Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus Division of Police (CPD), in collaboration with the Columbus City School District (CCS), was awarded FY2009 Secure Our Schools (SOS) grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) (Ordinance 0924-2010, passed 07/14/2010). The Secure Our Schools (SOS) Project focuses on improving the security in schools and on school grounds. CPD and CCS seek to improve the safety of the school building environment by expanding video surveillance technology into the District Schools. The collaborative application for enhancements to the current school camera security system includes the purchase of digital video recorders and interior and exterior cameras.
The City solicited a formal bid request for the purchase of the camera security system. Bids for digital video recorders and cameras were received at the end of April and beginning of May 2012. Bid prices for this equipment were much lower than anticipated. The grantor approved a budget modification to allow the Division of Police to purchase additional quantities of equipment based on the lower pricing. The Purchasing Office then negotiated with the lowest, most responsive bidders for the additional quantities in order to make full use of the grant funding. In order to procure the additional quantities, a bid waiver is necessary for these additional quantities. The bid waiver does not apply to the majority of the items being purchased, as these were solicitated in the competitive bid. This ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into the necessary contracts under provisions of Section 329.27 of Columbus City Codes, 1959, for the purchase of security equipment at a higher quantity than stated in the original bid.
BID INFORMATION: A formal bid process was completed for the purchase of a camera security system for the Columbus City School District. A bid waiver is necessary becaus...
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