TITLE
Title
PURCHASE OF EIGHT AMBULANCE BOXES FROM AMERICAN EMERGENCY VEHICLES - NORTHWESTERN EMERGENCY VEHICLES
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Jim Albright/Fran Cameron
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BACKGROUND
Background
When preparing ambulances for service, the County has several options for how these ambulances can be transitioned into service. Options include purchasing a new chassis and new box OR purchasing a new chassis and mounting an existing box. Emergency Services is seeking to purchase eight (8) American Emergency Vehicles brand ambulance boxes at a price of $273,665 each or a total of $2,189,320 from their local authorized distributor, Northwestern Emergency Vehicles.
These ambulance boxes will be placed on the chassis approved during the Board's September 4, 2025 regular meeting. North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles charges a 3% Over The Road (OTR) tax on vehicles purchases, or $65,679.60 on the above. Guilford County has purchased American Emergency Vehicles through their dealer, Northwestern Emergency Vehicles for decades. The vehicles being replaced will all have greater than 300,000 miles on them by the time these new units arrive. Additionally, in the FY26 budget, Emergency Services was granted four (4) additional new ambulances due to personnel expansion that will be phased in throughout the fiscal year. Four boxes will be purchased as replacement units and four boxes will be purchased for expansion. Emergency Services has worked with Purchasing to buy these ambulances through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) cooperative purchasing program, which is resulting in a 21% savings over market rates.
Northwestern Emergency Vehicles is the North Carolina dealer for American Emergency Vehicles, both located in West Jefferson, NC, and the ambulance boxes initial fabrication will be completed in High Point, NC. By utilizing local vendors, we are able to inspect units routinely during fabrication and up fit without undue burden or expense.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve the purchase of eight (8) ambulance boxes as authorized by the cooperative purchasing exemption of G.S. 143-129(e)(3) from American Emergency Vehicles, Inc. through their authorized dealer, Northwestern Emergency Vehicles, in the total amount of $2,255,000 which includes tax.
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