07-27-11 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dakota Supply Group submitted a bid of $572,059.16 for option A (drive -by) and $576,772.16 for option B (fixed- network). Ferguson submitted a bid of $565,362.78 for option A and $698,382.50 for option 13. The low bid for the drive -by system was Ferguson's bid while Dakota Supply Group submitted the low bid for the fixed- network system. The difference in price between the low fixed- network bid and the low chive -by bid is $11,409.36. Stafffeels the enhanced customer service capabilities available with the fixed- network system are worth the additional amount of money needed over the drive -by system price. Therefore, staff recommends that the City choose the Badger Galaxy fixed- network system submitted by Dakota Supply Group. Staff added two optional items to the specifications. The first item is for sump pump inspections in homes that could be potential inflow and infiltration contributors. Dakota Supply Group submitted a price of $533 per inspection and staff listed 1000 as the number of inspections so the total price is $5880. Staff is evaluating options for this item and may choose to opt out of paying for the inspections through this contract. A more inexpensive inspection may be possible. Staff will have further information on this option at the meeting. The other optional item is the replacement of the first valve if it goes bad during installation of the meter. If the valve fails the contractor will have to call the City to have the water shut off outside the home. Dakota Supply Group listed a price of $85.08 per valve they need to replace. Staff put a number of 200 for the estimated quantity so the total cost listed is $17,016. Staff is evaluating the cost of replacing the valves in -house for a cheaper price. In both cases the total price would be removed from the bid price quoted above for the Badger fixed - network system and the total cost would be $553,876.14. Additional costs would be the potential new price for sump pump inspections and the in -house price for changing the fast valve. That price will depend on the number of valves that need to be replaced. We will have a firm recommendation on these options at Wednesday's meeting. When staff first started looking into replacing our meter system, the fixed - network option was much more expensive than the drive -by option. Staff was given an estimate of about $750,000 for the fixed- network system a couple years ago. The technology has become less expensive and the vendors are pushing the fixed- network systems more now that they have established them as extremely customer service - oriented and dependable. The funds for the project have been budgeted for in the Water /Sewer Capital Replacement Budget. ($750,000 was the budgeted amount.) Staff recommends that we award the water meter replacement bid to Dakota Supply Group for Option B (fixed network system) in the base bid amount of 8553, 876.14. If we proceed at this time, the meter change out would be completed by March of 20I2.