A request for approval of a Sole Source Procurement was presented to and approved by the Deputy City Manager on September 24, 2026.
The City of Ashland’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) has infrastructure that is specific to the original build. The return activated sludge (RAS) pumps are at end of life. The piping, motor, electrical, and all else is still in good working order. The pump volute and impeller are past end of life, are no longer repairable, and are in need of replacement.
Fiscal year 26 a Flowserve replacement pump was ordered and installed to ensure a proper fit. The Flowserve pump fit exactly and functions perfectly with minimal modification/work needed to install.
The RAS pumps original manufacturer was Ingersoll Rand. Ingersoll was bought out by Flowserve who now sells ‘direct fit replacement’ items. August of 2025 a replacement pump was ordered to ensure fitment (See PO 20260042 which was a ‘3 bid process’). The other 2 RAS pumps need to be ordered now as all other options have been observed.
Throughout 2025 WWTP had 5 different vendors come give bids on replacement items. Flowserve was the only vendor who could offer a direct replacement. All other vendors pump replacements would involve considerable more cost to the city to by creating a need to completely rebuild the pump install; from pump pedestal, to pipe configurations, to electrical, and more. Rebuilding the entire system to allow a different vendors pump to be installed would not be a financially responsible option for the City.
It has been determined based on written findings that the Sole Source Procurement will be unlikely to encourage favoritism in the awarding of public contracts or to substantially diminish competition for public contracts, and result in substantial cost savings or substantially promote the public interest in a manner that could not be realized by complying with the requirements that are applicable in ORS 279B.075 (2)(a).
An affected person may protest the request for approval of a Sole Source Procurement in accordance with ORS 279B.400 and OAR 137-047-0300. A written protest shall be delivered to the following address: City of Ashland, Keanna Khlafallah, Purchasing Specialist, 20 East Main Street, Ashland, Oregon, 97520. The seven (7) day protest period will expire at 09:30 AM October 1, 2026.
