HomeMy WebLinkAbout10. Award PO to Thirkettle Corp for Purchase of Radio Transmitters for Advanced Water Meterss
CITY MANAGER
TO. HONORABLE MAYORE F THE CITY COUNCIL
F
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Y: DELFINO R. CONSUNJI, DIRECTOR LIC WORKS/CITYY E NEER
DATE: MARCH 26, 2019
SUBJECT: PURCHASE OF RADIOTRANSMITTERS FOR ADVANCEDTMETERS
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council award a purchase order to Thirkettle Corporation dba Aqua Metric Sales
Co. in the amount of $191,317.50 for purchase of radio transmitters for advanced water meters.
The City of Downey has used Sensus water meter reading equipment for direct read, touch
read, and remote read applications for the past several years. Sensus holds the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) license for the radio frequencies utilized by the City's
meter reading equipment and the City has an agreement with Sensus for continued use of these
frequencies.
The City has 23,500 water meters in its distribution system. In order to increase operational
efficiencies, the conversion of water meters to remote read capabilities began six years ago
through a combination of in-house staff, development requirements, and various City water
system and capital improvement projects. Currently, a total of 3,700 advanced water meters
have been installed in the City. In order to capture and transmit real-time water usage data from
these advanced water meters remotely, the City installed an antenna and data collector in 2018
on an existing 80 -foot light pole at Discovery Park. Out of the 3,700 advanced water meters,
approximately 1,200 are equipped with older radio transmitter technology and are only
compatible with handheld meter reading equipment. These 1,200 meters need to be retrofitted
with new radio transmitters to enable connectivity with the antenna and data collector.
Public Works staff desires to purchase 1,500 radio transmitters to enable conversion of the
1,200 existing advanced water meters (equipped with older radio transmitted technology) with
the balance of the radio transmitters to be placed in stock for as -needed replacements
throughout the year. Thirkettle Corporation dba Aqua Metric Sales Co. is the sole provider of
Sensus smart water meters and remote reading equipment in Southern California.
Furthermore, Aqua Metric Sales Co. is honoring a trade-in value for the old radio transmitters by
providing a discounted price for the new equipment. The total trade-in value for 1,500 radio
transmitters is approximately $51,000.
Staff recommends that the City Council award a purchase order to Thirkettle Corporation dba
Aqua Metric Sales Co. for the purchase of the radio transmitters for the water meters.
PURCHASE OF RADIO TRANSMITTERS FOR ADVANCED WATER METERS
MARCH 26, 2019
PAGE #2
Efficiency & Adaptability
Quality of Life, Infrastructure & Parks
FISCAL IMPACT
The
• cost •' the radio transmitters after tra e- n va ue s app -• 1 0. Th-
• -
purchase • the materials will •- •-• from the FY 2018-19 Water Fund Operating budg
under • No. 51-4-3530-0260.
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