Westport approves $2.26 million ladder truck purchase; 850-day delivery estimated
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Summary
Selectmen approved a contract using the Sourcewell cooperative for a new ladder truck (Spartan Gladiator chassis) at a contract price of $2,258,621 with an estimated 850-day delivery and a performance bond; officials noted a 6.1% Sourcewell discount.
The Board of Selectmen on Jan. 14 approved a purchase order and addendum with New England Fire Equipment & Apparatus Corporation for a LTC 93 mid-mount ladder platform built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis.
Deputy Fire Chief Matt Cohen described a roughly 20-month procurement and specification process and said the purchase will use the Sourcewell cooperative, which provided a 6.1% discount. Cohen said the contract price is $2,258,621 and that the town will not owe payments until delivery; the estimated delivery time is 850 days after contract execution. "We leverage the Sourcewell Contracting Alliance... We're not a high volume purchaser of fire apparatus," Cohen said.
Assistant Town Attorney Eileen Levine said she drafted contract provisions to incorporate Sourcewell terms and said the town will receive a performance bond issued by New England Fire and backed by the Rev Group; she said she was comfortable with the contract. Cohen and Levine said the manufacturer and vendor will provide standard pre-build, midpoint and final inspections as part of the contract and that warranty processes are typical through the manufacturer.
Board members asked about accelerated delivery in an emergency and borrowing apparatus from neighboring communities; Cohen said accelerated delivery would depend on the manufacturer's production line and that mutual aid or loaned apparatus have been used in the past. The board voted to approve the contract by voice vote.
