CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Sole Source Procurement 19-190, Three Floway Vertical Turbine Pumps, to Flow-Technics, Inc for an amount not to exceed $132,831
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DEPARTMENT: Water Utilities
SUBMITTED BY: Darrell Blenniss, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The South Waterworks site is responsible for distributing Lake Michigan water from the DuPage Water Commission into the City’s water distribution system. South Waterworks, originally constructed in 1987, requires improvements to the existing pumping equipment. All three pumps are showing significant signs of deterioration, as well as the valving and electrical equipment.
To prevent equipment failure and service interruption, the Water Utilities conducted RFP 19-155, South Waterworks Improvements, to hire a consultant to perform design engineering services and prepare the construction documents necessary to improve the facility. In March 2019, the City Manager approved the award of RFP 19-055 to Crawford, Murphy & Tilly (CMT). The South Waterworks improvements will include upgrades to the existing pumping equipment, variable frequency drives (VFD), instrumentation and controls, valves and piping, HVAC and the chlorine system
As part of the engineering services, CMT was responsible for evaluating various pump manufacturers, including Taco, Goulds, FlowServe and Floway. The pumps were evaluated for feasibility for the project based upon lead time, efficiency, discharge diameter, serviceability, cost and compatible pump and system curves. As a result of the evaluation, CMT recommended the use of Floway vertical turbine pumps.
DISCUSSION:
A sole source is requested for the purchase of three Weir Flow Control Floway vertical turbine pumps. Because the lead time for the pumps is 16-20 weeks, staff recommends purchasing the pumps in advance of hiring a contractor to perform the improvements so that the pump lead time does not delay the contractor. It is anticipated that the South Waterworks Improvements construction bid will be advertised during the summer.
The Water Utilities identified this purchase as a sole source because Weir Flow Control, the manufacturer, and Weir Group PLC, the owner of the proprietary pumping equipment, has a product distribution model that provides distributors with exclusive geographic territories. The regional sales manager is located Fresno, California and the distributor and municipal sales project representative operate out of Frankfort, Illinois.
If the Water Utilities could not purchase the Floway vertical turbine pumps from Flow-Technics, the consultant and Water staff would need to select alternative pumps, which are not the top choice according to the pump selection criteria stated above. In addition, the consultant will have to make major design revisions to model and specify different pumps, which will cost additional engineering fees.
CIP: WU07
Pump replacements are expensed to the infrastructure account listed below as part of the capital improvement program. A total of $950,000 is budgeted for miscellaneous improvements in 2019. The requested award is within budget.
|
Account Number |
Fund Description |
Total Budget Amount |
|
41251500-551502 |
Water & Wastewater |
$11,576,000 |