Submitted By: Tom Duncan
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Presentation By: Tom Duncan
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Department: Growth Management
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Approve the purchase of five Federal Transit Administration Heavy-duty Category B 35-foot low-floor plus battery electric transit buses from Gillig, LLC, in the amount of $6,264,500
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Quality of Place, Operational Excellence
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
The Growth Management Department recommends the purchase of five (5) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) heavy-duty Category B 35-foot low-floor plus battery electric transit buses utilizing Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority's (PSTA) contract with Gillig, LLC (Contract No. C-22-MT-002) in the amount of $6,264,500.
Funding for this acquisition comes entirely from the FTA’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program, referred to as “Lo-No,” and requires no local match. City Council approved the grant funding through Budget Resolution 2024-151 on July 2, 2024, in the amount of $16,166,822. These upgrades support SunTran’s broader goals of improving service reliability, diversifying the transit fleet, and enhancing overall quality.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
A policy exception request to piggyback PSTA’s contract was submitted by Growth Management staff and approved by the Procurement and Contracting Officer on June 6, 2025. PSTA awarded Contract No. C-22-MT-002 to Gillig, LLC, after a competitive solicitation (RFP 21-980369) where four firms were evaluated: (i) Gillig, LLC, (ii) New Flyer of America, (iii) Proterra Operating Company, and (iv) BYD Coach and Bus. Gillig, LLC, was the highest ranked proposer and the resulting two-year contract commenced on October 27, 2021. The most recent amendment of Contract No. C-22-MT-002, Amendment 3, extended the contract term through October 25, 2025.
SunTran and Procurement Department staff have evaluated the underlying contract and solicitation documents. The solicitation conducted by PSTA was conducted in compliance with Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200 (2 CFR 200). In its quote, Gillig, LLC, has agreed to extend the pricing offered to PSTA under Contract No. C-22-MT-002 (as amended) to the City of Ocala.
SunTran staff completed a price analysis as required by FTA. BYD Coach and Bus was disqualified from FTA-funded projects as of December 20, 2021, under the National Defense Authorization Act, making them ineligible for use by the City of Ocala. Proterra filed for bankruptcy in 2021. Of the two remaining vendors, staff determined that the pricing offered by Gillig is fair and reasonable and offers the City the best value.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The project requires no local match and will be fully funded through the Lo-No grant account 494-060-458-544-66-64010.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
These goods and services are being procured in compliance with the City’s Procurement Policy.
LEGAL REVIEW:
N/A. The City’s standard and approved Purchase Order terms and conditions will govern the purchase of these goods.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny