Travis County Commssioners Court
April 15, 2003
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Item 19
19. Discuss and take appropriate action to authorize the purchasing agent to approve purchase orders in excess of $25,000.00 issued against contracts for construction and geotechnical testing services. And the purpose of this is -- is to enable us to expedite some of these matters.
>> yes, sir.
>> judge Biscoe, Commissioner, I’m frank holder, purchasing office. As judge Biscoe pointed out, this is an efficiency action. We will be issuing a solicitation, contract solicitation for these geotechnical contracts that will expire the 31st of July. [multiple voices]
>> can you tell the public what geotechnical means.
>> well, when we have construction contracts, the contractor may require that somebody come out and do a soil sample or concrete sample. That kind of thing. We have a pool of these contractors that do that. We rotate their use. The contracts will expire 31 July. We would like to have a provision in the new contracts where it will allow cyd grimes, the purchasing agent, to sign [indiscernible] the purchase orders for this service depend accounting on the -- depending on the level of service that is provided. If, for example, we have a building out there, it's cost us $3 million, we need the geotechnical services, since it's $3 million, it would fall in the not to exceed $50,000 range. If we were to negotiate a contract price for those geotechnical services, for $45,000, you would be authorizing cyd to sign that purchase order. If however the cost for that service for that particular building was $51,000, we would bring it to Commissioners court.
>> has this been by the subcommittee of the court?
>> no.
>> that's my recommendation that you look at it.
>> yeah.
>> I think it's a matter of routine that ought to take place. This in the agenda setting meeting a couple of weeks back.
>> then we probably need to call a meeting of the purchasing board so we can review this.
>> are you asking for the whole board -- [multiple voices] all right, very good. We will hold a meeting then.
>> that was my recommendation, right?
>> yes, I thought cyd had sent an e-mail.
>> yes, I have gotten the e-mail, I thought that you were asking the whole purchasing board -- [multiple voices] okay. Let's schedule a meeting then and we will look at the issue.
>> of the purchasing board.
>> no. No. Two members who are on the purchasing --
>> the subcommittee of the Commissioners court.
>> yeah. We do as far as I know, other matters of this nature the same way. I know we do on the budget, justice and public safety, the ones that I’m on. Health and human services. I think we ought to do this the same way.
>> okay.
>> Margaret and I need to do it together.
>> uh-huh.
>> because I was of the impression, I was fine with it, getting the e-mail, that's fine I will get with the Commissioners, we will --
>> it's coming from t.n.r. It's a little change from what we have done. To give authorization.
>> so it will be back on next week.
>> yes, sir. Just postponing it one week.
>> okay.
>> thank you.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 9, 2003 3:52 PM