Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to establish a Universal Term Contract (UTC) for the option to purchase Liquid Chlorine with JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc. The Division of Water is the sole user of liquid chlorine used as a disinfection agent at two City of Columbus Water Plants. The term of the proposed option contract would be approximately one year, expiring March 31, 2024, with the option to renew for one (1) additional year. The Purchasing Office opened formal bids on January 12, 2023. In addition, the expenditure of $1.00 is hereby authorized from General Budget Reservation BRPO002025.
The Purchasing Office advertised and solicited competitive bids in accordance with the relevant provisions of Section 329 relating to competitive bidding (Request for Quotation No. RFQ023672). Two (2) bids were received. This contract is bid as a three year contract and asks for firm pricing for each year. The apparent low bidder, Alexander Chemical Corp., was deemed non-responsive as their prices were only held firm per calendar quarter. The second low bidder only offered firm pricing for the first year due to volatile markets, so award is only for one year and a new bid will be done for a new contract term at the end of 2023.
The Purchasing Office is recommending award to the overall lowest, responsive, responsible and best bidder as follows:
JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc., CC# 000795 expires 1/12/25, Items 1 and 4 only, $1.00
Total Estimated Annual Expenditure: $930,000, Division of Water, the sole user
Emergency Designation: The Finance and Management Department respectfully requests this legislation to be considered an emergency ordinance because it is necessary to establish a reliable supply of this product used in water treatment.
The company is not debarred according to the Excluded Party Listing System of the Federal Government or prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State Unresolved Findings for Recovery Certified Search.
FISCAL IMPACT: The expenditure of $1.00 is hereby authorized from General Budget Reservation BRPO002025. City Agencies will be required to obtain approval to expend from their own appropriations for their estimated annual expenditures.
Title
To authorize the Finance and Management Director to enter into a contract for the option to purchase Liquid Chlorine with JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc.; to authorize the expenditure of $1.00; and to declare an emergency. ($1.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the Liquid Chlorine UTC will provide for the purchase of chlorine used as a disinfection agent at two (2) City of Columbus Water Plants; and,
WHEREAS, the Purchasing Office advertised and solicited formal bids on January 12, 2023 and selected the overall lowest, responsive, responsible and best bidder; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Finance and Management Director to enter into a Universal Term Contract for the option to purchase Liquid Chlorine that in order to ensure a continued supply of this material necessary for water treatment, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Finance and Management Director is hereby authorized to enter into the following contract for the option to purchase Liquid Chlorine in accordance with Request for Quotation RFQ023672 for a term of approximately one (1) year, expiring March 31, 2024, with the option to renew for one (1) additional year, as follows:
JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc., Items 1 and 4 only, $1.00
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1.00 is hereby authorized from General Budget Reservation BRPO002025 of this ordinance to pay the cost thereof.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That for the reason stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.