HomeMy WebLinkAboutF.AUTO METER READING SYSTEM City of Port Arthur, Texas
Mayor and City Council Communication
DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT Page
~R Award of Bid for a Radio Read, Automated Meter Reading 1 of 2
01/26/05 AMR-CC.DOC System for the Utility Operations Department.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend the City Council award the bid for a Radio Read, Automated Meter Reading System to Rural
Pipe & Supply, of Jasper, Texas, for the Utility Operations Department in the estimated amount of $51,480.00.
This equipment will be charged to the Water Bond Fund, account No. 427-1626-532.85-00, Project No. 427501.
BACKGROUND
Our last meter change-out program was completed in 1983, leaving us with the vast majority of our water meters
at or beyond their useful service life. We need to begin a new meter change-out program in order to insure
accurate water accountability to our customers, and meet TWDB water conservation mandates. Recent upgrades
in meter reading technology have brought a higher level of accuracy, reliability, and dependability to automated
meter reading. The specified radio read system has the capability of reading meters through radio transmission
from the meter to a vehicle-mounted or hand-held receiver. Our meter reader can simply drive through the
neighborhood and collect meter readings, no longer having to deal with locked gates, dogs in the yard, or cars
parked over the meter box. As with most 'new technology' equipment, our plan is to conduct a small scale trial
on one meter reading route (around 210 residential meters) to make sure it will work as designed in our system.
We also plan to replace all the residential-sized meters in our commercial route (81 meters). This high usage route
is scattered widely across town, making it difficult and time consuming to read. Also, since the unit prices bid are
substantially lower than our existing quotes, we will also use them to purchase meters through our normal
operating budget during this budget year. Most, if not all, of the prices for the larger meters are less than recent
prices obtained for non-AlvlR meters. This award will establish an estimated total and unit prices for the
equipment needed, including a laptop computer and transceiver, hand-held transceiver, sof~:ware, and various sizes
of water meters equipped with radio transmitters.
Seven (7) bid packets were sent out and two (2) bids were received on January 20, 2005.
Rural Pipe & Supply Sensus Metering Systems
Item Jasper~ TX Pittsburgh, PA
Meter Reading System (for vehicle) $21,500.00 $ n/c
Hand held device 4,500.00 2,500.00
System software incl. n/c
Installation & Training incl. n/c
5/8" x 3/4" meters (291) 25,480.00 47,243.85
Recommended Award $51,480.00 $49,743.85
PREPARED BY DISPOSITION BY COUNCIL PROCESSED
BY
CITY
SECRETARY
XPVROWD ~¥ [I~VPROW IIOV~R 0>~SCP, mE)
DATE
City Manager ~
City of Port Arthur, Texas
Mayor and City Council Communication
DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT Page
NtmmER Award of Bid for a Radio Read, Automated Meter Reading 2 of 2
01/26/05 ~Va-CC.DOC .. System for the Utility Operations Department.
Unit Prices (S/each) Rural Pipe & Supply Sensus Meterin S st % Difference
%" x %" PD meter $ t30.00 $ 162.35 +2419%
I" x 1' PD meter 188.00 203.61 +8.3%
1.5" x 1.5" PD meter 328.82 333.22 +1,3%
2" x 2" PD meter 434.70 431.10 -0.8%
3" x 3" turbo meter 602.94 669.01 +11.0%
4" x 4" tarbo meter 874.71 1,126. I8 +28.7%
' 6" x 6" turbo meter 2,053.35 2,271.05 +10.6%
2" compound meter 1,192.95 no bid
3" compound meter 1,296.47 no bid
4" compound meter 2,125.88 no bid
6" compound meter 3,014.12 no bid
While the bid from Sensus Metering Systems is lower for the recommended base award, the unit prices for their meters
(especially for the %" x ~A" PD meter) are substantially higher, making the actual costs upon implementation much higher.
The estimated cost to change our entire system over to a radio read AMR system would cost approximately $2,481,000 using
the Rural Pipe & Supply bid, and $3,039,000 using the Sensus Metering Systems bid. Since we purchase hundreds of meters
every year in our O&M budget, we expect to easily make up this $1,736 difference this year.
BUDGET/FISCAL EFFECT
This equipment will be charged to the Water Bond Fund, account No. 427-1626-532.85-00, project no. 427501, with
additional replacement meters subsequently charged to the Water Distribution division operating budget, account no. 410-
1253-532.35-00.
STAFFING/EMPLOYEE EFFECT
City staffwill be trained on the installation, operation, and maintenence of this equipment.
SUMMARY
We recommend the City Council award the bid for a Radio Read, Automated Meter Reading System to Rural Pipe &
Supply for the Utility Operations Department in the amount of $51,480, to be charged to 427-1626-532.85-00, project no.
427501.
RECOMMENDED:
K'elly"l~drldge - ' o Rebecca Underhill
Director of Utility Operations Director of Finance Purchasing Coordinator
pREpARED BY DISPO$1TIO~I BY COUNCIL PROCESSED
BY
KE crrY
SECRETARY
APPROVED BY DAPPROVE ~OTH~R (DESCRIBE)
DATE
City Manager
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