Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to purchase transformers for the Division of Electricity using an informal competitive bidding process and waives the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code. The Purchasing Office has solicited formal bids to establish universal term contracts for the option to purchase transformers. However, there is not enough time to properly evaluate the bids and establish the contracts prior to the end of 2005. Due to the immediate need for replacement transformers to maintain the reliability of the city's electrical distribution system and for new customer installations, authorization is requested so that an informal bidding process may be used to obtain the required transformers. Purchase orders will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidders. The estimated cost for the required transformers is $60,000.
Emergency action is requested in order that the purchase orders may be established prior to the end of 2005 to meet the Division of Electricity's immediate need for replacement transformers.
FISCAL IMPACT: $80,000 was budgeted for the purchase of transformers in the 2005 Electricity Operating Budget. $351,827 was spent in 2003 and $179,484 was spent in 2004 from the Electricity Operating Fund and the Voted Street Lighting and Electricity Distribution Improvements Fund for the purchase of transformers.
Title
To authorize the Finance and Management Director to purchase transformers for the Division of Electricity; to waive the provisions of competitive bidding; to authorize the expenditure of $60,000.00 from the Division of Electricity Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($60,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Electricity, has an immediate need to purchase replacement transformers to maintain reliability of the city's electrical distribution system and for new customer installations; and
WHEREAS, there is insufficient time to properly evaluate and establish contracts for the option to obtain transformers based upon the formal bids received by the Purchasing Office; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the formal competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code to purchase transformers based upon an informal competitive bidding process; and
WHEREAS, emergency action is necessary to meet the Division of Electricity's immediate need for replacement transformers; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Electricity, in that it is necessary to purchase transformers for the immediate preservation of 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 be and is hereby authorized to purchase transformers for the Division of Electricity based upon informal competitive bids as may be received.
SECTION 2. Pursuant to Section 329.27 of the Columbus City Code, 1959, it is determined to be in the best interest of the City of Columbus that the provisions of Section 329.06 for competitive sealed bidding be and are hereby waived for this purchase.
SECTION 3. That to pay the cost of the aforesaid purchase, the expenditure of $60,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the Division of Electricity Operating Fund 550, Division Number 60-07, Object Level Three 6621, and is to be disbursed among OCA Codes as follows:
606723 $29,000.00
606749 $31,000.00
SECTION 4. 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.