Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Waiver of Purchasing Policies and Approvve the Sole Source Purchase of a Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer RESOLUTION NO. 19-556 RESOLUTION APPROVING WAIVER OF PURCHASING POLICES AND APPROVE THE SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF A FURNACE ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETER FOR THE WATER AND POLLUTION CONTROL LABORATORY SERVICES DIVISION FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS,as a condition of its drinking water wand wastewater permits,the City of Ames is required to self-monitor for various heavy metal constituents and the equipment used to perform these analysis is an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, often referred to as an"AA"; and, WHEREAS, the machine operates by atomizing a small sample of the liquid being tested, and then measuring the absorption of light at specific wavelengths; and, WHEREAS, the AA consists of three individual components: (1) the Flame AA is able to detect metals in the parts per million (ppm) range; (2) the Graphite Furnace AA is able to detect metals in the parts per billion (ppb) range; and, (3) the Mercury Analyzer can detect mercury at exceptionally low, sub-ppb levels; and, WHEREAS, all three components were originally purchased in 1989 as part of the construction loan package when the Water Pollution Control Facility was constructed and when the current Laboratory was constructed in 2000, the Flame AA and Furnace AA were replaced; and, WHEREAS, the long-range Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the Sewer Fund includes a$150,000 allowance in FY 25/26 to replace all three components of the AA and that expense was accounted for in the ten-year rate projections that were shared with the Council previously; and, WHEREAS,recently a water line on the Furnace AA ruptured,damaging the device beyond repair; therefore, the Furnace AA requires replacement; and, WHEREAS,the Single Source provisions of the City's Purchasing Policies are being utilized for the following reasons: • Both the Flame AA and Furnace AA are controlled by the same computer and software. It is necessary for the new Furnace AA to be compatible. • Both the Flame and the Furnace units utilize hollow cathode lamps for each element. Having the new Furnace AA be capable of utilizing the existing lamps provides a cost savings of approximately$4,500 ($500 per lamp for 9 elements) • Having a unit that the Laboratory Analysts are familiar with avoids the need for costly and time consuming specialized training. WHEREAS,Agilent Technologies was identified as the most appropriate manufacturer and has provided a quote to replace the Furnace AA in the amount of$42,909.48; and, WHEREAS,staffwill divert aportion ofthe savings($50,000 ofthe approximately$158,000 savings) as a part of the mid-year budget amendments from the Primary Clarifier Drives Replacement Project to cover the cost of this replacement project. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the waiver of the Purchasing Policies and approving the Sole Source purchase of a new furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer from Agilent Technologies of Wilmington,Delaware,in the amount of$42,909.48, is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 22°d day of October, 2019. cr Diane . Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Betcher Seconded by: Beatty-Hansen Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Martin,Nelson Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 22"d day of October, 2019.