AGENDA NO.15
BOARD MEETING DATE: December 8, 1995
SYNOPSIS: On September 8, 1995, the Board approved the release of a Request for Quotations to solicit bids in order to develop a list of pre-qualified vendors from whom the AQMD may obtain needed compressed gases and cryogenics. In response to the RFQ, eight bids were received and subsequently reviewed. Staff is recommending all eight vendors be placed on a pre-qualified vendor list for the purchase of compressed gases and four vendors be placed on a pre-qualified vendor list for cryogenics for AQMD use for the remainder of FY 1995-96 and for the entire FY 1996-97. This item was reviewed and approved by the Administrative Committee on November 16, 1995.
COMMITTEE: Administrative, November 16, 1995, Approved
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1 Approve the list of pre-qualified vendors for compressed gases and cryogenics on Attachment A.
2. Authorize the Executive Officer to establish blanket purchase order agreements through June 30, 1997.
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
NN:WJF:JH:JM:lm
Attachment
_____________________________________________________________________
Background
On September 8, 1995, the Board approved the release of a Request for Quotations (RFQ # 1803) which would be used to establish a list of pre-qualified vendors from whom competitive bids may be solicited for the purchase of compressed gases (pure gases and standard mixtures) and cryogenics (liquid nitrogen and liquid argon).
In accordance with AQMD's Contracting and Purchasing Policy, a public notice inviting bids was published in the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, Riverside Press-Enterprise, San Bernardino Sun, and La Opinion on September 13 & 20, 1995, in the Los Angeles Sentinel on September 14, 1995, in the California Contracts Register on September 28, 1995, and in the M/W/DVBE Source on September 13, 1995. In addition, bids were mailed to various known vendors.
The Applied Science and Technology Division requires compressed gases and cryogenics to operate and calibrate, monitoring and analytical instruments. The compressed gases are used for the air monitoring stations, program evaluations, source test field work and chemistry laboratory sample analysis. The cryogenics are needed to achieve ultra-low temperatures for laboratory sample analyses by gas chromatography.
The need for these items is ongoing, but storage space is limited so gases and cryogenics have to be ordered periodically. Staff has determined that there is a cost and time efficiency savings by establishing open purchase orders with vendors of these materials. The bidding period for compressed gases and cryogenics was open from September 8, 1995 and closed on October 13, 1995. The term of the open purchase orders is for the remainder of FY 1995-96 and the entire FY 1996-97. The price quotations are valid until June 30, 1997.
Bid Evaluation
Eleven RFQ's were mailed to suppliers of compressed gases and cryogenics and eight companies responded to the RFQ. Companies were free to bid on one, several or all of the types of compressed gases and cryogenics needed by the AQMD. The bids were evaluated according to the process established in the RFQ. All eight companies were determined to be qualified as compressed gases vendors and four companies qualified as cryogenics vendors. Staff recommends that an open purchase order be established for each company. Orders will be placed so as to minimize the cost, taking into account the specified delivery schedule and product availability.
Resource Impacts
Staff estimates that $60,000.00 will be spent for the purchase of compressed gases and cryogenics for the remainder of FY 1995-96, which is included in ASTD's FY 1995-96 Budget. Staff also estimates that $130,000.00 will be required for compressed gases and cryogenics in FY 1996-97 and the funding for this will be subject to approval of ASTD's FY 1996-97 budget.
Attachment A
LIST OF PRE-QUALIFIED VENDORS FOR
COMPRESSED GASES AND CRYOGENICS
RFQ #1803
Gas Vendors Cryogenic Vendors M/W/DVBE
Air Liquide
12550 Arrow Route
P.O. Box 364 Yes No
Etiwanda, CA 91739
(909) 899-4600
Air Products and Chemicals
901 W. 12th Street
Long Beach, CA 90813 Yes No
(310) 437-0461
Altair Gases & Equipment, Inc.
1545 E. Edinger Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92705 Yes No
(714) 547-6684
Liquid Carbonic
Specialty Gas Corporation
5700 S. Almeda Street No
Los Angeles, CA 90058
(213) 585-2154
MG Industries Inc.
5870 Arlington Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504 No
(909) 358-2310
Scott-Marrin, Inc.
6531 Box Springs Boulevard
Riverside, CA 92507 No
(909) 653-6780
Scott Specialty Gases, Inc.
2600 Cajon Boulevard
San Bernardino, CA 92411 No
(909) 887-2571
So-Cal Airgas
11711 S. Almeda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90054 Yes No
(213) 564-5711