REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, M.A., Director Department of Transportation BY: LINDA TAYLOR, Administrative Manager Department of Transportation SHARLEE FLORES, Senior Management Analyst Department of Transportation SUBJECT ..Title Reject all bids of a three-year base contract, with options for two one-year extensions, for the purchase Radial Tire Leasing Services (Bid File 12500030). ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council reject all bids of a three-year base contract, with options for two one-year extensions, for the purchase Radial Tire Leasing Services (Bid File 12500030). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY To support fleet operations and provide safe, reliable service to passengers, the Department of Transportation/Fresno Area Express (FAX) sought to establish a contract with a tire supplier for the leasing of transit radial tires, as well as tire maintenance services for the fixed-route bus fleet. An Invitation for Bid (IFB) solicitation was prepared and advertised to perspective bidders on October 4, 2024. Copies of the specifications were requested and distributed to eight (8) prospective bidders. One (1) sealed response was received and opened on November 26, 2024. Bridgestone American Tire Operations, LLC (Bridgestone), submitted the only bid at a total price of $2,999,954.71. Upon review of the submission, the bid was deemed non-responsive due to a technical issue with bid package and must therefore be rejected. BACKGROUND FAX operates a fixed-route bus fleet of 138 heavy-duty compressed natural gas (CNG) and battery electric buses (BEBs), which provide 363 days of transit service to the residents of the City and County of Fresno each year, accruing over 34,000,000 vehicle miles. Having an effective tire maintenance and replacement program is critical to ensuring bus safety and reliability. It is also a large cost component of bus maintenance; therefore, FAX follows the industry practice of leasing from a qualified tire supplier. The lease structure is based on the aggregate mileage accrued by the fleet, and a multi-year contract is used to provide continuity of service and quality. To support fleet operations and provide safe, reliable service to passengers, FAX sought to establish a contract with a tire supplier for the leasing of transit radial tires, as well as tire maintenance services for the fixed-route bus fleet. A multi-year requirements contract was determined to be the most cost effective and efficient way to acquire these products and associated services. The IFB solicitation was prepared and advertised to perspective bidders on October 4, 2024. Copies of the specifications were requested and distributed to eight (8) prospective bidders. One (1) sealed response was received and opened on November 26, 2024. Bridgestone American Tire Operations, LLC (Bridgestone), submitted the only bid at a total price of $2,999,954.71. Upon review of the submission, the bid was deemed non-responsive due to a technical issue with the bid package and must therefore be rejected. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 the approval of this item does not qualify as a project as defined by the CEQA requirements. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference is not applicable because this action is to reject all bids. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund from this action because a contract is not being awarded. Attachment: Bid Evaluation Form