Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: George Tablack
Department: Finance and Administrative Services Division: Purchasing
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE sole source, sole brand standardization of switch gear products and related services from the manufacturer, ABB INC., for the cranes in operation at Port Everglades.
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Why Action is Necessary
In accordance with Broward County Procurement Code, Section 21.19(a), the Board is required to approve all standardizations greater than the award authority of the Director of Purchasing; and Section 21.19(c), the Director of Purchasing may recommend to the Board that any brand or source of goods or services be standardized as the sole brand or sole source of goods or services that will be purchased for a County Agency or countywide.
What Action Accomplishes
Provides the standardization and procurement of switch gears through the manufacturer, ABB INC., for the Port Everglades Department.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PURCHASING DIVISION AND THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
The seven Samsung container cranes at Port Everglades are powered by General Electric switch gear equipment. Replacement parts and service from General Electric have been standardized by the Board since May 13, 2003. In 2019, General Electric sold its switch gear product line to ABB INC. Since then, ABB INC. is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to provide switch gear parts, engineering, and related services for the Samsung container cranes at Port Everglades. Substitutes from other manufacturers do not exist and would not be interchangeable with the ABB INC. switch gear electrical systems.
In November 2020, Port Everglades purchased three new cranes from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd. (ZPMC) and later purchased an additional three cranes in September 2021, for delivery in September 2023. These cranes are also powered by ABB INC. switch gear systems.
On January 27, 2022, the Purchasing Division posted a Request for Information (RFI)/Notice of Intent to ascertain if the switch gears are available from other providers. The RFI closed on February 9, 2022, with a single response from ABB INC. stating that they are the only authorized OEM for repairs and maintenance of ABB (including GE Industrial Solutions) switch gears.
Based on the 40-year service life of the cranes, standardization of the ABB switch gears will ensure continuous operations of the container cranes at Port Everglades (Exhibit 1).
Source of Additional Information
Robert E. Gleason, Director, Purchasing Division, (954) 357-6070
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Each requirement processed against the open-end contract will be funded by the appropriate source at the time of release.
Requisition No. PEO0001927