 1, 2026, for six (6) X Series Advanced Monitor/Defibrillators with 12-lead ECG, pacing, SpO2, SpCO, EtCO2, BVM, and NIBP capability, along with associated accessories, a five-year CaseReview subscription, and a five-year Worry-Free service plan, less a trade-in allowance for two (2) legacy monitors. Pricing reflects National Purchasing Partners (NPP) Contract PS25850 and CHM Service Contract Precision X Series cooperative pricing. The total for this equipment is $330,547.78. This equipment was already budgeted for and will have no impact on the General Fund.
ZOLL AutoPulse Resuscitation Systems: ZOLL also provided Quote No. Q-156155, dated September 1, 2026, for two (2) AutoPulse NXT Starter Kits with a four-year Worry-Free service plan, also under NPP Contract PS25850 pricing, for a total of $55,919.84. This equipment was already budgeted for and will have no impact on the General Fund.
Motorola Mobile Radios: Motorola Solutions provided Quote No. 3809412, dated September 9, 2026, for seven (7) APX6500 Enhanced mobile radios configured with ASTRO 25 trunking, AES encryption, and related software licenses and accessories, under Contract No. 18105 (LA County - CA MA-IS-2240228) cooperative pricing. The quote reflects a subtotal of $65,289.00, less a discount of $17,628.03, plus estimated tax of $4,170.33, for a grand total of $51,831.30. These radios will maintain compatibility with the Department's existing regional interoperable radio system.
Combined, the patient care and communications equipment total $1,067,018.24, and the combined ambulance and equipment purchase totals $4,141,793.24.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not meet the definition of a "project" under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. The purchase of ambulances and related patient care and communications equipment is an administrative and equipment procurement activity that does not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2), continuing administrative activities, including the procurement of equipment for existing operations, are not considered projects under CEQA. Section 15378(b)(5) similarly excludes organizational and administrative activities of governments that will not result in environmental impacts. As this purchase does not involve construction, land use changes, or any commitment to a physical environmental modification, no further CEQA review is required.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The City of Rialto General Plan establishes goals, objectives, and guiding principles through which the City seeks to protect the quality of life and improve the community for its residents. The proposed purchase supports the General Plan in the following area:
Goal 5-3.1: Provide fire personnel, equipment, and fire stations to have adequate and appropriate resources to meet the needs and serve all areas of Rialto.
Replacing and equipping the Fire Department's ambulance fleet with reliable, properly equipped units directly supports this General Plan goal by ensuring the Department has adequate resources to respond to emergency medical incidents throughout the City.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
The cost of this purchase, by quote, is as follows:
• HGACBuy Contract No. AM10-23 (Quote Z5515), Sterling McCall Ford / Frazer, Ltd. - seven (7) Type I ambulance chassis and modules: $3,074,775.00
• Stryker Quote No. 11343599 - power-load cots and stair chairs (7 each): $628,719.32
• ZOLL Quote No. Q-156156 - X Series cardiac monitor/defibrillators (6): $330,547.78
• ZOLL Quote No. Q-156155 - AutoPulse NXT resuscitation systems (2): $55,919.84
• Motorola Quote No. 3809412 - APX6500 mobile radios (7): $51,831.30
Total Combined Purchase Amount: $4,141,793.24 (ambulances plus equipment)
Funding for the purchase of the seven ambulances is detailed in FY 26/27 approved budget from the following accounts and was originally intended as a lease purchase:
• Capital Projects Fund Account No. 33005174-53050 (Rolling Stock): $400,000
• EMS GEMT Fund Account No. 22095175-53050 (Rolling Stock): $250,000
Funding for the purchase of the ambulance equipment is detailed in FY 26/27 approved budget from the following accounts:
• EMS GEMT Fund Account No. 22095175-53030: $400,000 (equipment - heart monitors & AutoPulse)
Total funding approved in fiscal year 2026-2027 budget for ambulances and equipment is: $1,050,000.00
An additional appropriation of $850,000 from the Fire Development Impact Fee Fund balance to Account No. 22175176-53050 has not yet been appropriated and will require an additional appropriation of funds authorized through a Resolution before it can be applied to this purchase.
The remaining balance of $2,241,793.24 will require an additional appropriation of funds authorized through a Resolution from Fire Fund 209 GEMT (Ground Emergency Medical Transportation) balance to Account No. 22095175-53050 (Rolling Stock) to fully fund this purchase.
Licensing
This action does not require a business license.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. Resolution
3. H-GAC Contract Pricing Worksheet - Contract No. AM10-23, Revised Quote Z5515 (Sterling McCall Ford), dated September 9, 2026
4. Frazer, Ltd. Customer Quote - Estimate No. Z5515-0001, dated September 4, 2026
5. Frazer, Ltd. Build Specification and Drawing Package - Print No. 10546, Rialto Fire Department Type I - 14' Module with Side Entry Door Forward
6. Stryker Quote No. 11343599 - Gurneys and Power-Loads
7. ZOLL Quote No. Q-156156 - X Series Monitor/Defibrillators
8. ZOLL Quote No. Q-156155 - AutoPulse NXT Resuscitation Systems
9. Motorola Solutions Quote No. 3809412 - APX6500 Mobile Radios