CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Sole Source Procurement 20-029, S&C Switchgear, to Weldy Lamont Group, Incorporated for an amount not to exceed $457,392 and for a one-year term
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DEPARTMENT: Electric Utility
SUBMITTED BY: Lucille Podlesny, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The Naperville electric power distribution system is currently comprised of 16 substations and 117 primary feeders. As part of an efficient and safe distribution and delivery system, a common industry practice is to install switches that allow customers to be connected to one of two or more redundant high voltage feeder lines. The Utility uses 600-amp, 2 and 3-way air insulated switches to connect customers to multiple primary feeder lines, without cross-connecting the feeders to each other.
The Utility has installed approximately 725 - 600-amp manual air switches and 113 automated (DA) air switches, provided by the S&C Electric Company in Chicago. These switches allow linemen to quickly isolate problem areas and to restore customer power by connecting them to a different supply line. Additionally, the air switches have replaceable fuses on the load side to reduce the number of customers affected by outages, which can be easily, quickly and safely replaced by Utility linemen.
DISCUSSION:
This sole source is requested to purchase an estimated quantity of twenty-two (22) 2-way and six (6) 3-way S&C manual air switch units to replace damaged switch units and address the needs of new construction for 2020. Due to storage issues and a 4-6 month lead time, items will be purchased as needed. This purchase includes a planned move to using stainless steel enclosures along highly traveled roadways instead of mild steel enclosures for longer life expectancy of the enclosures by reducing the effects of corrosion on the units due to road salt.
In March 1994, the City Council approved the sole source award of Contract 93-122 for pad-mounted switchgear and allowed for future switchgear costs with S&C Electric Company (S&C) to be negotiated, taking into account material, labor and non-labor production cost. The Utility performed an analysis in 2019 to review the reasons for the sole sourcing and looked at other manufactures with comparable units. Staff determined that the reasons for sole sourcing in 1993 were still valid. The Utility identified S&C as a sole source mainly due to the interoperability of parts and for familiarity for the lineman so each unit they approach is the same inside and out which helps during evening hours and inclement weather. Following the 2019 evaluation, the City Council approved the sole source award of Contract 19-117 for the purchase of S&C switches.
In the Northern Illinois region, Weldy Lamont Group, Inc. is the only company authorized to sell S&C Electric’s manual pad mounts and S&C supports the firm as a chosen partner for all Electric municipal customers. A sole source letter from the supplier is attached.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CIP#: N/A
Switches are expensed to the operating supplies account listed below. A total of $3,000,000 is budgeted for Electric Warehouse supplies in 2020. The requested award is within the budgeted amount for this expense.
|
Account Number |
Fund Description |
Total Budget Amount |
|
40101300-541407 |
Electric Utility |
$3,000,150 |