Columbus Waives Bidding Rules for Water Testing Equipment Contract
A city ordinance authorizes an emergency contract with Agilent Technologies Inc. for water testing equipment after competitive bids were deemed nonresponsive.
A Columbus ordinance authorizes the contract with Agilent Technologies Inc. for a laboratory gas chromatograph for the Division of Water, authorizing an expenditure of $85,027.66 while waiving competitive bidding provisions. The legislation was declared an emergency measure to take effect from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor.
The Division of Water will use the gas chromatograph to analyze disinfection byproducts to comply with federal monitoring mandates. Disinfection byproducts are chemical compounds formed during water treatment when chemical disinfectants react with organic matter naturally present in source water. Regular laboratory testing allows municipal utilities to verify that treated drinking water remains within health standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. City records note that $85,027.66 is available for this contract in the 2026 Water Operating Fund.
The emergency waiver bypassed standard procurement procedures after an initial competitive solicitation failed to produce a valid bid. The Director of Columbus Water and Power opened two competitive bids on Sept. 17, 2026, from Agilent Technologies Inc. and QuakeLogic Inc. Under city procurement rules in Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes, bid specifications required vendors to hold their pricing firm for 180 days. Both bidders submitted quotes that did not satisfy that condition, leading city purchasing officials to determine that both bids were nonresponsive.
Because Agilent Technologies Inc. submitted the lower of the two bids, city purchasing staff asked the company to extend its quote to meet the 180-day requirement. The vendor was unable to meet that request, but supplied an updated quote to hold pricing through the end of the year. According to the measure, emergency action was requested in order for the vendor to hold the pricing per the quote.
Previously, Pique Media reported council plans to consider $4.65 million for water treatment chemicals.
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The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (8)
A Columbus ordinance authorizes the contract with Agilent Technologies Inc. for a laboratory gas chromatograph for the Division of Water, authorizing an expenditure of $85,027.66 while waiving competitive bidding provisions.
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To authorize the Director of Columbus Water and Power to enter into contract with Agilent Technologies Inc. for a Laboratory Gas Chromatograph Instrument for the Division of Water; to authorize the expenditure of $85,027.66 from within the Water Operating Fund; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency. ($85,027.66)
The legislation was declared an emergency measure to take effect from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor.
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SECTION 7. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.
The Division of Water will use the gas chromatograph to analyze disinfection byproducts to comply with federal monitoring mandates.
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The instrument will be used to analyze disinfection byproducts to comply with EPA monitoring requirements.
City records note that $85,027.66 is available for this contract in the 2026 Water Operating Fund.
Read supporting passage
$85,027.66 is available for this contract in the 2026 Water Operating Fund
The Director of Columbus Water and Power opened two competitive bids on Sept. 17, 2026, from Agilent Technologies Inc. and QuakeLogic Inc.
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The Director of Columbus Water and Power publicly opened the bid on September 17, 2026. Two bids were received from Agilent Technologies Inc. and QuakeLogic Inc.
Both bidders submitted quotes that did not satisfy that condition, leading city purchasing officials to determine that both bids were nonresponsive.
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The original quotes submitted with both bids did not meet the bid specification's 180 day quote requirement. Purchasing has advised that due to the expiration date of the quote the vendor’s bids have been deemed nonresponsive.
The vendor was unable to meet that request, but supplied an updated quote to hold pricing through the end of the year.
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Agilent Technologies Inc. was the lowest bidder, Purchasing has reached out to them to see if they would extend the expiration date to meet the 180 day requirement. Vendor was unable to meet this request; however, they supplied an updated quote to hold pricing through the end of the year.
According to the measure, emergency action was requested in order for the vendor to hold the pricing per the quote.
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Emergency action is requested in order for the vendor to hold the pricing per the quote.
Columbus City Council to Consider $4.65 Million for Water Treatment Chemicals
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported council plans to consider $4.65 million for water treatment chemicals.
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Columbus City Council to Consider $4.65 Million for Water Treatment Chemicals