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CONSIDERATION AND AWARDING OF BID 1718-15 FOR THE PURCHASE OF LOCAL REGISTER WATER METERS FOR THE LINE MAINTENANCE DIVISION.
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BACKGROUND: On August 24, 2017 bids were opened on Bid 1718-15 for local register water meters for the Utilities Line Maintenance Division. Funds have been budgeted in the fiscal year 2017-2018 (FYE 18) budget for these purchases.
In FYE 96, a committee comprised of Public Works staff and Division staff recommended standardizing specifications for turbine, compound and residential cold water meters due to the increasing costs associated with the difficulty of obtaining and storing repair parts, and purchasing water meters. The committee recommended acceptance of only Badger, Neptune and Sensus Technologies water meters in the annual cold water meter contract. This option allowed the Division to purchase and implement radio-read meter technology where practical. Local read meters must be physically read by a person. Radio read meters can be read by a receiving computer in a vehicle as it drives by each meter.
Although the radio-read meter technology has proven to be cost-effective for certain installations for the Meter Services section, the cost difference between local read registers and radio-read registers is substantial (approximately $116 per meter). Division staff installs local read water meters ranging in size from ¾” to 2” in residential developments, and replaces damaged meters, inaccurate meters, and meters exceeding design life on an annual basis. In FYE17, the Division installed 1,015 local read register water meters and 230 radio-read water meters.
DISCUSSION: Bid 1718-15 proposals were sent to seven (7) suppliers who sell water meters meeting City of Norman specifications and there were two (2) responses. The bid provides for the purchase, on an as-needed basis, of approximately 800 residential cold water meters beginning in FYE18; this bid also allows for purchase of small quantities or large size water meters. Bid prices increased on an average of 6% over the current contract amounts approved in FYE16 due to costs associated with enviro brass, fuel, and copper used in the manufacture of water meters.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that Bid 1718-15 be awarded to HD Supply Waterworks, Inc as the lowest and best bidder meeting specifications. Prices are listed on the attached bid tabulation. Funds are available Maintenance Supplies Meter Sets/Repairs (account in 031-5551-462.32-18), with $130,253 as an account balance for FYE18.