Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Jonathan Douglass, Assistant to the City Manager
CC:	Ed Mullins, Finance Director Alan Landis, Purchasing Specialist Ron Olin, Chief of Police Steve Stewart, Central Garage Superintendent
DATE:	March 19, 2009
RE:	Local Purchasing Preferences

At the 03/10/09 City Commission meeting, staff recommended awarding a bid for nine police cars for the Police Department to Shawnee Mission Ford for $196,896 (see attached memo). The low bid from Shawnee Mission Ford was $738 less than the bid from Laird Noller Automotive in Lawrence, which was the highest of three bids. The City Commission deferred action on this item pending a discussion of a local purchasing preference policy on 3/24/09.

Steve Stewart, Central Garage Superintendent, reports that the recommended bid is valid until the Ford cut-off date for the model year – May 15. That date may move up a few weeks if enough orders for police interceptors are made before then. If we delay placing our order there is a very real risk we could miss the cut off date and get bumped to the 2010 production run.

Due to the absence of an adopted local purchasing preference ordinance and policy at the time the bids were solicited, staff continues to recommend selection of the low bidder. Staff does not recommend waiting to re-bid these vehicles if a local preference policy is adopted.

ACTION:       Award bid for nine (9) police cars for the Police Department to Shawnee Mission Ford for $196,896.00 (Police/Patrol).