The playground equipment at Hawthorne Park has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.  Council approved $150,000 for this purpose and in 2017 PRPL was awarded a $125,000 Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant that requires a 50/50 funding mach and which can only be used for the Hawthorne Park play equipment.  The total funding budget is $275,000.  Staff intends to use the State of Montana Cooperative Purchasing Program to purchase the equipment.  The Cooperative Purchasing Program negotiates a discounted price with vendors, enabling municipalities to purchase items directly from approved vendors in lieu of the traditional bidding process. 

Staff designed and selected the replacement equipment that will be ADA accessible and inclusive for all children to play together no matter their abilities or disabilities.  See Attachment A.  The equipment will be purchased from 2 vendors, Landscape Structures Inc. (LSI) and Kompan.  These vendors are manufacturers of play equipment nationally and internationally meeting all industry and federal standards.   Staff has selected the major portion of equipment from LSI in the amount of $88,616.00 and the remaining equipment from Kompan in the amount of $34,710.00.  Staff is seeking Council approval for the purchase of the LSI and Kompan equipment.

The remaining funding will provide for sub-surface drainage, fall protection and play equipment installation.  A shade structure is planned if total project funding permits it.        
       

City Council may:

• Approve purchasing the LSI playground equipment for $88,616.00 and the Kompan equipment for $34,710, or;
• Disapprove the purchase and provide guidance to staff.

There will be no additional impact to the City as funds have already been appropriated for this project.

Staff recommends Council approve the purchase of playground equipment from LSI in the amount of $88,616.00 and from Kompan for $34,710, for a total purchase of $123,326.