Report Prepared by: Lance Eber, Crime Analyst, Police
Title
SUBJECT: Approval to Waive the Competitive Bidding Requirements and Authorizing the Purchase of One (1) Mobile Incident Communication Vehicle with Farber Specialty Vehicles Through OMMNIA Partners not to Exceed Amount of $500,000 from the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Act Grant
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers authorizing to waive competitive bidding requirement pursuant to Merced Municipal Code Section 3.04.210 and approving procurement with Farber Specialty Vehicles through OMMNIA Partners’ multiyear competitively bid contract for a mobile incident communication vehicle not to exceed amount of $500,000 from the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Act Grant.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Waiving the City’s competitive bidding requirement as permitted by Merced Municipal Code section 3.04.210 and authorizing the purchases to be made with cooperative purchase agreements through OMMNIA Partners, a government procurement program; and,
B. Approving the purchase of one mobile incident communication vehicle from Farber Specialty Vehicles through OMMNIA Partners; and,
C. Authorizing the City Manager or Deputy City Manager to execute the necessary documents; and,
D. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make necessary budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to conditions as specified by the City Council; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer back to staff for reconsideration of specific items as requested by the Council; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Merced City Charter, Section 200. Municipal Code Section 3.04.210 - Exemptions from competitive bidding
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the FY 21/22 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
The Merced Police Department submitted a grant application for funding through the Proposition 64, The Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use Marijuana Act managed by the California Highway Patrol. The due date for the application was February 23, 2021. On May 19, 2021, the CHP notified the Merced Police Department that their grant application was approved. At the City Council meeting on July 6, 2021, City Council approved accepting the $573,636 grant.
One of the items approved in the grant application was a Mobile Incident Communication Vehicle with a budget of $500,000.
The grant is a reimbursement grant. Expenses are incurred and then requests for reimbursement are submitted on either a monthly or quarterly basis.
Section 3.04.210 of the Merced Municipal Code provides that the City Council can approve a waiver of the City’s competitive bidding requirements when such purchases are made pursuant to cooperative purchasing in conjunction with other governmental entities.
Staff requests waiving the bidding requirements to standardize equipment and use the government pricing contract.
OMMNIA Partners has been verified to comply with City of Merced formal procurement policies. This contract is made available to other government agencies through OMMNIA Partners, a national cooperative procurement organization for state and local government, K-12 education, colleges and universities.
The City currently uses various other OMMNIA Public Sector contracts to procure goods and services through other vendors including Amazon, Lowes, Fastenal, Office Depot, and Home Depot.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of fund is needed. The California Highway Patrol Cannabis Act Grant was approved by City Council on July 6, 2021. The approval included appropriation for a Mobile Incident Communication Vehicle and authorizing the use of pooled cash until reimbursement is received.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Quote for Mobile Incident Communication Vehicle