Supply chain issues resulting from a worldwide pandemic slowdown in vehicle and parts production is forcing the City of Cambridge to look two years into the future as it considers its 2023 capital budget.
The Cambridge Fire Department wants to procure a replacement hybrid pumper truck over the next two years and had planned to include it in next year's budget. But with recommended lead times on truck orders coming in a 21 to 25 months before delivery, the city is being asked to commit to the purchase now.
The delay between order and delivery has been exacerbated by larger municipalities securing bulk purchases of 30 to 60 trucks and creating a longer queue for smaller departments, says a report headed to the city's audit and budget committee this week.
The replacement fire truck is part of a Co-operative Purchasing program through the Ontario Association of Municipalities (AMO) Local Authority Services (LAS), and Canoe Procurement Group of Canada and comes within budget at $958,540 USD for a vehicle from the Commercial Truck Equipment Company of Delta, BC.
The 2024 Capital Budget Forecast includes Fire Fleet Apparatus in the amount of $1,322,900 CAD.
Although payment won't be required until the truck is delivered in late 2024 or early 2025, staff is seeking pre-approval for the transfer of funds in next year's capital budget for one two options; a hybrid truck to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and one for a standard pumper truck.
