File #: 20-1010    Version: 1
Type: BID, RFP, RFQ, COOP, SOLE SOURCE, OPTION YEAR Status: Passed
File created: 8/27/2020 In control: City Council
On agenda: 9/15/2020 Final action: 9/15/2020
Title: Approve the award of Sole Source Procurement 20-310, Schweitzer Engineering Equipment, to Schweitzer Engineering Labs for an amount not to exceed $312,000 and for a 15-month term
Attachments: 1. SEL Sole Source Letter
CITY MANAGER AUTHORITY PROCUREMENT AWARDS

ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Sole Source Procurement 20-310, Schweitzer Engineering Equipment, to Schweitzer Engineering Labs for an amount not to exceed $312,000 and for a 15-month term
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DEPARTMENT: Electric Utility

SUBMITTED BY: Lucille Podlesny, Director

BACKGROUND:
Schweitzer Engineering Labs, Inc. (SEL) designs, manufactures, and supports digital power meters, protective relays and communications equipment for protection of Electric Utility (Utility) substation and distribution assets used in substation applications. One of the many on-going projects is the upgrade of electromechanical relays and meters to digital relays which provide improved protection of Utility equipment and a safer work environment. SEL contracts all material in this region through their distributor A Star Electric.

SEL and A Star Electric believe that all customers and businesses should receive the same pricing. Because of this philosophy, the Utility receives the same direct pricing that A Star Electric and other competitors receive. In the past, the Utility has had difficulty obtaining quotes from competing vendors because doing so would reveal the vendor markup thus causing competitive harm.

In addition to supporting their products through warranty, SEL application engineers also provide engineering support free of charge. Due to the size of the Utility, having subject matter experts in every field is not possible, and as a result, the Utility has looked to SEL for guidance and they have always been able to assist.

DISCUSSION:
This sole source is requested for a 15-month term from date of award to December 31, 2021. This request will be used by the Utility warehouse to stock all relays and meters that are needed by the Utility throughout the term. The Utility has standardized on the equipment from Schweitzer Engineering to facilitate coordination and interconnection of the equipment within a substation and to al...

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