Title
Cooperative Purchasing Contract for Electrical, Lighting, and Data Communications Equipment and Supplies
Action
Action:
A. Approve the purchase of Electrical, Lighting, and Data Communications Equipment and Supplies from a cooperative purchasing contract as authorized by G.S. 143-129(e)(3),
B. Approve a unit price contract with Graybar Electric Company, Inc. for the purchase of Electrical, Lighting and Data Communications Equipment and Supplies for a term of three years under the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance contract #EV2370, dated February 1, 2018, and
C. Authorize the City Manager to extend the purchase of products from Graybar Electric Company, Inc. for as long as they have a contract in effect with U.S. Communities, at prices and terms that are the same or more favorable than those offered under the cooperative contact.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Randy Harrington, Management and Financial Services
Kay Elmore, Management and Financial Services
Cooperative Purchasing Exemption
NC S.L. 2001-328, effective January 1, 2002, authorizes competitive group purchasing.
Explanation
§ Electrical, lighting, and data communications equipment and supplies are routinely required by Engineering and Property Management, Aviation, Charlotte Water, CDOT, and other City departments for daily operations and maintenance of more than 300 municipal facilities.
§ On August 25, 2014, the City Council approved a U.S. Communities cooperative purchasing agreement with Graybar Electric Company, Inc. for the term of three years and authorized the City Manager to renew the agreement for additional terms as long as the cooperative contract was in effect.
§ The U.S. Communities cooperative contract was resolicited by Kansas City, Missouri, and a new contract was awarded to Graybar on February 1, 2018.
§ A cooperative purchasing agreement results from the consolidation and competitive solicitation of multiple public agency requirements. By aggregating common needs, all agencies are able to leverage economies of scale, such as volume discounts, improved terms and conditions, reduced administrative costs, and access to professional and technical expertise that can be utilized on a national level.
§ Annual expenditures are estimated to be $2,000,000.
Charlotte Business INClusion
These are cooperative purchasing contracts and are exempt (Part A: Appendix 27 of the Charlotte Business INClusion Policy).
Fiscal Note
Funding: Department Operating Budget