Council approves $104,914 ammunition award after months of debate over bidding process

Warwick City Council approved the police department's annual ammunition award following extended questioning from council members, members of the public and police officials about procurement practices, inventory levels and price volatility. The full council voted to accept the award as presented, after an amendment that would have cut the recommended spending authority to $75,000 failed.

Major Robert Hart told the finance committee and later the full council that the police department solicited bids for its annual ammunition order (bid 2026‑328) and recommended awarding the contract to a single responsive vendor, Eagle Point Gun. Major Hart said the department received only one timely bid and that a second submission arrived late and could not be accepted under procurement rules. He described the department's inventory and training needs, saying the department had drawn down a large stock over the last year and will need the requested authority to maintain a one‑year backstock while meeting upcoming recruit and qualification training.

Concerns from council members and residents centered on two issues: (1) why so few vendors submitted bids for a common commodity, and (2) whether the council should change bidding language to use list‑price-plus‑discount structures that vendors find easier to honor in volatile markets. Rob Cody and others in public comment said local suppliers told them they rarely receive solicitations from the city and that the year‑long price hold required by the bid discouraged competition. Council members described conflicting trade‑offs: some argued locking a lower price benefits taxpayers; others said the current market volatility means vendors will avoid year‑long price holds.

Councilman Lacer moved to amend the item to reduce the spending authority to $75,000, the amount the council had awarded the department the previous year when inventory levels were higher. After debate, the amendment failed. The council then voted in favor of the original award amount.

Major Hart said the department's request reflects expected training and re‑qualification needs, including additional rounds associated with planned replacement of departmental firearms later this year. He gave a detailed snapshot of inventory and projections to the council: as of early March the department reported approximately 148,760 rounds of 9mm training ammo, 159,700 rounds of 223 training ammo and other stock across calibers; projected remaining training‑caliber balances following scheduled spring expenditures were presented as the basis for the higher request.

Council members from both sides of the debate urged two follow‑ups: better outreach to local vendors to increase competition on future bids, and a stronger, citywide inventory program so the council and public have clearer, timely data on supplies. Several councilors said they would ask city staff to revisit procurement and inventory protocols to reduce the chance of single‑vendor awards for commonly available commodities.

The city recorded the award vote and the prior failed amendment during the Feb. 23 council session. The finance committee had previously recommended the item be moved to the floor without a recommendation. The police department said the awarded contract period covered March 21, 2026–March 20, 2027, and the vendor named in the department's packet is Eagle Point Gun (Thoroughfare, N.J.).

What happens next: The department will use the awarded spending authority to purchase ammunition for training and operations. Council members signaled plans to pursue changes to the municipal procurement outreach program and to ask departments for clearer inventory reports before similar requests return to the council.