Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
MARCH 19, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: PARTS WASHER LEASING AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to execute Modification No. 4 to Contract No. PS7235000 with FRS Environmental, Inc., to continue to provide parts washer leasing and maintenance services, increasing the total Not-To-Exceed (NTE) contract value by $356,513.62 from $1,587,712.50 to $1,944,226.12, and extending the period of performance for the duration of one year, from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027.
Issue
ISSUE
The existing contract with FRS Environmental, Inc. is for the leasing and servicing of various types of cleaning stations, i.e., hot tanks, aqueous parts washers, and paint gun cleaners. The contract covers both the rental of such units, repairs, and scheduled maintenance, including fluid exchanges and is set to expire on April 30, 2026.
Background
BACKGROUND
The current contract was awarded in May 2021 in the amount of $1,443,375 for a base period of five years. This extension would provide continued service for a one-year period, allowing sufficient time to accomplish the following objectives: 1. Revise and strengthen the contract language to better align with and support the Authorities' operational needs. 2. Research and identify improved equipment options. 3. Provide additional prospective vendors with the opportunity to participate in a competitive bidding process. The current machines that have been provided were manufactured in Germany; replacement parts are not available anywhere in the US, rendering the wash tanks useless until parts are procured. A one-year extension provides ample time to source adequate replacements that are domestically produced and made with parts that are domestically sourced. Additionally, staff has added more machines throughout this contract, and several divisions have requested to increase the number of machines they currently employ.
Under the existing contract, parts washing services are performed throughout Metro Bus and Rail Maintenance facilities. The parts washers are used to remove dirt, grime, and grease from parts, tools, and equipment using aqueous (water or solvent-based) solutions. These units support the diverse production requirements of maintenance shops for both bus and rail operating divisions.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The Central Maintenance Shop (CMS) provides maintenance support to Metro’s extensive bus fleet and utilizes 33 of the 69 parts washers that shall be leased and maintained as part of this contract. Parts washer equipment is used at the CMS to support the operating divisions in completing engine repairs and replacements, transmission disassembly, rebuilding and replacement, major accident repair, complete bus painting, and the rebuilding of components for power plant assemblies. Bus and rail operating divisions also utilize parts washer equipment to support their daily maintenance requirements. The contract includes the lease of contractor-owned parts washing equipment, refilling these machines to their optimal level, removal and proper disposal of hazardous waste materials, and preventative maintenance of the units. Services are performed at various scheduled intervals depending on the requirements of each location.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
The use of hot tanks and aqueous parts washers ensures that components are thoroughly cleaned, allowing for detailed inspection of their suitability during the rebuild process. This helps ensure that the integrity of rebuildable parts is not compromised.
Paint gun cleaning stations are used to maintain paint guns in optimal operating condition. Proper maintenance supports correct paint adhesion, thereby enhancing the durability and longevity of painted surfaces.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding for this contract is included in the FY26 Budget in multiple cost centers in the amount of $89,128.41 under Service Contract Maintenance account 50308 and project 306002 including 3366-Central Maintenance Shops (CMS), 5430-Revenue Collection Equipment Maintenance, 3790-Maintenance Administration, 3601-Maintenance Division 1, 3503-Maintenance Division 3, 3805-Maintenance Division 5, 3707-Maintenance Division 7, 3508-Maintenance Division 8, 3609-Maintenance Division 9, 3513-Maintenance Division 13, 3515-Maintenance Division 15, 3818-Maintenance Division 18; 3942-Red Line, project 300044; and 3943-Green Line, project 300033. The cost center manager, project manager, Executive Director, and Maintenance will ensure that the balance of funds is budgeted in future years.
Impact to Budget
The current sources of funding for this action include Prop A, Prop C, Measure R, Measure M, TDA, STA, and SB1. These funding sources are eligible for bus and rail operations.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The benefits of this action are to ensure the bus fleet that serves most regions in Los Angeles County, including many underserved communities, is able to provide vital transportation services to neighborhoods where disparities within the region can exist between residents’ access to jobs, housing, education, health, and safety. Bus transportation provides an important lifeline for the residents in underserved communities, and the Metro bus maintenance programs ensure the proper State of Good Repair of the bus fleet to provide transportation for these underserved communities.
FRS Environmental, Inc. (FRS), a Small Business (SB) Prime, made a 100% Small Business Enterprise (SBE) commitment. Based on payments, the contract is 94% complete, and the current level of participation is 100% SBE.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through operational, equipment purchase, and maintenance activities that will improve fleet reliability as well as further encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The parts washer services support Strategic Goal 1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling. Proper cleaning of parts and components will help maintain the reliability of the bus and rail fleet and ensure that our customers arrive at their destinations on time, in accordance with the scheduled service intervals for Metro bus and rail operations.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The alternative would be to forgo the extension and immediately initiate procurement of a new five-year contract. This option is not recommended, as it would likely result in several months during which all bus divisions would be without parts-cleaning equipment and paint-gun cleaning materials.
Such a lapse in service would compromise the integrity and reliability of replacement parts, as well as the quality and durability of paint applications on buses and rail equipment.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will extend Contract No. PS7235000 with FRS Environmental Inc. to provide parts washer leasing and maintenance services.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - Contract Modification/Change Order Log
Attachment C - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by:
Tony Soler, Senior Manager, Equipment Maintenance, (213) 922-5899
Harold Torres, Senior Director, Equipment Maintenance, (213) 922-5714
Gary Jolly, Senior Executive Officer, Maintenance, (213) 9225-802
Mathew Dake, Deputy Chief Operations Officer (213) 922-4061
Debra Avila, Deputy Chief, Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 418-3051
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by:
Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer (213) 418-3034
