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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Robert Leible, Superintendent of Water Production
DATE: March 25, 2024
SUBJECT:
A resolution authorizing the purchase of valve actuators from Dorner Company Inc. for the Water Production Division in the not-to-exceed amount of $569,163.00.
PURPOSE:
To obtain City Council authorization for the purchase of valve actuators from Dorner Company Inc. for installation and use at the City of Aurora Water Treatment Plant.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Aurora Water Treatment Plant filtration process operates continuously and is designed with numerous valves that control water flow through the process and also during the backwashing (cleaning) of each filter. The original plant design is comprised of eight filters, each which has seven valves for these processes. The plant underwent an expansion in 2002 which added four additional filters that are of a different design and were built with the valve actuator brand requested in this purchase.
A valve actuator is a mechanical/electrical component necessary for the automatic operation of each valve, i.e., opening, closing, or intermediate positioning. The valve actuators proposed for purchase will upgrade the current actuators on filters 2 - 7. Filter 1 was previously upgraded in 2023. The current actuators have been in service 32 years and are now obsolete, with limited availability of replacement/maintenance parts. In addition, the original actuators are no longer manufactured as original equipment (Henry Pratt), thus a new actuator make/model has been sourced to retrofit onto the existing valves.
The Water Production Division seeks to complete the retrofit upgrade with actuators manufactured by AUMA, a leading industry manufacturer of valve actuators. The four plant expansion era filters were designed and built with AUMA actuators, which are still in service today. Thus, the end result will be the standardization of valve actuators with the AUMA brand.
DISCUSSION:
Dorner Company Inc. (Dorner) is the sole source supplier for AUMA actuators in all markets in this area. AUMA has provided a confirmation letter of such (attached). In addition, Dorner is an AUMA certified service center and will provide the necessary services for complete installation, testing, and operational start up for the new actuators.
A proposal from Dorner to supply and install all valve actuators is attached in the amount of $569,163.00. Funding was approved for this purchase via CIP # I060 and is available in account 510-4058-511-73-08 from the 2024 fiscal budget.
Section 2-335 (a) (2) and (a) (3), Exceptions to Competitive Bidding, supports this purchase in the instances of both standardization with existing equipment and the acquisition of the subject equipment is possible only through a sole source.
The local vendor preference policy does not apply per Section 2-409 as this is a noncompetitive situation.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
None.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That a resolution authorizing the purchase of valve actuators from Dorner in the not-to-exceed amount of $569,163.00 be approved by the Mayor and City Council. It is further recommended that this matter be submitted to the Infrastructure and Technology Committee for review and recommendation.
cc: Infrastructure and Technology Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the purchase of valve actuators from Dorner Company Inc. for the Water Production Division in the not-to-exceed amount of $569,163.00.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Water Production Division seeks to purchase valve actuators for installation and use at the City of Aurora Water Treatment Plant from Dorner Company Inc. in a total amount not-to-exceed of $569,163.00; and
WHEREAS, Dorner Company Inc. is the sole source supplier for AUMA actuators in all markets in this area, AUMA has provided a confirmation letter of such; and
WHEREAS, budgetary authority is granted and funds are available in the 2024 fiscal budget via CIP # I060 in account 510-4058-511-73-08; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2-335 (a)(2) and (a)(3), in this situation the purchase is supported by standardization with existing equipment and the acquisition of the subject equipment is possible only through a sole source.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Purchasing Director be and is hereby authorized and directed to issue a purchase order for the purchase of valve actuators from Dorner Company Inc. in the not-to-exceed amount of $569,163.00 for the Water Production Division.