Posting Language
Title
Authorize a contract for cold-water meters for Austin Water with Thirkettle Corporation d/b/a Aqua-Metric Sales Company, for an initial term of one year with up to two one-year extension options for a total contract amount not to exceed $6,000,000. Funding: $900,000 is available in Austin Water’s Operating Budget. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department.
Client Department(s)
Austin Water.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $900,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Water.
Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Purchasing Language:
Multiple contractors within this cooperative purchasing program were reviewed for these goods. The Financial Services Department determined this contractor best meets the needs of Austin Water to provide these goods required for the City.
MBE/WBE:
Cooperative Agreement 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.
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:
January 15, 2025 - Recommended by the Water and Wastewater Commission on a 10-0 vote with one vacancy.
Additional Backup Information:
The contract will provide various types and sizes of cold-water meters for Austin Water to install throughout the water distribution system. These meters work with the Advanced Meter Infrastructure system, which is necessary to measure usage and flow within the City’s water distribution system to establish revenue billing.
The contract will replace multiple current contracts, expiring December 31, 2024 through June 9, 2025, for the same goods. The requested authorization amount was determined using departmental estimates based on historical spending. The contractor is currently the provider of these goods.
The Houston-Galveston Area Council is a cooperative purchasing association recognized under Texas procurement statutes. Cooperative associations, themselves or using a lead government, competitively solicit and award contracts that are eligible for use by other qualified state and local governments. Due to their substantial volumes, larger than any one government could achieve independently, cooperative contracts routinely include superior terms, conditions, and pricing. Use of cooperative contracts also results in lower administrative costs and time savings.
A delay in contract approval could impact the City’s ability to monitor the water distribution system.