New tower ladders for Chicago « chicagoareafire.com

New tower ladders for Chicago

Production has begun at E-ONE on the first of the new tower ladders on order for Chicago with so#142015

fire truck being built by E-ONE so #142015

E-ONE photo

thanks Danny

Tags: Chicago Fire Department, E-ONE so#142015, fire truck being built for Chicago, new tower ladders for Chicago

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30 Comments (and one trackback)

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#1 by David on May 9, 2018 - 4:34 AM

So Rosenbauer’s really bidding, now thats something I wouldn’t really expect, still as Bill said here, after all for them it’s business. Great to hear this though as this means that they’ll be probably open to any other contracts with Chicago from now on.
#2 by Marty Coyne on May 8, 2018 - 12:23 PM

Bill, 59 was ok. 71 has been in for warranty work at least 6 times already. 103 broke down before they could even leave the academy. They had to switch back. 94 is OOS for the second time already and going to Indiana for warranty work. Several of the others have had similar issues.
#3 by Bill Post on May 8, 2018 - 1:29 AM

Marty Coyne are you saying that Chicago has been having problems with the new engines being deliverd by E/One? When you were at Engine 70’s house a few weeks ago were they having problems with Engine 59’s new rig?

As far as Rosenbaur bidding on the new contract for Chicago, the contract can be potentially lucrative so they probably figure they have nothng to lose. Remember that despite the problems they had with the order for the squads they still completed it. They probably figure that engines, trucks, and tower ladders could be easier to build than the squads which were a real one-of-a kind custom order. There aren’t other places that normally run with a 2-piece Snorkel squad. The fact that Rosenbauer had to build their own version of the Snorkel was a challenge, so perhaps they feel it shouldn’t be as difficult to build relatively standard apparatus. Rosenbauer is the new kid on the block and so is Ferrara and both companies have been making some significant inroads the last few years.

Other than that I would also be really surprised if E/One doesn’t get the new contract. I would hope and expect that more then just two companies would submit bids but who knows?
#4 by Marty Coyne on May 7, 2018 - 9:54 PM

I’m surprised Rosenbauer is bidding. E-One will almost certainly will despite the lemons they’ve been delivering for engines.
#5 by Jay Feinberg on May 7, 2018 - 8:22 PM

Currently the only active bidders are E-One (Fire Service Supply) & Rosenbauer (Interstate)….
#6 by danny on May 6, 2018 - 7:31 PM

bill supposedly they want to have a fleet of the same manufacturer for ease of service and training
#7 by Bill Post on May 6, 2018 - 10:55 AM

Yes Danny I generally agree that E/One probably has the best chance of winning the contract and the rest was basically speculation on my part as what companies may or may not submit bids. Even though it appears that the contract will be a package deal where the city would like to award a contract for all three types of apparatus to one bidder, I can’t help what wonder if the each type of apparatus can be bid upon separately as having more then one type of apparatus on the same bid complicates thing a bit. The last time that Chicago asked for bids on engines and trucks around 2008/2009, they were separate contracts. I’ve mentioned the bidding for trucks in 2009 was drawn out for almost a year. It was based on more than price as E/One was supposedly the lowest bidder but they didn’t win the contract.
#8 by Danny on May 6, 2018 - 4:58 AM

Bill post I’d seriously doubt that Rosenbauer would bid due to the lengthy process and all the shenanigans that went on with the squad contract. I don’t think seagrave has been anything in the City of Chicago since they built those trucks in the early to mid nineties and that thing with Pierc, and I don’t know if that still is in play or not but based on the fleet currently I don’t think they would go back to Pierce either. In all likelihood it most likely will be E1 unless somebody comes in in a whiles them and can do it better and cheaper
#9 by Rich S. on May 5, 2018 - 5:21 PM

I truly hope that E-One wins the bids for all 3 Pumpers, Trucks and Aerial Tower we have had great rigs from E-One in the past and these new ones are no different.
#10 by Craig Mack on May 4, 2018 - 11:07 AM

Tower 21 is in the open cab spare tower until they get one of these new towers. They’ve been in it for months. The HME is O.O.S
#11 by Bill Post on May 3, 2018 - 8:41 PM

It will be interesting to see who actually submits bids for the new rigs because the city began advertising for the bids on March 9th, and by the time the bidding is set to begin it will have been 3 months for manufacturers to have known about it.
By calling for three types of apparatus in one bid it definitely complicates things. What if the city likes a manufacturer’s design for engines but not trucks?
There is little doubt that E/One has an advantage as they have been building engines and tower ladders for Chicago.
In 2009 which is the last time Chicago asked for bids on trucks, the city ended up rejecting the first two rounds and asked for a third round nearly a year after the initial bids. By that time there were only four manufacturers still interested; Ferrara, Spartan/Erv, Pierce, and E/One. E/One was the lowest bidder and Spartan/Erv was the second highest bidder yet Chicago chose Spartan/Erv. I personally suspect that because most of Chicago’s engines were Spartan/Erv or it’s predecessors’, the city selected Spartan/Erv trucks to simplify things by having most of their rigs from the same builder. Unless the manufacturers will be allowed to bid on each type of rig separately, I would really be surprised if E/One isn’t the favorite and awarded the new contract. I would expect to see Rosenbauer submit a bid since Chicago has purchased apparatus from them recently. I would be surprised if Seagrave submits a bid as they seem to be priced out of the market and I would also be surprised if Pierce submits a bid because there seems to be some bad blood between Pierce and Chicago. I would expect Ferrara to bid on the new apparatus and Spartan/Erv of course. I wonder if KME will bid? They have landed some pretty significant contracts with large departments including New York City, Los Angeles City and County, and Atlanta.
Even though the REV Group owns E/One, Ferrara, and KME they each operate independently. It will be interesting to see if all three submit bids.
#12 by Aidan Hughes on May 3, 2018 - 2:20 PM

It would be great to see Tower 5 and Tower 21 get new rigs. Tower 21 still has a 1996 HME 102’and the only one in frontline service. Tower 5 needs a new rig too because the 2000 American LaFrance 100’ RM needs a replacement. Where is Truck 47’s Spartan as of now?
#13 by Bill Post on May 3, 2018 - 10:41 AM

Danny I found an addendum that officially postponed the bid opening date from April 30 to June 8th.
Thanks again.
#14 by Bill Post on May 3, 2018 - 10:15 AM

Danny thanks for the information. Where does it say the bids will open June 8th because from what I read the dates were in March and toward the bottom on some pages near the end the city needed information that was good as of 4/30/2018
#15 by danny on May 3, 2018 - 2:14 AM

bids open June 8th for apparatus
line 1 – CREW CAB CHASSIS AERIAL TOWER LADDER
line 2 – CREW CAB CHASSIS 100 FT AERIAL LADDER
line 3 – CREW CAB CHASSIS WITH TRIPLE COMBINATION PUMPER

https://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/dps/ContractAdministration/Specs/2018/Spec410835.pdf
#16 by Marty Coyne on May 2, 2018 - 9:27 PM

Well I was in the firehouse there for a shift last week and they’re running a spare with no idea when their regular rig will get back.
#17 by Aidan Hughes on May 2, 2018 - 1:36 PM

My friend told me Truck 47 must have been back in service a few weeks ago
#18 by Marty Coyne on May 2, 2018 - 12:48 PM

As of last week Truck 47 was still in a spare.
#19 by Austin on May 2, 2018 - 11:06 AM

Is tower 21 still running that HME/LTI truck? If they are that needs to be replaced, its from something like ’96 or ’97. Hopefully they will get a new one soon.
#20 by Aidan Hughes on May 2, 2018 - 10:20 AM

I believe Truck 47’s Spartan is back in service already but I’m not sure. The new tower ladders are likely going to Tower 5 and Tower 21.
#21 by Marty Coyne on May 2, 2018 - 4:56 AM

Bill the two towers show as add ons to the Galveston order. The 137′ is not on the contract that’s posted online
#22 by Bill Post on May 2, 2018 - 3:57 AM

That’s interesting news. I would suppose that the tower ladders and the 137-foot ladder are coming from the Houston/Galveston area fire apparatus consortium which is where the previous 3 E/One tower ladders were purchased from.
Eventually Chicago will have to start asking for bids on new trucks and engines but who knows? This fire apparatus consortium in Texas seems to be working at least for purchasing the tower ladders.
The CFD is still using 4 of the 2000 E/One 100-foot ladders as frontline rigs and they are older then the Pierces from 2001/2002.
I wonder if they are installing a new cab on Truck 47’s Spartan/Erv which has been out of service for a year and a half. It was involved in a head on collison on Ridge north of Devon. I thought they would be getting a new cab, however it is taking so long that perhaps they are declaring it a total loss. If that is the case it is a shame since the rig was not more then a couple of years old. During the past year Truck 47 has been running with older spares.
#23 by Marty Coyne on May 1, 2018 - 11:09 PM

I don’t doubt you, just curious where the city did it’s contract shenanigans this time.
#24 by danny on May 1, 2018 - 10:01 PM

i heard the 137 ft from a reliable source
#25 by Marty Coyne on May 1, 2018 - 9:33 PM

Where did they stick the 137′? It’s not on the joint contract with the towers.
#26 by Michael M on May 1, 2018 - 8:12 PM

Interesting photo of the cab on it’s roof! Looking forward to the three trucks coming to life. My guess is one of the new tower ladders will go to tower 5?
I am guessing the 137ft truck will go to either 1 or Truck 3?
#27 by Branden Phillips on May 1, 2018 - 7:10 PM

I assume the 137′ will have a prepiped waterway and be a replacement for aerial tower 1? Also are there any plans to replace the older pierce sticks? Would love to see some e-one metro 100s in the city.
#28 by John Antkowski on May 1, 2018 - 6:51 PM

That’s cool looking forward to seeing those come to life!
#29 by Josh on May 1, 2018 - 6:29 PM

2 tower ladders and 1 CR 137’ RM. all on E-One Cyclone ll
#30 by Rich on May 1, 2018 - 12:28 PM

How many are they getting