DR4528(COVID-19) - Approve spending authority for the emergency purchase of various goods and services related to the City's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specific Explanation:
The Chief Procurement Officer recommends that City Council approve spending authority in an amount not to exceed $5,658,370.91 for the emergency purchase of various goods and services related to the City's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it is also requested that authorization be given to issue purchase orders to the vendors listed on the attached spreadsheet for the provision of such goods and services.
In response to the Mayor's initial proclamation issued on March 11, 2020 declaring a Local State of Disaster Due to a Public Health Emergency, and the indefinite extension of the declaration issued on March 17, 2020, the City has engaged numerous vendors to assist with responding to the public health emergency resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The goods and services provided by these various vendors include, but are not limited to, the following:
The attached spreadsheet represents emergency purchase orders that have been approved to-date by the Chief Procurement Officer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic since September 30, 2020 and have not yet come before City Council for approval. This consolidated request for City Council approval is hereby made in an effort to streamline the procurement process and allow the City to be agile and timely in responding to the ever-changing needs of both the City's residents and the demands of the pandemic.
- To purchase e-books and e-audiobooks for Houston Public Library
- To provide electrical work for new audio / visual equipment at the North Stadium Drive HHD facility
- To provide design and engineering services to support the network infrastructure at 8000 Stadium Drive
- To provide Cisco switches and data drops for Surface Hubs located in multiple conference rooms at City Hall
- To purchase as system that can capture data and provide reports for HHD
- To purchase critical safety items such as cloth and disposable face masks
- To purchase ramps, locks and spotlights to safeguard storage containers for HPD
- To provide enhancements to the COVID recovery website
- To purchase a system that will accommodate the transfer of data and algorithms for HHD
- To purchase a system to monitor capacity and limit access to the Houston Permitting Center
- To purchase infrastructure to support the CyrusOne datacenter
- To provide support to the Houston Food Bank
- To provide the installation of large monitors at the N. Stadium Drive facility
- To purchase one 85” Surface Hub for the Finance Department
- To purchase two temperature screening devices (previously demo) at the Houston Permitting Center
- To purchase colored wrist bands to support the Temp Check program
- To engage one additional desktop support engineer to assist with the deployment of CARES Act laptops
- To purchase steel carts and battery backup systems for portable surface hubs
- To purchase additional hardware to support the newly installed records retention program for HHD
- To purchase two pick-up trucks for HHD to carry testing samples
- To support and provide essential services for LGBTQ individuals
- To purchase shelving to store PPE supplies
- To purchase and install sneeze guards for Muni Courts
- To contract services to re-organize office space for social distancing for the City Legal Department
- To purchase translation services
- To purchase wayfinding signage for the HHD facility
- To provide emergency assistance to Houstonians who have been displaced, facing hunger and eviction, and are potentially homeless.
- To provide a second resource (engineer) to assist with the PC deployment
- To purchase ad space at the Houston Airports to advance our COVID messaging
- To purchase miscellaneous IT equipment
- To provide congregate and home delivered meals
- To purchase backpacks for the Community Re-Entry program
- To expand the Ethan Synapse portal to support COVID-19 functions
- To rent three mobile offices to support temporary personnel performing temperature scanning
- To provide foster care for abandoned animals and additional transport services
- To purchase dog and cat food, cat litter and scanning devices to assist BARC with the increase in abandoned pets
This recommendation is made pursuant to section 252.022(a)(2) of the Texas Local Government Code, which provides that "a procurement necessary to preserve or protect the public health or safety of the municipality's residents" is exempt from the competitive bidding process.
M/WBE Participation:
These Emergency Purchase Orders have been reviewed for possible MWBE participation. In cases where participation is possible, appropriation OBO documentation will be provided.
Hire Houston First:
The proposed procurements are exempt from the City's Hire Houston First ordinance. Bids/ proposals were not solicited because the departments are utilizing emergency purchase orders for these procurements.
Disaster Note:
This item is related to the impact of COVID-19 and it is the City's intent to use other federal funding sources for eligible expenditures, namely the Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars.
Fiscal Note:
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
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Jerry Adams, Chief Procurement Officer
Finance/Strategic Procurement Division
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Estimated Spending Authority
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Department
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FY2021
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Out years
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Total
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Finance
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$ 5,658,370.91
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$0.00
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$5,658,370.91
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