SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Authorize a purchase order (contract) to Water Specialists Technologies LLC of Sanford, FL in the annual amount of $190,000.00, with the option for two, one-year term extensions for the purchase of copper precipitant (TR-50) and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
Body
SUMMARY:
The City of Clearwater owns and operates three Water Reclamation Facilities (WRF) and must comply with regulatory requirements as set forth in the operating permits issued through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and/or FDEP Regulations. TR-50 is a copper precipitant that is used to maintain permit compliance for copper removal limitations in effluent discharged into receiving surface waters. The FDEP permitted effluent limit for copper is 3.7 parts per billion.
In accordance with City Code Section 2.564 (1)(b), Exceptions to Bidding, Water Specialists Technologies has been determined a sole source vendor for TR-50. They hold patent number 4,943,377 for Thio-Red, a method for removing dissolved heavy metals from waste oils, industrial wastewaters, or any polar solvent. Thio-Red is the primary ingredient in TR-50, and Water Specialists Technologies is the sole manufacturer of this product. Water Specialists Technologies does not currently have any other TR-50 distributors within the state of Florida. TR-50 was selected for use in 2006 after an extensive engineering study was undertaken to select the product best capable of allowing the City’s facilities to meet FDEP permit requirements, while not causing any toxicity, creating any chemical interaction side-effects, and being the most cost-effective.
This product has met all expectations and has performed very well. It has not exhibited any toxicity and has not created any chemical interaction related ill-effects. The plants have met the FDEP/USEPA copper limitation ever since the chemical began being used.
Water Specialists Technologies has held Clearwater’s discounted price for this chemistry at or below their distributors’ pricing for many years (see attached letter). The sole source letter also reflects our arrangement for the return of used totes, an offer that is not extended to any of their other customers.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
0421-01351-551000-535-000-0000 $80,000.00 FY16/17
0421-01351-551000-535-000-0000 $110,000.00 FY17/18
Sufficient funding is available in the Water & Sewer Utility Fund operating cost center 0421-01351, Wastewater Environmental Technologies Operations, in the amount of $80,000.00 to fund the current fiscal year’s cost of the contract. The funding for the remaining balance of $110,000.00 occurring in fiscal year 2018 will be included in the Water & Sewer Utility Fund recommended operating budget from the Public Utilities Director.
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A