Title
Liquid Copper Sulfate - Request for Award (Ordinance S-47711)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to ratify existing purchase orders and enter into an agreement with TR International Trading Company to provide liquid copper sulfate as an emergency alternative product to acidified copper sulfate used for water treatment. Further request to authorize execution of amendments to the agreement as necessary within the Council-approved expenditure authority, and for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. The expenditures will not exceed $192,111.
Report
Summary
The purpose of this agreement is to purchase liquid copper sulfate as an alternative product to acidified copper sulfate for the Water Services Department (WSD) Water Production Division's 24th Street and Val Vista Water Treatment Plants (WTPs). During the warmer summer months (May through October), the WTPs normally use acidified copper sulfate crystals to suppress algae growth in treated water. Algae growth is primarily triggered by the high summer temperatures and sun exposure.
WSD has an existing agreement with Chemrite, Inc. (Agreement 153960) to provide acidified copper sulfate. On April 20, 2021, Chemrite, Inc. notified WSD that acidified copper sulfate was no longer available in the marketplace due to shortages of key raw materials. In response, WSD determined that it would be in the best interest of the City to obtain an alternative product to suppress algae growth (liquid copper sulfate) before the inventory of acidified copper sulfate was completely depleted.
Procurement Information
WSD issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify the availability of liquid copper sulfate and subsequently obtained a quote for the product. An emergency determination was obtained to purchase the liquid copper sulfate from TR International Trading Company.
An exception to the procurement process was determined to select the contractor set forth in City of Phoenix Administrative Regulation 3.10. A direct selection was made because there exists a threat to public health, welfare or safety where the normal procurement sourcing methods and payment authorization was not followed.
Contract Term
The agreement's term will begin on or about June 16, 2021 and extend to Oct. 31, 2021.
Financial Impact
The agreement value for TR International Trading Company will not exceed $192,111. Funding is available in the Water Services Department's operating budget.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Water Services Department.