TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Allison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities
SUBJECT:
title
Award of Contract No. 2955-0126 for the 2026 Blended Phosphate Purchase to Carus Corporation for the Not-to-Exceed Amount of $97,440.00
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Joliet adds a blended phosphate chemical to the water system as a corrosion-inhibiting agent. This chemical is used to reduce the leaching of lead and copper from home plumbing into the water system and sequester the iron which occurs naturally in the water. The blended phosphate product used is a 60/40 blend which is required by the City’s IEPA operating permit. An advertisement for bids for the 2026 Blended Phosphate Purchase was published in the Herald News on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
The Public Service Committee will review this matter.
CONCLUSION:
Bids for the 2026 Blended Phosphate Purchase were opened at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Three (3) bids were received for the Contract and read out loud. The bids also included an option for 2027 pricing. Exercise of this option will be evaluated by Staff at the end of 2026. The bid summary is as follows:
|
Bidder |
2026 Bid Price |
2027 |
|
Carus Corporation |
$97,440.00 |
$104,160.00 |
|
Hawkins Inc. |
$119, 850.00 |
$125,100.00 |
|
Shannon Chemical |
$212,100.00 |
$212,100.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
Engineer’s Estimate |
$138,902.00 |
|
The low bid from Carus Corporation, in the amount of $6.496 per gallon of solution, for the estimated 15,000 gallons needed, is 29% below the engineer’s estimate.
Funds will be charged to the 2026 Water & Sewer Operating Fund / Water Supply / Chemicals (Org 50080011, Object 536108, $97,440.00).
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council authorize the award of Contract No. 2955-0126 for the 2026 Blended Phosphate Purchase, for a not-to-exceed amount of $97,440.00, to Carus Corporation.
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