Item 6G. Snow Groomer Purchase

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO: 1) REJECT BID FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE (1) SNOW GROOMER FROM PRINOTH, LLC OF ST. PETER, MN; 2) AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF ONE (1) SNOW GROOMER FROM KASSBOHRER ALL TERRAIN VEHICLES, INC. OF JORDAN, MN IN THE AMOUNT OF $423,000 WITH FUNDING FROM THE HYLAND HILLS FUND BALANCE.

Prepared By: Doug Berens, Director of Maintenance and Eric Quiring, General Counsel

Background:

Bids were opened Wednesday, March 27 for the purchase of one (1) snow groomer to replace one of the existing groomers at Hyland Hills Ski Area. Two bids were received:

Vendor	Make & Model	Bid Amount	Notes
			1% discount if paid
Prinoth, LLC	Prinoth, Bison X	$385,000	within 20 days
Kassbohrer All Terrain	Pisten Bully 400 Park		No discount if paid
Vehicles, Inc.	Pro	$423,000	within 20 days

The Minimum Technical Specifications included in the bid documents called for a Pisten Bully 400 Park Pro, or equivalent model, with an itemized list of several required accessories, attachments, production features, parts and service.

The Specifications required “hydraulic transport tines for moving snow guns and terrain park equipment.” Hydraulically operated transport tines (forks) are a standard feature built into the Pisten Bully blade and are used on a near daily basis for moving, switching out, and resetting terrain park features. Prinoth does not offer built-in hydraulic transport tines. Prinoth offered to provide an after-market attachment without any specifications as to manufacturer, how it would attach, or weight capacity. The Prinoth attachment would have to be attached to the blade and removed each time the forks were needed, whereby increasing the time necessary to perform the work.

The Minimum Technical Specifications also required “AutoTrace Tiller automatic tiller steering.” The AutoTrace feature in the Pisten Bully automatically adjusts (steers) the tiller attachment to follow behind the groomer when cornering or when grooming on cross slopes in order to cover the groomer tracks. Prinoth does not offer this feature. Besides operating the blade and watching what’s going on in front of the groomer, the operator would have to steer the tiller to follow the groomer.

The Specifications also required “24/7 local availability of parts and service.” Time is of the essence when service and/or parts are needed to keep the equipment operating. Kassborer All Terrain Vehicles, the Pisten Bully dealer, is located in Jordan, MN; 20 miles from Hyland Hills where they have an inventory of parts and a mechanic shop. They have four mechanics that work in the shop as well as on the road. Prinoth parts are available in St. Peter, MN; 55 miles from Hyland Hills. They do not have a shop, rather, they have two mechanics that work on the road covering the Midwest.

For the aforementioned reasons, staff’s opinion is that the Prinoth Bison X does not meet the Minimal Technical Specifications required by the Park District, and as called out in the bid documents. In determining the lowest responsible bidder, the Board may exercise reasonable discretion by considering, in addition to the bid price, the quality, suitability, and adaptability of the equipment to be purchased for the use for which it is intended. Accordingly, staff recommends rejecting the bid from Prinoth and awarding a contract to Kassbohrer All Terrain Vehicles, Inc. in the amount of $423,000 with funding from the Hyland Hills fund balance.

Relationship to the System Plan:

The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:

Goal 2: Parks Matter