DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Ratification for Purchase of Bottled Water
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the ratification of contracts with San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, Midland Scientific, Inc., White Mountain, WW Grainger, Inc., Physicians Wellness Group, MEDWheels, Nestle Waters, and Artesia Springs, LLC. in the aggregate amount of $2,250,216.92 for the purchase of bottled water in response to the February 2021 Winter Weather event. The City is seeking reimbursement from FEMA in the amount of $1,687,662.69 with the 25% local match requirement balance of $562,554.23 to be reimbursed by the San Antonio Water System.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Submitted for City Council action and ratification for the purchase of bottled water in the aggregate amount of $2,250,216.92 with the following vendors: San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, $3,700.91; Midland Scientific, Inc., $188,749.88; White Mountain, $97,686.00; WW Grainger, Inc., $1,868,278.23; Physicians Wellness Group, $74,844.00; MEDWheels, $9,4000.00; Nestle Waters, $6,224.40 and Artesia Springs, LLC, $1,333.50. In February 2021, the state of Texas endured a severe winter weather event that impacted the vast majority of the state including the city of San Antonio and surrounding areas. As a result of the winter storm, the state’s power grid was significantly impacted which resulted in widespread power outages. The combination of power outages and the cold weather also impacted the City’s water supply system leaving many residents without water.
On February 12, 2021, Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster proclamation authorizing the use of all available resources of state and local government deemed reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster. Due to many residents lacking potable water, the City of San Antonio purchased 287 truckloads of bottled water for City-wide distribution to residents. These contracts were procured citing an exemption from competitive bidding to preserve or protect the public health or safety of the City’s residents due to the immediate need for drinking water for the City’s residents.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was responsible for establishing and supplying a city-wide distribution network consisting of sites at Brooks City Base, Community Bible Church, Our Lady of the Lake University, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Sea World, Port SA, and other locations. Bottled water was also provided to the San Antonio Food Bank and Bexar County.
The purchases included bottled water in various size packaging ranging from 8 ounce bottles, 16.9 ounce bottles, 1 liter bottles, and 5 gallon jugs. In addition, the City received 19 truckloads of bottled water donated from community partners like Amazon, Bexar County FS, FEMA, US Ecology and Budlight Distributors. In total, approximately 12.1 million bottles of water were distributed to impacted residents throughout the community to provide safe water for drinking until the water supplies were restored and deemed safe for consumption.
ISSUE:
This ordinance ratifies expenditures to the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, Midland Scientific, Inc., White Mountain, WW Grainger, Inc., Physicians Wellness Group, MEDWheels, Nestle Waters, and Artesia Springs, LLC. in the aggregate amount of $2,250,216.92. for the purchase of bottled water for the residents of San Antonio as a result of the Winter Weather event.
This purchase is exempt from the Small Business Economic Development Advocacy Program.
This purchase is an exception to the Local Preference Program.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program does not apply to goods/supplies contracts, so no preference was applied to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
Due to the immediate need to provide potable water to the residents of San Antonio, an emergency procurement citing a Certificate of Exemption due to Public Health or Safety concerns was used in order to provide for the purchase of bottled water for city-wide distribution during the Winter Weather event to fulfill the public’s need for safe drinking water.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the ratification of purchases with San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, Midland Scientific, Inc., White Mountain, WW Grainger, Inc., Physicians Wellness Group, MEDWheels, Nestle Waters, and Artesia Springs, LLC. for bottled water used for city-wide distribution during the Winter Weather event for a total cost of $2,250,216.92. The City is seeking reimbursement from FEMA in the amount of $1,687,662.69 with the 25% local match requirement balance of $562,554.23 to be reimbursed by the San Antonio Water System.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the ratification for the purchase of bottled water with San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, Midland Scientific, Inc., White Mountain, WW Grainger, Inc., Physicians Wellness Group, MEDWheels, Nestle Waters, and Artesia Springs, LLC. in the aggregate amount of $2,250,216.92.
These purchases were procured on the basis of a Public Health and Safety exemption and Contracts Disclosure Forms are not required.