HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - PURCHASE ORDER - 9192231 (2)Exception – Honeywell Page 1
Utilities
electric · stormwater · wastewater · water
700 Wood Street
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6700
970.221.6619 – fax
970.224.6003 – TDD
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
TO: Darin Atteberry, City Manager _______
THROUGH: Pat Johnson, Senior Buyer _______
Tim McCollough, Deputy Director, Utilities - Light & Power _____
Gerry Paul, Purchasing Director _______
FROM: Adam Bromley, Director, Operations & Technology ______
DATE: December 11, 2019
RE: Exception to use of the competitive purchasing process for the
purchase of and installation of updated field tools software
Purchase Amount: Initial Purchase $51,751.00 – Total NTE $200,000
Background: As part of the Advanced Meter Fort Collins (AMFC) project implementation
that took place in 2012-2013, the majority of existing electric meters were replaced with
meters capable of transmitting energy use data back to the utility wirelessly. Utilities also
installed communications modules for water meters to transmit water consumption
wirelessly as well. The wireless network that is used to retrieve these meter reads
automatically is commonly referred to as the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
system.
The AMI equipment purchased and installed during the AMFC project deployment was
selected through a competitive Request For Proposal (RFP) process. The contract that
Fort Collins has with the primary vendor has a 20-year term and does not expire until
August 2031. All equipment that was purchased communicates via a proprietary,
encrypted wireless network that does not integrate with other vendors’ communications
protocols.
Field tools that interrogate, read, and/or re-program the electric meters and water
communication modules also utilize the proprietary, encrypted network. The existing
handheld field tools are reaching the end of their useful life and replacement parts for
these devices are no longer commercially available. Utilities is experiencing a high
percentage of end-of-life failures of these obsolete handheld devices and desires to
replace that technology.
The new field tool handheld hardware, software and associated installation is provided by
the same primary vendor mentioned above due to the secure communications protocol of
the AMI system. This solution is necessary to accommodate operations within the water
and electric meter departments and to support our existing metering infrastructure.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 224BBFDA-B9F6-43C4-AA50-E4F957A28A09
Sole Source Exemption Page 2
Scope of Work: Fort Collins Light & Power has been operating the AMI system and
supporting it with the current field tool technology since 2012. This software and hardware
purchase ensures that we have the solution in place to support our metering infrastructure
owned and operated by Fort Collins Utilities. It also supports field hardware purchases
necessary by electric and water meter departments into the future.
Exception to Competitive Bid or Proposal Rationale:
In accordance with Code Section 8-161(d)(3) City Council approval is not required for
exceptions less than $200,000.
Code Section 8-161(d)(1)(c). A particular material or service is required to maintain
interchangeability or compatibility as a part of an existing integrated system.
Exception to Competitive Bidding Rationale: The AMI meters and associated field
tools communicate via a proprietary, encrypted wireless protocol that does not integrate
with other vendors’ communications protocols. The software purchase is necessary for
Utilities to support the water communications modules and electric meters. There is no
other company that can provide these services.
Recommendation:
Recommend approval of an exception to the use of the competitive bid or proposal in
accordance with City Code 8-161(d)(1)(c) and 8-161(d)(3) which authorizes the City
Manager to approve exceptions less than $200,000.
The Purchasing Agent may use this approval, as authorized by City Code Section 8-
161(d)(4), as the basis for negotiating the purchase of new software and hardware from
Honeywell, Inc.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 224BBFDA-B9F6-43C4-AA50-E4F957A28A09