In an effort to minimize duplication in solicitations when other government entities have publicly solicited for certain service and goods required by the City, staff recommends that the City be allowed to utilize other publicly solicited contracts from other government entities listed as follows:

1. Southeast Florida Governmental Purchasing Cooperative

2. State of Florida Contract

3. U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance

4. Sourcewell (Formerly National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA))

5. National IPA (Formerly The Cooperative Purchasing Network (TCPN))

6. Florida Sherriff  Association Contract

7. Palm Beach County

8. Various Governmental Agencies County Agencies to include sole source vendors, proprietary vendors and annual services, maintenance and repair agreements.

The combined Purchasing needs of the above listed member agencies provide for volume discounts and favorable pricing for supplies, services and equipment. These agencies have joined together to lower costs of commonly used commodities, which would not otherwise be attainable by individual member agencies.

Overall, the cost saving will be at an estimated saving of 10% to 15% as possible eliminate the excess time spent by Purchasing in an attempt to find competitive vendors that will provide the best service and savings to the District. Equally important, this will provide staff with much needed flexibility, as well as, a practical and timely means for procuring annually budgeted goods, services, and equipment needed to support the daily operations of the district.

Finally, if approved, this action will have minimal impact on the opportunity of Riviera Beach companies to do business with the District because the majority of the contracts being procured cooperatively are for specialized goods, services and equipment such as chemicals for water and waste water processing, heavy equipment, computers/electronic devices, gasoline and diesel fuel for which there are few, if any, Riviera Beach suppliers available.