Cooper City staff report procurement delays and unresolved vendor issues for rescue and ladder apparatus

City staff and the fire department briefed the commission on delayed deliveries of two major pieces of fire apparatus: a rescue unit and a ladder quint that were procured in 2022. The manager said the rescue unit's final drawings produced a punch list of about two dozen items that the vendor says may carry additional cost; staff have asked the vendor for a written statement of the change requests and any chargeable items.

The manager reported that the chassis originally identified for the build had been sold and that chassis-market constraints and supply-chain delays contributed to the long delivery timeline. City staff said earlier payments were made in the procurement process and that procurement records must be reconciled with vendor performance-bond paperwork; staff said they have not been able to locate a copy of a performance bond and are pursuing that documentation.

City attorneys and the manager recently sent demand letters and are coordinating with vendor representatives and industry contacts to accelerate production. Staff said the new ladder quint has a later delivery estimate (roughly fall of the year) and the rescue may be 120'180 days from delivery depending on vendor responses to the city's punch list.

The commission asked which city office will oversee inspections and final acceptance; staff said inspections require input from fire subject-matter experts and fleet staff and that the city will clarify which department will lead pre-build checks, mid-build inspections and final acceptance documentation.

Commissioners asked for a report spelling out remaining vendor deliverables, the status of the performance bond and who will be responsible for in-manufacturer inspection and final acceptance.