Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to issue a purchase order to HM Company for commercial laundry equipment for use at the Fire Training Academy / Support Services Bureau / Laundry Room. There is a need within the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire, to replace the existing commercial laundry equipment that is beyond its useful life. The total cost of this purchase is $50,485.00, which includes the purchase, delivery, installation and on-site training of two (2) commercial washer-extractors and one (1) tumble dryer. This laundry equipment will be used for laundering all turnout gear which includes, but is not limited to, gloves, coats, coat liners and hoods, as well as some towels and Division of Fire uniforms.
Bid Information: The Division of Fire processed a request for proposal (RFQ004377) for commercial laundry equipment and bids were opened on March 2, 2017. Only one (1) bid received, from HM Company, and their bid was for an alternate brand of equipment (Huebsch) versus the specified brand (IPSO). The alternate product bid by Huebsch met all bid specifications on the tumble dryer, and also met bid specifications on the washer-extractors with one (1) exception. The Huebsch brand did not offer the steam capability which the specified IPSO brand offered on its washer-extractor. While the component of steam was built into the IPSO washer-extractor model specified, it was not a feature that the Division of Fire needed or was planning to utilize; it was simply a feature of the model specified. The exception of the steam feature on the Huebsch washer-extractor product is acceptable to the Division of Fire.
An award recommendation was made to award both line items to HM Company. The Division of Fire Support Services requests that the relevant formal bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code Chapter 329 be waived on Line Item 1 for the washer-extractors, as both the Division of Fire an...
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