Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurement Fuel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public works seeks to piggyback Oregon state fuel contract after Washington contract ended
Summary
Public works staff said Wilcox & Flagle informed the county that the Washington state fuel contract would end; staff propose using the Oregon state contract that offers similar rack pricing and no delivery fees, and will present a formal contract to the board in coming weeks.
Sean Riley, public works, told the board the county must replace a major fuel contract after the State of Washington canceled its contract with the vendor used by the county.
"Last year and many years before that, we participated with the state of Washington DS fuel contract," Riley said. He told commissioners the landfill used about $580,000 worth of diesel in 2024 and that county fueling operations commonly average 500 to 750 gallons per day; Riley said ER&R, the motor pool and landfill equipment are direct‑filled from vendor trucks.
Riley said Public Works has identified the State of Oregon fuel contract as a viable ‘‘piggyback’’ alternative that closely matches current pricing and removes vendor delivery fees. "It's very similar pricing as what the state of Washington has, except it does not have any delivery fees," he said. Under the proposed arrangement the county would follow procurement rules allowing use of another government entity's contract where permitted.
Commissioners asked operational and fiscal questions: how deliveries work (Riley said truck fills at most once per day, with occasional roadside refuels), how taxes apply (he said diesel for landfill off-road use remains exempt from diesel fuel tax), and whether piggybacking meets county purchasing policy and state guidelines. Riley said the Oregon contract would expire at the end of 2025 and could be extended with multiple-year options.
Riley said the county keeps additional bulk tanks for emergency use in Klamath and Castle Rock (10,000 gallons each) and that delivery-fee charges under past contracts ranged as high as $1,500 per load depending on the vendor. The board did not vote; Riley said the county will bring a contract and agreements to the board for approval in coming weeks.
