DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Trouper Platform Risers for the Convention Center
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with Wenger Corporation to provide trouper platform risers at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center for the Convention and Sports Facilities Department for a total cost of $70,725.00. Funding is available through the FY2019 Community & Visitor Facilities Fund Operating Budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Submitted for Council consideration and action is a proposal submitted by Wenger Corporation to provide trouper riser equipment to allow the Convention Center to replace existing wooden risers originally purchased over 25 years ago which have become worn and are in need of replacement. The purchase of the trouper platform risers will allow the Convention Center to have consistent staging throughout the facility and match previously purchased platform risers from Wenger Corporation that are currently in use at the facility. In addition, the requested trouper risers are the only risers that are interchangeable and compatible with existing Wenger Corporation equipment due to the locking mechanisms on the risers allowing the platform risers to remain securely connected. These platform risers are used for staging of various events held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
The City issued a Request for Offer (RFO) for Trouper Platform Risers (RFO, 6100011429) on April 18, 2019, with a submission deadline of April 23, 2019. This purchase was procured utilizing an exemption to competitive bidding. Wenger Corporation is the sole designer, manufacturer, and distributer of the Trouper Staging Systems currently being used at the Convention Center.
ISSUE:
This contract will provide the Convention and Sports Facilities Department with new platform risers to replace existing wooden risers that are over 25 years old and have become worn. These additional platform risers will match existing risers allowing the Convention Center to have consistent staging for events held at the facility.
This contract is exempt from competitive bidding and is excluded from the scope of the SBEDA program.
This contract is an exception to the Local Preference Program.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Preference Program does not apply to goods/ supplies contracts; no preference was applied to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this contract not be approved, the Convention and Sports Facilities Department will be required to procure platform risers on an as needed basis possibly resulting in higher costs. The continued use of the wooden risers would also provide the Convention Center with inconsistency of platform risers resulting in a less-than appealing look to patrons.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the purchase of trouper platform risers from Wenger Corporation, for the total amount of $70,725.00. Funding for this ordinance is available from the FY2019 Community & Visitor Facilities Fund Operating Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of this contract with Wenger Corporation in the amount of $70,725.00 to provide the Convention and Sports Facilities Department with platform trouper risers for the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
This contract is procured by means of a Sole Source exemption and a Contract Disclosure Form is not required.