HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated December 10, 2024ITEM #:21
DATE:12-10-24
DEPT:FLEET
SUBJECT:FLEET REPLACEMENT PROGRAM: PURCHASE FORESTRY WOOD AND
BRUSH CHIPPER
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
The Parks and Recreation Department currently has two trailer-mounted brush chippers. These chippers
are used by the forestry crew to maintain vegetation in parks and right-of-way throughout the city. For
many years, a single chipper was used. In 2015, Fleet Services purchased a second chipper to support
the City’s forestry crew with cleanup of tree limbs and branches from a windstorm, and the many ash
trees affected by the emerald ash borer.
Parks and Recreation staff has evaluated its needs and has determined it is no longer necessary to
maintain two chippers. Staff does not anticipate needing a chipper any time in the foreseeable future.
Therefore, the two current chippers are proposed to be replaced with a single chipper unit. Bids were
solicited for a replacement chipper, and two bids were received:
Bidder Make/Model/Year Base Price
Powered
Tongue
Jack
Spare
Tire
Cutting
Knives
Set
Total price
with Tongue
Jack, Spare,
Knife Set
Rexco
Equipment
Inc.
of Des
Moines
Bandit / 18XP /
2025 $76,900.00 $1,725 $600.00 $300.00 $79,525.00
Vermeer
Iowa of
Des Moines
Vermeer / AX17 /
2025 $115,000 $1,725 $818.00 $447.50 $118,017.50
Both vendors provided offers to accept the City's existing chippers for trade-in value. The offers are
shown below:
Bidder City No. 617
Vermeer XL1800
City No. 731
Morbark M12R
Total of Trade-in
Offers
Rexco Equipment $29,000 $10,000 $39,000
Vermeer Iowa $30,000 $14,500 $44,500
The bid from Rexco for the Bandit 18XP Chipper with powered jack, spare tire, and a set of cutting
knives is the low bid and is acceptable for a total of $79,525. Rexco’s trade-in offers for the City’s two
chippers are acceptable. The total for the Bandit 18XP Chipper, with trade-ins, is $40,525.
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Cost for one Bandit XP18 Chipper $ 79,525
Funding is available for this purchase as follows:
Replacement fund for Vermeer 1800XLchipper $ 66,636
Trade-in 29,000
Available funds subtotal $ 95,636
Replacement fund for Morbark Chipper $ 48,193
Trade-in 10,000
Available funds subtotal $ 58,193
Total funds currently available for this purchase $153,829
ALTERNATIVES:
1. a) Award a contract to Rexco Equipment Inc. of Des Moines, IA as the acceptable low bidder for
the 2025 Bandit XP18 Chipper, with powered tongue jack, spare tire and knife set as bid for City
Bid No. 2025-079 for the total amount of $79,525; and,
b) accept Rexco’s trade-in offers for the City’s 2015 Vermeer 1800XL for $29,000, and the 2015
Morbark M12R for $10,000
2. Reject this bid.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Fleet Services and Parks and Recreation staff has evaluated the bids and trade-in offers and agree the
bid from Rexco Equipment Inc. of Des Moines for the 2025 Bandit 18XP will provide the City’s
forestry crew with an exceptional chipper at the best price. The trade-in offers for the City's two
chippers are also acceptable. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City
Council adopt Alternative No. 1 as described above.
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