Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the noncompetitive purchase of goods from Printelect as a sole source provider of election security carts at an estimated cost of $229,608. Funding is available in the Clerk's 2024 Adopted Operating Budget (Munis #1310020-53125). No additional appropriation is required.
Title
A Resolution to authorize the noncompetitive purchase of goods from Printelect as a sole source provider of election security carts for the City Clerk’s Office.
Body
WHEREAS, the City Clerk’s Office continually seeks ways to improve election security; and
WHEREAS, the City Clerk’s Office, by authorization of the Common Council (Legistar# 75287), accepted grants in the total of $1,500,000 from the Center for Tech & Civic Life in 2022 and 2023 for planning and operationalizing safe and secure election administration infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the City Clerk’s Office has toured election administration facilities across the country to guide their evaluation for ways to improve election security and administration as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the City Clerk’s Office has found the use of lockable election security carts can keep election equipment more secure and improve the routing of our election equipment; and
WHEREAS, some locations have had to pass on hosting a polling place due to the lack of an adequate space to lock up election equipment between delivery and Election Day, and Election Day and pick-up; and
WHEREAS, Printelect offers the EZ Cart 3000 Security Truck that is equipped with a ramp for easier loading and unloading of a rolling tabulator machine that can weigh at least 100 pounds when fully stocked for an election; and
WHEREAS, it is unreasonable to expect the average election official to be able to lift a tabulator in an out of a security cart; and
WHEREAS, in the search for security carts the City Clerk’s Office have only found one vendor that offers a security cart with the dimensions required along with an affixed ramp; and
WHEREAS, for the reasons explained above and in the attached Noncompetitive Selection Request Form, Printelect is the only vendor that can provide for the specific needs of the Madison
City Clerk’s Office; and
WHEREAS, MGO 4.26(2) requires goods to be purchased using a competitive process approved by the Finance Director, and under the Finance Director’s Purchasing Guidelines, Common Council approval is required to purchase goods of $50,000 or more without a competitive process;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the purchase of goods as described above.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the deposit payment of 50% of goods for election security carts from Printelect at the time of order, as required by the vendor,
BE FINALLY RESOLVED, that this use of grant funds will not be used: (i) to attempt to influence the outcome of any specific public election, or to participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office; (ii) to attempt to influence the selection, nomination, election or appointment of any individual to any public office or office in a political organization within the meaning of Code Section 527(e)(2); (iii) for any activity that is in violation of federal, state or local law or any effort to induce or encourage violations of law or public policy; (iv) to cause any private inurement or improper private benefit to occur; or (v) in any manner inconsistent with charitable and educational purposes defined under Code Section 501(c)(3).