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KIOSK FOR WABASSO CAUSEWAY PARK - PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF FIND COST -SHARE GRANT - WILDERNESS GRAPHICS, INC. The Board reviewed a Memorandum of January 6, 1997: TO: James E. Chandler County Administrator BEAD CONCURRENCE: o M. at 7W77 Community Devel t D or .n %wwwy: Roland M. DeBloisTACP Chief, Environmental Planning FROM: James E. Rosich Environmental P anner DATE: January 6, 1997 BE: REQUEST FOR BOARD AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE FROM WILDERNESS GRAPHICS, INC. A KIOSK FOR WABASSO CAUSEWAY PARR, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF A F.I.N.D. COST -SHARE GRANT It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting of January 14, 1997. DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS On October 1, 1994, Indian River County entered into a cost -share agreement (Project # IR 94-17) with the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) to construct an informational kiosk at Wabasso Causeway Park, to serve as a public educational display about the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and Indian River Lagoon resources. The kiosk must be constructed prior to the FIND grant expiration date of September 1, 1997. On October 2, 1996, the Board of County Commissioners approved a budget amendment appropriating $10,000 for the purpose of constructing the kiosk. Wilderness Graphics, Inc., is a Tallahassee -based company that specializes in the design of kiosks and associated display panels for resource-based parks. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) obtains the services of Wilderness Graphics on a regular basis. County staff requested that FWS staff contact Wilderness Graphics on behalf of the County to obtain a price discount normally reserved for FWS projects. Subsequently, county staff received a discounted price quote of $6,075 from Wilderness Graphics for a pre -fabricated kiosk, including educational display panels relating to boating and Indian River Lagoon resources (e.g., manatees, seagrasses). Staff is requesting that the Board of County Commissioners authorize staff to proceed with purchasing from Wilderness Graphics the kiosk kit and display panels (as described herein) for the Wabasso Causeway Park. ALTERNATIVES & ANALYSIS County Code Chapter 105, Purchasing, sets forth bidding procedures and requires Board approval for the purchase of materials or services exceeding $5,000. Code Section 105.03 provides that bidding is not required except for certain projects specifically requiring bidding under Florida Statutes (which is not applicable in this case). It is staff's position that it is appropriate and in the County's interest to select the services of Wilderness Graphics, Inc. for the kiosk and display panels without need for formal bidding, based on the following reasons. First, the price quote submitted is nearly $4,000 less than the original project cost estimate. Second, Wilderness Graphics has considerable experience in the specialized field of designing custom interpretive kiosks. Third, Wilderness Graphics has designed similar kiosk displays along the Lagoon in other counties, and therefore the display panels are readily available from the company. Finally, the County's in-kind contribution as reflected in the FIND grant is estimated to be $3,000 for on-site construction. However, purchasing a pre- fabricated kiosk kit will require assembly only, thereby substantially reducing the cost of the County's in-kind contribution. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners authorize staff to purchase from Wilderness Graphics, Inc. the described custom kiosk kit, including informational display panels, at the quoted price of $6,075. JANUARY 14, 1997 31 B50K lud,