HomeMy WebLinkAbout47. Purchase of Quantum Automatic Wheelchair Securement Systems for GO Transit ($164,012.76)
City Hall, 215 Church Avenue P.O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130 http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager
DATE: May 14, 2021
RE: Purchase of Quantum Automatic Wheelchair Securement Systems for GO Transit
using Cares Act Funding ($164,012.76)
BACKGROUND
On April 15, 2020 the Transit Department received a $4,553,754 grant from the Federal Cares Act
for the purpose of COVID-19 prevention, mitigation and recovery. In accordance with Federal
Transit Administration/Cares Act purchasing guidelines, the City spent $16,110.25 of this grant
to purchase a prototype Quantum Automatic Wheelchair Securement Systems including the
necessary retrofit seating which was successfully installed on one of the buses. GO Transit is
now using more of this funding to purchase this same system for 11 additional buses. The rest
of the systems are expected to be delivered and installed by the end of the year and will replace
the current manual driver performed belt wheelchair securement process.
ANALYSIS
As a COVID-19 protective measure to protect passengers and drivers from close contact, GO
Transit ordered 11 additional Quantum automatic wheelchair securement systems from New
Flyer of America, Inc. the manufacturer of the buses. New Flyer Parts is the exclusive distributor
of these systems for their buses. These systems will provide safety and protection for both
operators and passengers by preventing close contact and encourage self-sufficiency by
allowing wheelchair passengers to secure their chairs without assistance on the buses. Many
other transit systems (including Appleton and Green Bay) have successfully installed this
system and have received favorable feedback.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Transit Department received $4,553,754 in Cares Act Funding for COVID-19 prevention,
mitigation and recovery. The wheelchair securement systems with associated parts cost
$14,910.25 each. The total fiscal impact for these 11 Quantum Wheelchair Securement Systems
to protect against COVID-19 was $164,012.75. These purchases were charged to A/N#: 0511-
1728-7204-11107 (Machinery & Equipment: CARES Transit Equipment) from the GO Transit
CARES Act expenditures. The remaining Cares Act funding will be used for a variety of
project/items as outlined in the 2021 CIP.
RECOMMENDATION
In accordance with all Federal Transit Administration/Cares Act purchasing guidelines and in
accordance with Section 12-14(1) of the Oshkosh Municipal Code that subject to the approval by
the City Manager allows for purchases to be made without following a formal competitive
bidding process when the purchase is warranted by situation that threatens the public health,
safety or welfare, I am hereby submitting a report of these purchases to the Common Council.
If you have any questions on this purchase please contact myself or Transit Director Jim Collins.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager