Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: George Tablack
Department: Finance and Administrative Services Division: Purchasing
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE most reasonable sole source, and sole brand standardization of the electrical systems manufactured by TMEIC Corporation, for the container gantry cranes at Port Everglades.
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Why Action is Necessary
In accordance with the 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 electrical systems for container gantry cranes in operation at Port Everglades.
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.
Port Everglades has 11 container gantry cranes in operation and expects to take delivery of an additional three cranes that are on order with Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd. (ZPMC) in September 2023. The container gantry cranes at Port Everglades are equipped with TMEIC drive systems, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) control logic, TMEIC CMS2000 (Crane Management System), and TMEIC Collision Avoidance System.
TMEIC Corporation (TMEIC), previously known as TMEIC-GE, has a long history in the crane industry supplying equipment and systems throughout the world, and continues to lead the industry in crane technology. TMEIC is the leader in Alternate Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) drive systems, and their respective design and software are proprietary and not interchangeable with those of other manufacture.
On January 27, 2022, the Purchasing Division posted a Request for Information (RFI)/Notice of Intent (No. OPN2123792F1) to ascertain if the electrical drive systems manufactured by TMEIC are available from other providers for the container gantry cranes at Port Everglades. The RFI closed on February 9, 2022 and yielded two responses from TMEIC and NIDEC Industrial Solutions.
TMEIC responded to the RFI with a letter stating that they are the sole manufacturer and source for crane control systems commissioned and manufactured by TMEIC. In its response, NIDEC Industrial Solutions offered an alternate brand. Upon review of the responses to the RFI, the Port Everglades Department and the Purchasing Division determined that a transition to an alternate brand will require halting the cranes currently in operation to perform extensive modifications, which can be at a considerable cost to the County.
Since all the existing cranes as well as the three new cranes on order are equipped with TMEIC electrical systems, standardization is recommended for TMEIC as the most reasonable source of supply to ensure continuous and uninterrupted operations of the container gantry 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. PEO0001928