From
Sholeh Karimi
Title
Ordinance amending the FY 2017/2018 Red Light Safety Fund; Purchase of five (5) Portable Changeable Message Signs (CMS) in the amount of $87,029.85 from Solar Technology, Inc. a sole source provider
Presenter
Sholeh Karimi, P.E., Sr. Traffic Engineer
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
City of Grand Prairie is home to major tourist attractions (Lone Star Park, Airhogs Baseball Stadium, Verizon Theater, Prairie Lights, Traders Village, Joe Pool Lake, Grand Prairie Premium Outlets, Ikea, and several retail shopping centers). In conjunction with the major thoroughfares traffic, when these attractions house major events, they create considerable traffic congestion and traffic incidents in the City. Portable Changeable Message Signs will be used at large venues and also at major incidents to proactively warn vehicular traffic of safety hazards during the time that officer and other emergency responders are managing roadway hazards and incidents.
Chapter 252 of the Local Government Code authorizes local governments to make purchases considered a sole source in lieu of competitively bidding if it meets the prescribed exemption guidelines. Items that are available from only one source because of patents, copyrights, secret processes, or natural monopolies; films, manuscripts, or books; gas, water, and other utility services; captive replacement parts or components for equipment; or books, papers, and other library materials for a public library that are available only from the persons holding exclusive distribution rights to the materials.
To the knowledge of the City Staff, the portable Changeable Message Signs (CMS) from Solar Technology, Inc. are the only changeable message signs that allow instantaneous, remote changing of the message text on the CMS without the need of being at each individual CMS device. All competing products, appear to require hands on, in-the-field changing of each individual CMS unit. Furthermore, the...
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