Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract for the application of diquat dibromide for root control with Duke’s Root Control Inc., for a term of three years in an amount not to exceed $439,484.
[Note: Sole source contracts are exempt from the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); therefore, no subcontracting goals were established].
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department.
Client Department(s)
Austin Water.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $85,455.00 is available in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating Budget of Austin Water.
Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Purchasing Language:
Sole Source.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department - Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
April 17, 2024 - Recommended by the Water and Wastewater Commission on a vote of 9-0 with Commissioners Navarro and Turrieta absent.
Additional Backup Information:
This contract will provide application of diquat dibromide (Razorooter II) for use in root control for approximately 50,000 linear feet of Austin Water wastewater mains annually. When tree roots grow inside wastewater lines there is the potential of clogging the lines and causing wastewater overflows. The application of Razorooter II is a preventative measure to help reduce sanitary sewer overflows.
Razorooter II is patented by the manufacturer Sewer Sciences Inc., and Duke’s Root Control Inc. is the only licensed applicator authorized to perform the application in Texas. There are no other comparable chemicals currently available in the market. The requested authorization amounts for this contract were determined using departmental estimates of planned treatments and historical spending.
A delay in contract approval could impact Austin Water’s ability to effectively remove tree roots from the City’s wastewater lines and increase the potential of these lines clogging as well as the possibility of wastewater overflows. The use of Razorooter II has proven to be an effective preventative tool in reducing sanitary sewer overflows.