Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contract and issue purchase orders as needed with Bobcat Enterprises Inc. for the purchase of (2) Diesel Powered Tracked Skid Loaders with Attachments. This purchase will be made for the Department of Public Service, Division of Infrastructure Management.
The Division of Infrastructure Management will use the equipment to maintain and repair the streets and infrastructure throughout the City of Columbus. The City of Columbus, Fleet Management Division, approved the purchase of this equipment to replace equipment that has reached the end of its useful life.
The Purchasing Office advertised and solicited competitive bids in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to competitive bidding (Solicitation RFQ032680) through Vendor Services. The City received five bids for the (2) Diesel Powered Tracked Skid Loaders with Attachments on May 14, 2026 and they were tabulated as follows:
Company Name Bid Amount City/State Majority/MBE/FBE
Bobcat Enterprises Inc. $356,652.32 West Chester, OH Majority
Southeastern Equipment Co Inc. $313,754.00 Cambridge, OH Majority
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co Inc. $386,250.00 Park City, KS Majority
The Vernon Dell Tractor Sales Co $404,881.86 East Liverpool, OH Majority
Valve Industries Inc. $430,760.00 Woodland Park, NJ N/A
The award is to be made to Bobcat Enterprises Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible and best bidder for all lines of its bid of $356,652.32. The bid submitted by Bobcat Enterprises Inc. included an exception to replace foam filled tires with air filled tires-that was accepted and is detailed in the bid waiver below and attached to this ordinance. The lowest bid was deemed non-responsive because it did not meet the required specifications for this bid. The remaining bid amounts submitted were responsive and responsible, but were higher than the bid submitted by Bobcat Enterprises Inc.
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Bobcat Enterprises Inc.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for Bobcat Enterprises Inc. is CC004399 and expires on 11/18/2026.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted funds will be used to purchase this equipment from the Streets & Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704.
4. REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF FORMAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS
A request for waiver of the formal competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 is requested for this purchase so that the Division of Infrastructure Management can purchase the equipment during the current season to clear and maintain daily street and infrastructural operations to ensure public safety of those using the facilities.
5. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
The department requests emergency designation for this ordinance so this equipment can be put into service as quickly as possible to prevent interruption to, or disruption of, the City’s daily infrastructural operations.
Title
To amend the 2025 Capital Improvement budget; to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contracts with Bobcat Enterprises Inc. for the purchase of (2) Diesel Powered Tracked Skid Loaders with Attachments; to authorize the expenditure of up to $356,652.32 from the Streets & Highways Bond Fund to purchase the equipment; and to declare an emergency. ($356,652.32)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Division of Infrastructure Management, needs to purchase (2) Diesel Powered Tracked Skid Loaders with Attachments to maintain and repair the streets throughout the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, this purchase has been approved by the City’s Fleet Management Division; and
WHEREAS, the Purchasing Office received formal bids on May 14, 2026 for (2) Diesel Powered Tracked Skid Loaders with Attachments for the Division of Infrastructure Management; and
WHEREAS, the Purchasing Office received five formal bids; and
WHEREAS, one bidder was deemed non-responsive due to not meeting bid specifications; and
WHEREAS, Bobcat Enterprises Inc. submitted a bid in the amount of $356,652.32 for (2) Diesel Powered Tracked Skid Loaders with Attachments and is the lowest responsive and responsible and best bidder; and
WHEREAS, the submissions from the remaining three bidders were not considered the lowest responsive and responsible; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation in the Department of Public Service to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contracts with and to issue purchase orders to Bobcat Enterprises Inc. in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications of Solicitation Number RFQ032680 on file in the Purchasing Office; and
WHEREAS, funds are available in the Streets & Highways Bond Fund for this expense; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Finance and Management Director to enter into contracts with Bobcat Enterprises Inc. so this equipment can be put into service as quickly as possible to prevent interruption to, or disruption of, the City’s infrastructural daily operations, 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 2025 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / 530020 - 100000 / Street Equipment (Voted Carryover) / $1,311,031.00 / ($356,653.00) / $954,378.00
7704 / 530020 - 100027 / Street Equipment - Infrastructure Management / (Voted Carryover) / $397,639.00/ $356,653.00 / $754,292.00
SECTION 2. That City Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the formal competitive bidding requirements of City Code Chapter 329.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Finance and Management be and is hereby authorized to associate all General Budget Reservations resulting from this ordinance with the appropriate agreement with Bobcat Enterprises Inc. for the purchase of (2) Diesel Powered Tracked Skid Loaders with Attachments
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $356,652.32 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Street & Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 8. That for the reasons 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.