This bid is for replacing one (1) ten foot (10') wide rotary mower for the Billings Park and Recreation Department. This mower replaces a 2006 Jacobson 10' wide mower.  The mower is used 8 hours a day, 5 days a week from May through the end of October.  It is used to mow many neighborhood  parks, smaller park areas and sport fields.  The current mower is in poor condition from this heavy use, is unreliable and has high maintenance costs.  The invitation for bid was advertised on July 21st, 28th, and August 4th in the Billings Times and on the City's Website. Bids were opened on August 11, 2015.  The 2006 Jacobson mower was offered for trade in on the purchase of a new mower.  The City received two bids.  The low bid should be rejected because it doesn't meet the specifications for mower decks.  The Midland Implement Company Inc. submitted the lowest responsible bid which meets the specifications.
Bids:  Midland Implement Company Inc.       $54,742 with a $500 trade-in allowance
          Yellowstone County Implement Inc.    $53,541 with a $5,756 trade-in allowance

City Council may:

• Award the purchase of ten foot (10’) wide rotary mower to Midland Implement Company Inc. in the net amount of $54,242, or
• Do not approve purchasing the mower at this time.  High maintenance costs and unreliability of the current mower will continue.

The purchase of the 10' mower is included the Equipment Replacement Plan.  Funding for the purchase is included in the FY 2016 budget.

Staff recommends that the City Council award the purchase of a new ten foot (10’) wide rotary mower to Midland Implement Company Inc. in the net bid amount of $54,242.