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Council approves procurement items including HVAC cap increase, fleet parts and industrial gases
Summary
The council approved a set of Public Works procurement items: an HVAC contract cap increase to $110,000 and an added vendor, purchase of DPF filters with identified lower‑cost parts, and acceptance of a separate industrial cylinder gases bid after rejecting an unclear bid from another vendor.
The Warwick City Council approved a package of Public Works procurement items after committee review on Nov. 17, including a $30,000 increase to an HVAC services contract cap and the addition of CAMHVAC & Construction Inc. as an approved vendor.
Public Works said the existing $80,000 cap had been reduced to about $34,076 by spending since August, and an increase to $110,000 would cover winter maintenance needs across city facilities. The contract excludes the Thayer Warburton ice plant’s compressors; the HVAC coverage is for heaters, boilers and related equipment across city buildings including fire stations and police department facilities.
The council also approved a lower‑cost sourcing approach for a six‑wheel dump truck’s diesel particulate filter (DPF) replacement. Staff explained Rhode Island Truck Center’s comprehensive parts list (41 items) included many parts the city already stocks; after review, the department identified four critical items and located them more cheaply at Dale Superstore, reducing the cost from an estimated $17,000 to about $10,000.
On industrial gases, staff declined an ambiguous bid from Airgas and awarded the contract to the clearer bidder. Councilmembers raised a question about a 3% vendor "processing" fee on some parts orders; Public Works said the fee was a vendor processing charge for orders over $1,000 and promised to provide the council a written explanation.
Committee votes on items over $50,000 were taken; a favorable recommendation carried through to council action with recorded votes and one recusal on related items. The administration said it would continue to monitor usage and vendor performance and provide requested budget code balances to councilmembers who asked.
