Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to establish a Universal Term Contract (UTC) for the option to purchase Carbon Dioxide with Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc. The Division of Water is the sole user of Carbon Dioxide. It is used as a recarbonation agent for potable water at all three (3) water treatment plants. The term of the proposed option contract would be approximately one year, expiring March 31, 2025, with the option to renew for one (1) additional year. The Purchasing Office opened formal bids on January 25, 2024. In addition, the expenditure of $1.00 is hereby authorized from General Budget Reservation BRPO002253.
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. RFQ026492). One (1) bid was received. This contract is bid for a period of three years, Items 1-3, with the forth item being safety training sessions. Vendor was unwilling to commit to firm pricing for years 2 and 3, therefore no award is made for those items.
The Purchasing Office is recommending award to the overall lowest, responsive, responsible and best bidder as follows:
Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., CC# 010025 expires 1/18/25, Items 1 and 4 Only, $1.00
Total Estimated Annual Expenditure: $945,000, Division of Water, the sole user
Emergency Designation: The Finance and Management Department respectfully requests this legislation to be considered an emergency ordinance because the current contract will expire March 31, 2024 and it is vital there is an uninterrupted supply of this product.
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 BRPO002253. City Agencies will be required to obtain approval to expend from their own appropriations for their estimated annual expenditures.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into a contract for the option to purchase Carbon Dioxide with Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc.; to authorize the expenditure of $1.00 from General Budget Reservation BRPO002253; and to declare an emergency. ($1.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the Carbon Dioxide UTC will provide for the purchase of carbon dioxide used as a recarbonation agent for potable water at all three water treatment plants; and
WHEREAS, the Purchasing Office advertised and solicited formal bids on January 25, 2024 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 to ensure continued and uninterrupted supply of this project, in that it is necessary to authorize the Finance and Management Director to immediately enter into a Universal Term Contract for the option to purchase Carbon Dioxide, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter into the following contract for the option to purchase Carbon Dioxide in accordance with Request for Quotation RFQ026492 for a term of approximately one (1) year, expiring March 31, 2025 with the option to renew for one (1) additional year, as follows:
Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., Items 1 and 4 Only, $1.00
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1.00 is hereby authorized from General Budget Reservation BRPO002253 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.