Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus City Council passed Ordinance number 0505-2005 on April 25, 2005 for the Division of Water to purchase soda ash, a water treatment chemical. This was bid waiver legislation due to vendors not submitting bids because the division cannot guarantee a purchase, since soda ash is used as a backup chemical. Funds were certified for the Hap Cremean Water Plant with a vendor chosen by criteria of lowest cost among those willing to sell to the division. Since soda ash and caustic soda can be interchanged, the division would like to establish funds, for soda ash, for the Dublin Road Water Plant, since it is cheaper than caustic soda, which the plant is currently using. Bonded Chemicals was chosen as the vendor of lowest cost , therefore, the Division of Water would like to enter into a contract with Bonded Chemicals, for soda ash, in the amount of $1,897,860.00, for the Dublin Road Water Plant, and to waive the provisions of competitive bidding. The Contract Compliance number for Bonded Chemicals is 61-1162384. They do not have certified MBE/FBE status.
It is requested that this Ordinance be handled in an emergency manner, as the division would like to purchase soda ash instead of liquid caustic soda, which is more expensive.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Division of Water has allocated $8,874,786.00 for chemicals in the 2005 Budget. This is one of several pieces of legislation for chemicals for this year.
$293,760.00 was encumbered for soda ash in 2004.
$1,842,390.20 was encumbered for soda ash in 2003.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract, for soda ash, with Bonded Chemicals, for the Division of Water, to waive the provisions of competitive bidding, to authorize the expenditure of $1,897,860.00 from Water Systems Operating Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($1,897,860.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council passed Ordinance number 0505-2005 on April 25, 2005 for the Division of Water to purchase soda ash, and
WHEREAS, this was bid waiver legislation due to vendors not submitting bids because the division cannot guarantee a purchase, since soda ash is used as a backup chemical, and
WHEREAS, the legislation allowed the division to set aside funds, to be transferred into a Purchase Order with a vendor to be chosen by criteria of lowest cost among those who are willing to sell, and
WHEREAS, Bonded Chemicals was the chosen vendor and the Division of Water would like to enter into a contract with Bonded Chemicals, for the Dublin Road Water Plant, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Water, Department of Public Utilities, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract, with Bonded Chemicals, for soda ash, in an emergency manner, as the division wants to purchase soda ash instead of liquid caustic soda, which is more expensive, for the immediate preservation of 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 Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract, with Bonded Chemicals, for soda ash, for the Division of Water, Department of Public Utilities.
Section 2. That it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the provisions of Section 329.06 of the Columbus City Code, 1959 and such provisions are hereby waived.
Section 3. That the expenditure of $1,897,860.00 or as much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized from Water Works Fund 600, Department 60-09, OCA Code 602417, Object Level One 02, Object Level Three 2204, to pay the cost thereof.
Section 4. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is 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.