Ventura County Signs Intergovernmental Support Agreement with U.S. Navy

(Ventura, Ca) The County of Ventura and the United States Navy have signed an Intergovernmental Support Agreement for large vehicle maintenance and repair to be provided by the County of Ventura General Services Agency (GSA) Fleet Services. The agreement came after years of effort and negotiation.

“This is an exciting partnership for both the US. Navy and the County of Ventura,” said Christopher Melton, Deputy Director–Fleet Services. “The Navy will have their vehicles repaired locally by our expert technicians at a cost-effective rate, while GSA will increase facility utilization and reduce the Navy’s cycle time for vehicle repairs at the same time. This means that their vehicle fleet will be more ready and better able to respond in the event of an emergency, which is a shared goal. Our Fleet technicians are very excited about this agreement and the opportunity it represents.”

Partnership between the county and the federal government (in the form of the US Navy) is a first of a kind in the State of California. Only a few of these even exist around the country. Now that this agreement is in place, the possibility to do more business with other federal agencies is open.

“By bringing in federal vehicles and increasing our overall volume, this means we, at GSA Fleet Services, can reduce our costs across all vehicles because we charge rates that include overhead,” explains Melton.

This agreement allows the U.S. Navy to send heavy equipment and fire trucks to the main GSA Fleet Services facility in Saticoy, California, which has better proximity to the Navy Base in Port Hueneme than vendors previously utilized for vehicle repairs. By implementing the IGSA, it is expected that the U.S. Navy will experience a cost and time savings in repairing their equipment locally.

GSA’s Fleet Operations is responsible for the specification writing, purchase and acquisition, repair, modification, up-fitting and component installation, body and paint services, full parts department, disposal of vehicles and remarketing, and maintenance of over 1,800 vehicle and equipment, as well as the purchase, installation and maintenance of auxiliary equipment. Services are provided at a rate below like services in the private sector. The fund is self-sustaining by collecting revenues for all services provided. Fleet Operations also “life cycles” vehicles and equipment by managing for replacement funding as part of asset management.

Funds are managed and collected monthly over the life of a vehicle to provide adequate resources to purchase a replacement when the service life is over. The Fleet Operations works with departments to develop specifications, life cycles and awards.

GSA Fleet Services was named to the top spot of the National Association of Fleet Administrators 100 Best Fleet Awards, claiming the number one position over 38,000 public fleets in North and South America in 2016. They have also been named as a top 50 Leading Fleet by the American Public Works Association and Government Fleet magazine and have received the National Association of Fleet Administrators’ Sustainability Award.

GSA Fleet Services prides itself on the professionalism and training of their staff, earning the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence nine consecutive years. Having an experienced and award-winning Fleet operation close to NBVC is an opportunity recognized by both sides.

To learn more about GSA Fleet Services, click here.