BACKGROUND

The approved FY15b Capital Projects Fund – Operational Equipment Budget includes $22,000 for the purchase of a Road Weather Information System (RWIS).  In October, bid specifications were prepared and sent out to several vendors with three submitting bids as outlined in the bid tabulation.  

BIDDER                                                       BID PRICE                                             

Traffic Control, Corp.  Woodridge, IL              $23,454

Hoosier Company  Indianapolis, IN                $34,336      

Vaisala, Inc.  Louisville, CO                            No Bid

The purpose of RWIS is to assist with snow and ice control operations. This system will be installed at Wilke Road and the Bob Rorhman entrance located north of Dundee Road.  The system includes a camera and will provide valuable weather data such as pavement and air temperature, and senses if the pavement is wet, dry or icy.  This is the third year of a four-year program approved through the Capital Budget planning process.  This installation will give us a third camera and weather station.   All of the phases can be independent of each other, allowing the program to start and stop at any time.  Similar systems are currently in use by the Illinois Tollway Authority, Illinois Department of Transportation and the McHenry County Highway Department.  The implementation of this program will increase our ability to dispatch crews in a more efficient manner during winter snow and ice control operations.

The low bidder, Traffic Control Corporation of Woodridge, Illinois has installed similar systems and Staff has received positive comments from their reference checks.  Although the bid is slightly over budget, our Capital Budget has enough unspent funds to cover this overage.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Village Board award the bid to Traffic Control Corporation of Woodridge, IL in the amount of $23,454 for the Road Weather Information System and authorize Staff to execute the necessary documents.