Title
Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund Funding for GPD Helicopter Upgrade (B)
Explanation
GPD participates in the Joint Aviation Unit with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) and has operated a military surplus 1968 Hughes OH-6 helicopter for the past twelve (12) years. Replacement parts needed to keep this helicopter operational are now obsolete and anticipated maintenance costs through 2011 are projected to exceed $175,000. Based on recommendations from the Joint Aviation Unit Maintenance Technician, GPD's contract flight trainer Scott Lunsford, and projected maintenance costs, GPD requested and received a military surplus 1970 Bell OH-58 helicopter in July 2006. This helicopter is the same type operated by ACSO, which will standardize the helicopter fleet for the Joint Aviation Unit and simplify maintenance and training.
The Bell OH-58 helicopter will require a replacement C-20 engine at a cost of $99,600.00. It will also require maintenance and equipment upgrades with a projected cost of $128,127.99, for a total of $227,727.99 before this helicopter can be used operationally. The maintenance work will include overhauling the transmission, mast assembly and main rotor, and the equipment upgrades will include painting, avionics and installation of law enforcement radios and equipment.
In July 2007, the 1968 Hughes OH-6 helicopter was sold for $156,526.51. Coastal Helicopters, Inc. (the suggested vendor for the OH-58 helicopter upgrade) will give GPD a $40,000.00 credit for eight (8) used C-18 helicopter engines. This model of helicopter engine cannot be used in GPD's Bell OH-58 helicopter. The engines have little or no commercial value since their useful flight-hour life has been expended. With the $40,000.00 credit applied to the cost of the new engine, maintenance and upgrades for the 1970 Bell OH-58 helicopter, the actual cost to place this helicopter into operation will be $187,727.99. The net cost to the City after the sale of the Hughes OH-6 helicopter is $31,201.48. The replacement of the Hughes OH-6 helicopter with the Bell OH-58 model will standardize the helicopter fleet for the Joint Aviation Unit and will also standardize maintenance and training.
Vendor Source Selection: Coastal Helicopters, Inc. specializes in the maintenance, upgrade and repair of military surplus helicopters, specifically the Bell OH-58. This company is an FAA certified repair station for airframe, powerplant, and accessory work. Coastal Helicopters, Inc. has an established record with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office in providing maintenance and service for their helicopters in the Joint Aviation Unit. Coastal Helicopters, Inc. provides high quality work on military surplus helicopters for law enforcement agencies throughout the Southeast United States and Caribbean. Therefore, staff is requesting commission approval to contract with Coastal Helicopters, Inc. as the specified source for this work.
The Public Safety Committee discussed the funding for this item at its August 16, 2007 meeting. The Committee approved the funding for this item to proceed to the City Commission.
Fiscal Note
Funds for this expenditure are available in the Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund and is allowable per Federal 21 U.S.C. ยง 881, found in the U.S. Department of Justice "A Guide to Equitable Sharing of Federally Forfeited Property for State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies." The balance in this account is $1,122.434.00.
Recommendation
The City Commission approve the appropriation of $187,727.99 from the Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund for the upgrade of GPD Bell OH-58 helicopter and authorize the use of Coastal Helicopters, Inc. as the specified source for the maintenance, upgrade and engine replacement work.
Alternative Recommendation A: The City Commission disapprove the funds for the upgrade of the Bell OH-58 helicopter, which would ground GPD's helicopter program.
Alternative Recommendation B: None.