04. Purchase and budget adjustment for election security cages

211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 | www.casscountynd.gov Finance Office Telephone: 701-241-5600 Fax: 701-241-5728 SMB-FIN@casscountynd.gov February 14, 2024 Board of County Commissioners Cass County Government 211 9th Street South Fargo ND 58103 Re: Election Security Cage Request for Purchase Dear Commissioners: During elections, the county utilizes moving cages to easily pack and transport election equipment and polling location supplies from the election warehouse to the various polling places located throughout the county. The cages are designed to be securable and easily moved. Cass County has doubled the number of vote centers being offered during the upcoming 2024 election cycle which has led to the need for additional security cages. The current cage inventory located at the warehouse totals 88 cages. The internal measurements of these cages are 26”x30”x58” each and are made from a white metal tubing that resembles PVC piping on a set of 4 rolling casters with a ramp to easily load large equipment. These cages were designed to perfectly fit the DS200 tabulators. With the increase of polling locations and overall equipment needing to be moved, we have calculated a shortage of 44 of these cages. The vendor that supplied the current cages is no longer in business, which has required us to find a new vendor and alternative cage designs. We reached out to a few vendors for pricing and availability (see attached quotes). Midwest Distribution LLC came back with the best quote at $393 per unit and a minimum purchase of 36 units totaling $20,384, including shipping and handling ($14,148 plus $6,236 S&H). These cages are made of a steel frame with wire rods. They are larger than our current cages at 24”x48”x70” and comes with 2 adjustable shelves. This larger, more versatile design will allow us enough storage area to make up for the 44 cages we are short. This is not a budgeted item and will require a budget adjustment. SUGGESTED MOTION: Move to approve the purchase of 36 security cages from Midwest Distribution LLC in the amount of $20,384 and correlating budget adjustment. Enc: Midwest Distribution LLC Quote Images of current cage and Midwest Distribution LLC cage National Cart quote Dakota Storage Product Prices