Title
Salt Brine Production and Distribution System - Bid Award
History
Salt Brine Solution and other liquid de-icing agents have been proven to be more effective in overall snowfighting operations. Salt brine and liquid de-icing are sprayed onto the salt as it is being distributed onto the roadway (referred to as pre-wetting). This speeds up the process of turning salt into a brine solution as well as reducing the amount of bounce that occurs. Bounce is the term used to describe what occurs when dry salt is cast onto dry pavement - it bounces all over and generally ends up along the curb line. Pre-wetting keeps salt where it will be most effective: in the driving lanes. By making the rock salt more effective and keeping it where it belongs, it reduces the amount of salt needed during a snow or ice event.
To utilize “pre-wet” technology, truck mounted supply tanks and sprayer equipment must be purchased and installed for each roadway snowplow. Salt brine, a very economical pre-wetting agent, is able to be “brewed” in-house using current supply rock salt and water. In-house “brewing” eliminates costly brine procurement and shipping. Equipment to “brew” salt brine is well proven and cost effective. Once “brewed,” the brine is stored in bulk tanks for future use in the pre-wet systems.
This purchase provides for truck mounted pre-wet systems, salt brine maker and bulk storage tanks with associated pumps and piping.
On Friday, July 30, 2010, a legal notice for a Salt Brine Production System ran in the SouthtownStar Newspaper. Although the Village received several inquiries concerning the system, only one supplier submitted a bid. The sealed bid was opened by the Village Clerk’s Office on Friday, August 13, 2010. Sprayer Specialties of Grimes, Iowa, submitted the only bid . The bid received was over the funds we currently have available. We are able to purchase the items quoted at the bid price on a per unit basis to the limit of available funds. We will budget for the remainder of the equipment in the 2011 budget year.
On September 7, 2010, this item was reviewed and approved by the Public Works and Engineering Committee and referred to the Board for approval.
INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED AS PART OF THE SEPTEMBER 7, 2010, PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING COMMITTEE PACKET.
Financial Impact
In July 2010, the Board authorized a budget transfer to utilize savings in the amount of $51,900 from the salt material Account 010-5002-431.62-60 to Account 010-5002-431.61-70 for the purchase the equipment necessary to begin this new snowfighting process.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve awarding the bid for the Salt Brine Production System to Sprayer Specialties, Inc. of Grimes, Iowa, for an amount not to exceed the available funds of $51,900.