Body
Department of Streets and Fleet
Reference: Uninterruptable Power Supply for Traffic Signals
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Clint Blackhurst, Acting City Manager
Prepared By: Kimberly Dall, PE, Director of Streets and Fleet
Date Prepared: June 23, 2017
PURPOSE
Consider a resolution approving the single source procurement of uninterruptable power supplies for traffic signal cabinets.
BACKGROUND
The Streets and Fleet Department has had to respond to traffic signal power outages several times in recent months. The outages are typically a result of weather conditions or power surges. Impacts range from the signal going into red flash (where the traffic signal blinks red in all directions) to a fully dark intersection (no lights anywhere); internal components are also damaged or destroyed. Installing an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) provides a backup power supply for the traffic signal and also protects components against power surges.
Batteries are used to provide the UPS. There are different types of batteries available and several of the City's traffic signals currently have UPS installed. The 16 intersections that do not have UPS installed are the focus of this project. There is very limited space within the traffic signal cabinets, there is only one battery on the market that will fit within the cabinets.
Econolite Inc. is the vendor for Zinc Five Battery Backup System, the only UPS with dimensions that will fit within the traffic signal cabinets. Given that there is only one product and vendor that provide this UPS system, it would be a single source acquisition. Implementation of an alternative battery system would require the full upgrade and replacement of the traffic signal cabinet and components, and at more than four times the cost than the requested UPS.
The Zinc Five Battery Backup System is comparable in cost to other battery backup systems and meets the specific needs of providing power to the ...
Click here for full text