APPROVE payment to W. W. GRAINGER in an amount of $1,463,160.11 to address Emergency Disaster Recovery activities for Meals Ready to Eat, Bottled Water, Safety Equipment and Recovery Supplies for the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management - Disaster Recovery Fund

SPD-MLK-08262017-003 - Approve payment to W.W. Grainger to address emergency disaster recovery activities as a result of Hurricane Harvey for meals Rready to eat (MREs), bottle water, safety equipment and recovery supplies in the amount of $1,463,160.11 for the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management.

Specific Explanation:

The Director of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve payment to W.W. Grainger for meals ready to eat, bottled water, safety equipment and recovery supplies in the amount of $1,463,160.11 to address emergency disaster recovery activities because of Hurricane Harvey.

On August 27^th, 2017, the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) had to respond to unprecedented and historical flooding that displaced citizen local and regionally.  As a result, OEM requested emergency MREs and truck loads of bottled water to feed and nourish the multitudes of displaced citizen being housed at the various shelters (GRB, NRG, Toyota Center, NW Mall, Fannin Warehouse, churches and community centers) and satellite food/water distribution and staging areas setup throughout the City.  The MREs and bottled waters were also made available to both classified and civilian first responders (i.e. HPD, HFD, PWE, OEM etc.) out in the field for consumption and distribution during extended shifts.  In addition, W.W. Grainger also supplied needed safety equipment (GPS navigators, safety glasses, coated, cut resistant and disposable boots, boot covers, gloves) and recovery supplies (5-gallon buckets, long handled brushes, disinfecting soap, dishwashing liquids, flashlights, batteries, mosquito spray, tarps, emergency medical kits).  If OEM staff had not acted quickly, many displaced citizens/individuals with no shelter nor food, including those at risk with disabilities and seniors would have gone hungry do to no or inconsistent access to food, water, medical supplies and rescue throughout this force majeure event.

W.W. Grainger  was identified and selected as one of two firm's that could immediately provide emergency palletized MREs, water, safety equipment and recovery supplies in bulk/truckload quantities.  W.W. Grainger  provided the professional logistics and communications necessary to:

· Provide immediate mobilization of trucks and trailers with experienced and qualified drivers for delivery to the Houston area.

· Coordinate with various City, County and State personnel and law enforcement agencies to circumvent flooded thoroughfares and provide escorts as necessary to ensure the shipments would arrive at the designated delivery point(s) so that distribution and deployment could begin immediately.

This recommendation was made pursuant to Chapter 252, Section 252.022 (a) (2) "a procurement necessary to preserve or protect the public health or safety of the municipality's residents" of the Texas Local Government Code for exempted procurements.

M/WBE Participation:

OBO approves the waiver of an M/WBE goal on this procurement because, as per Chapter 15 of the Code of Ordinance, a waiver is appropriate when a public or administrative emergency exists which requires the goods or services to be provided with unusual immediacy.

Hire Houston First:

The proposed procurement may be funded by a federal grant; therefore, exempt from “Hire Houston First” (HHF) ordinance that promotes economic opportunity for Houston Business and support job creation.

Disaster Recovery Note:

This item is related to the impact of Hurricane Harvey DR4332 and it is the City’s intent to seek reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) and other eligible sources for such expenditures.

$1,463,160.11- Disaster Recover Fund (Fund 5303)