The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) is looking for leasing strategy recommendations for its City-wide fleet of 13,500 light-, medium-, and specialty-duty vehicles, specifically sedans and hybrid vehicles, light‐duty trucks, SUVs (4x4, 2x4, etc.) and vans under 14,000 lbs. GVW. The City has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for planning purposes, and a City representative stated that there is not currently a Request for Proposal (RFP) out at this point.

According to City documents, the purpose of the RFI is to determine the interest and capabilities of respondents to the RFI to lease the vehicle types specified above through a finance-lease model where a vendor would purchase and then lease back vehicles to the City. The RFI requests information about ways to reduce costs, of leased and owned vehicles, without negatively affecting services and still reducing carbon emissions and overall environmental impact. It also asks for information about other potential scenarios for ways to manage the City fleet.

The leasing program would cover preventative maintenance, safety inspections, and regular maintenance of City fleet vehicles. It would also require regular reporting to ensure the City’s fleet meets safety and environmental standards, City documents stated.

The City is not including a number of types of vehicles and equipment in this RFI, for example Medium and heavy trucks such as: stock, stakes, dumps, vans, truck tractors, ambulances; specialty equipment such as pavers, asphalt spreaders, snow melters; light-duty utility trailers, horse trailers, platform trailers (level deck, drop deck, and tilt deck), dry van trailers, house/office trailers, and specialized trailers (lab, command center, communication); shop/warehouse equipment such as: forklifts, hoists, transport dollies, generators; and lawn mowers and similar small motorized equipment, motor cycles, ATVs, boats, etc.