Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Trevor M. A. Fisher
Department: Public Works Division: Water & Wastewater Business Operations
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE First Amendment to Agreement No. TEC2121722A1_1 with Backflow Solutions, Inc., for subscription-based services to record, maintain, notify, and collect fees for regulatory cross connection and backflow preventer testing services (the “Agreement”), to extend the Agreement for two additional years from April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2025, and to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same. (Commission Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9)
body
Why Action is Necessary
Broward approval is required for the referenced action.
What Action Accomplishes
Authorizes Mayor to execute contract amendment.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES BUSINESS OPERATIONS DIVISION AND THE PURCHASING DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION
On December 1, 2020, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners: (i) designated Backflow Solutions, Inc. (“BSI”), as an only reasonable source, sole brand provider of regulatory cross connection and backflow preventer testing services; and (ii) authorized County’s Director of Purchasing to negotiate and execute an agreement with BSI (Agenda Item No. 27).
On December 22, 2020, the Director of Purchasing executed the Agreement with BSI, No. TEC2121722A1_1, with retroactive effect to April 1, 2018, for subscription-based services to record, maintain, notify, and collect fees for regulatory cross connection and backflow preventer testing services, and other related services for a maximum not-to-exceed amount of $15,000 for the duration of the Agreement. (Exhibit 1).
BSI’s services, including certification and fee collection, are critical to Broward County Water and Wastewater Services’ (“WWS”) operations, assisting in the management of customer compliance with the Florida Administrative Code and with Chapter 34, Article IX, Cross Connection Backflow Prevention, of the Broward County Code of Ordinances for approximately 6,000 County customers.
WWS has been utilizing these subscription-based services since 2013. WWS personnel and licensed professionals have: (i) entered all known customer backflows into BSI’s system and (ii) been utilizing the BSI system for managing re-certifications, tracking compliance, and responding to public records requests.
Most recently, County’s Purchasing Division issued a Request for Information (“RFI”) on December 22, 2022, to determine if other entities are able to provide subscription-based services to record, maintain, notify, and collect fees for regulatory cross connection and backflow preventer testing services. There were no responses to this RFI. Based on this information, County’s Director of Purchasing reaffirmed BSI as an only reasonable source, sole brand provider of these services on January 4, 2023. (Exhibit 2).
If approved, this item authorizes the Mayor to execute a First Amendment to the Agreement (Exhibit 3), which will extend the duration of the Agreement by two years through March 31, 2025, at the same annual subscription and optional services prices as the original Agreement.
This item has been reviewed and approved by the Office of the County Attorney.
Source of Additional Information
Jonathan K. Allen, Director, Business Operations Division, (954) 831-0747
Alan W. Garcia, P.E., Director, Water and Wastewater Services, (954) 831-0704
Trevor M. A. Fisher, P.E., MBA, Director, Public Works Department, (954) 357-6410
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Each requirement processed against this open-end contract will be funded by the appropriate source at the time of release.