HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Contract for repairs to WPC plant pumps RESOLUTION NO. 08-013
RESOLUTION WAIVING FORMAL BIDDING REQUIREMENTS AND
AWARDING CONTRACT FOR SERVICE TO REHABILITATE
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT PUMPS
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS,currently,there are 14 pumps at the Water Pollution Control Plant six in the raw
water pumping station and eight in the trickling filter pump station; and,
WHEREAS,these Fairbanks Morse-brand pumps are 18 years old,and three of them have failed
and are in need of repair; and,
WHEREAS,two of the pumps are raw water pumps,and the third pump is used to direct water
to the primary clarifiers or the trickling filters, depending on plant operation; and,
WHEREAS,all 14 pumps are needed to maintain plant operation during high-flow periods, so
repair work is necessary before spring rains begin; and,
WHEREAS,no local firms were asked to provide a quotation for repair work on the pumps due
to their large size and because Fairbanks Morse has a proprietary pump design,and the only authorized
Fairbanks Morse distributor in our geographic area is Zimmer&Francescon located in Moline,Illinois;
and,
WHEREAS,this company was asked to inspect the pumps and assess the repairs needed, and
it provided an initial quotation for pump repairs based on a verbal description of the problem before the
pumps were shipped to the Fairbanks Morse repair facility in Kansas City, KS; and,
WHEREAS,upon inspection after receiving the pumps, Fairbanks Morse determined that the
pumps needed significantly more work than originally anticipated by Zimmer&Francescon; and,
WHEREAS,because of the change in the scope of work being requested,Zimmer&Francescon
recused itself from the repair process, and staff submitted a formal Request For Proposals directly to
Fairbanks Morse; and,
WHEREAS,the proposal received back from Fairbanks Morse took exception to a number of
the City's terms and conditions, and substituted its own standard language with terms much more
favorable to itself; and,
WHEREAS,staff has discussed the proposed terms with Fairbanks Morse and was able to obtain
concessions on a number of the more problematic terms and conditions, however, the contractor was
unwilling to alter its "title and lien rights" language; and,
WHEREAS,accepting the manufacturer's standard"title and lien rights"language does present
some degree of risk,however,not proceeding with the necessary pump repairs comes with much more
certain risks to the City; and,
WHEREAS,even though the contract terms proposed by Fairbanks Morse are not favorable to
the City,it is staff s belief that they are the most favorable terms that the City can obtain and still allow
the work to be completed in a timely manner; and,
WHEREAS,funding for this unbudgeted repair is available from the WPC Plant Equipment CIP
project,using funds originally allocated for the digester boiler project($200,000),and the boiler project
is on hold as staff evaluates the effectiveness of modified maintenance procedures that may make the
boiler unnecessary.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames,Iowa,that
the waiver of formal bidding requirements is hereby approved, and a contract is awarded to Fairbanks
Morse of Kansas City,Missouri,in the amount of$74,697 for the repairs to three pumps for processing
wastewater at the Water Pollution Control Plant.
ADOPTED THIS 8t" day of January, 2008.
!�-14& A. VV' ��ry
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, May
Introduced by: Goodman
Seconded by: Mahayni
Voting aye: Doll, Goodman, Larson, Mahayni, Popken, Rice
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 8t' day of January, 2008.