Council Communication Office of the City Manager	Date	May 5, 2008
	Agenda Item No. 33A Roll Call No. 08- Communication No. 08-272 Submitted by: Larry Hulse, Community Development Director

AGENDA HEADING:

Approving bids for pre-hatch mosquito control chemicals and adult mosquito control chemicals from Clarke Mosquito Control Products and helicopter application of mosquito control chemicals from Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management Inc.

SYNOPSIS:

Recommend approval of bid from Clarke Mosquito Control Products (John Clarke, CEO, 159 N. Garden Ave., Roselle, Illinois, 60172) for pre-hatch chemical. Requests for bids were sent to eight vendors; two vendors responded. Of the two respondent vendors, Momar Inc. (Dale Fisher, Sales Representative, 5555 Glen Stone Drive #154, Grimes, IA, 50111) submitted the lowest bid at $9.48/lb; however, the product they bid has a shorter residual life when applied to standing water for control of mosquito larvae. The manufacturer of this product has verified to city staff that the chemical has a residual life in the field of two to fourteen days based on the carrier materials they use. The product submitted by Clarke has a verified residual field life in excess of thirty days due to the carrier formulation that they use, allowing for slower release of the active ingredient. This material was bid at $10.45/lb. Based on the substantially longer residual life of the Clarke product, staff recommends that their bid be accepted. This is the material that will be applied both by contract helicopter and city staff.

Recommend approval of bid submitted by Clarke Mosquito Control Products for adult mosquito control chemical. Requests for bids were sent to eight vendors; two responded. Of these two, Clarke was the low bidder at $14.15/gallon; Momars’ bid was $18.16/gallon for finished product. Staff recommends acceptance of Clarke’s bid.

Recommend approval of bid from Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management Inc. (John Clarke, CEO, 159 N. Garden Ave., Roselle, Illinois, 60172) for aerial application of pre-hatch control chemical by helicopter. Requests for bids were sent to two vendors, only Clarke responded with a bid for $11.20/acre.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Amount: $38,182 (Pre-hatch chemicals $21,527 for 2,060 lbs; adult mosquito control chemicals $12,735 for 900 gallons; contract helicopter pre-hatch application $3,920).

Funding source: FY 2008-2009 Operating Budget, GE001, CDD070100, Page 96, Community Development Neighborhood Inspection Division

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Due to Budget considerations, funding for a second aerial application of pre-hatch control chemicals is not being requested at this time. Historically, staff has requested approval for a second application in late summer, but due to typically dry weather conditions at that time of year, staff has seldom needed that application. Staff will closely monitor adult mosquito counts and citizen complaints throughout the season. If it becomes apparent that a second application of larvicide would be beneficial, staff will prepare a request for funding at that time.

In an effort to utilize economies of scale, the City of Des Moines again partnered with Polk County and the cities of West Des Moines, Clive and Urbandale to enter into an agreement to submit a consolidated bid proposal for mosquito control products and aerial application services to industry vendors.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): NONE

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS: NONE

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive. Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting. Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.