DA-2025-0036 Approve a purchase in the total amount of $188,616.00 for valve maintenance trailers from E.H. Wachs – A Division of ITW through the BuyBoard cooperative purchasing program for Houston Public Works. 

 

Specific Explanation: 

The Director of Houston Public Works (HPW) and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve the purchase in the total amount of $188,616.00 for valve maintenance trailers from E.H. Wachs – A Division of ITW, through the BuyBoard cooperative purchasing program for HPW. 

 

This request is for two (2) valve maintenance trailers for Traffic and Drainage Operations. This equipment is used to locate, access, exercise, and clean valves in the field. These trailers will be used to rotate valves to ensure they remain operable, safely remove soil and debris from around buried valves without damaging infrastructure, and supply water for hydro-excavation and flushing operations.  These trailers are an essential asset for municipalities managing aging water infrastructure. They enable crews to maintain thousands of valves with precision and efficiency, significantly reducing manual labor and risk of injury. They also help to prevent costly waterline breaks, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and extending the lifespan of critical systems.  They offer long-term value and reliability. Field training is included with this purchase to ensure employees are fully equipped for successful deployment. 

 

This equipment has been vetted and approved by the Fleet Management Department and will be additions to the fleet.

   

This recommendation is made pursuant to subsection 271.102(c) of the Texas Local Government Code, which provides that "a local government that purchases goods or services from a cooperative purchasing program or organization satisfies any state law requiring the local government to seek competitive bids for the purchase of the goods or services.” 

 

MWBE Participation: 

Zero percentage goal-document approved by the Office of Business Opportunity. 

   

Hire Houston First: 

This procurement is exempt from the City’s Hire Houston First Ordinance.  Bids/proposals were not solicited because the department is utilizing an Interlocal/Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for this purchase.  

 

Fiscal Note: 

Funding for this item is included in the FY26 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies. 

 

 

 

_____________________________________                ______________________________ 

Jedediah Greenfield, Chief Procurement Officer              Randall V. Macchi, Director 

Finance/Strategic Procurement Division                           Houston Public Works 

 

 

 Estimated Spending Authority

 $188,616.00 

Combined Utility System Fund  

Fund No.: 8305 

Erika Lawton, Division Manager Finance/SPD (832) 395-2833 

Brian Blum, Assistant Director HPW/PFW (832) 395-2717 

Candice Gambrell, Assistant Director Finance/SPD   (832) 393-9129 

Jedediah Greenfield, Chief Procurement Officer Finance/SPD (832) 393-9126