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Utilities committee signs off on emergency contracts for pipeline inspection trucks, Crown residuals, valves and payment systems
Summary
On March 26 the Cleveland City Council Utilities Committee approved several emergency procurement ordinances including: proprietary maintenance for CUES pipeline inspection trucks (Amtech), hauling and polymer chemicals for Crown residuals (Polydyne), valves and actuators, and continued maintenance for mail-extractor and payment systems (Opex and Banktech).
The Cleveland City Council Utilities Committee on March 26 approved a package of emergency ordinances authorizing requirement contracts across the Department of Public Utilities.
What passed: The committee approved Ordinance 1368-2025 to continue sole-source maintenance relationships with Safety Company LLC DBA Amtech for proprietary CUES pipeline inspection ("TV") trucks (2-year term, staff cited approximately $300,000 total requested). DPU staff said the trucks include proprietary equipment; using another vendor could jeopardize warranties on units worth well over a half-million dollars.
Separately, the committee approved Ordinance 1513-2025 to authorize contracts related to hauling and polymer chemicals for dewatering residuals from the Crown water treatment plant and other plants. Director Marty Keane said Crown is not connected to a regional treatment facility and the city currently ships roughly 350 truckloads of dewatered material a year; the department is taking the Crown procurement to public bid for vendors handling dewatered and partially dewatered material.
Additionally the committee approved Ordinance 30-2026 (valves, actuators and appurtenances), Ordinance 237-2026 to continue maintenance and on-call support for proprietary Opex mail-extractor scanners (staff estimated roughly $176,000 for the two-year continuation) and Ordinance 280-2026 to continue Banktech software maintenance for payment processing (about $50,000 per year).
Why DPU requested no-bid or direct-award authority in several cases: Staff told the committee that certain machines and systems (CUES inspection trucks, Opex mail extractors and Banktech payment software) are proprietary and heavily regulated in how they handle imaging and financial transactions, and that local technicians from the original vendors are needed for warranty, certification, and 24/7 repair service. "If we don't use the selected vendor of the truck, then we jeopardize some of our warranties," the director said when describing the CUES trucks.
Procurement context and local vendors: For Crown residuals and valve contracts the department said it is going to public bid; staff noted existing local vendor participation (Emerald on St. Clair and FCX Performance for valves) and said the RFP process includes OEO/CSB participation goals where feasible.
Next steps: The ordinances were moved and approved during the March 26 committee meeting; staff will execute contracts and issue RFPs where indicated. Members asked for more detailed follow-up on market alternatives and costs where proprietary relationships limit competition.
Ending: Each ordinance was recorded as "stands approved" in committee; transcripts show approvals but do not include recorded roll-call tallies for the committee vote.
