Title
Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing an expenditure of an amount not to exceed $56,500 with Baker & Taylor, Inc. under Texas Smart Buy 715-M2 for the purchase of library print materials for children and teens through September 30, 2025 (Director of Parks & Cultural Services)
Background:
Approval of this item will authorize the Helen Hall Library purchase of print materials children and teens. The State of Texas developed an RFP solicitation for all public libraries that allows those libraries to purchase the aforementioned materials without the library having to solicit individually. This affords the library the ease of ordering through national distributors and the benefit of terms and discounts offered throughout Texas.
Information is attached detailing Texas Smart Buy 715-M2, as well as the current Terms and Discounts for Public Libraries, which offers detail as to the discounts received with purchases in certain categories. The current contract expires October 31, 2025.
The FY 2025 budget includes $198,800 for new materials of all types. A memorandum detailing all library materials vendors selected for the fiscal year is attached. Though Baker & Taylor, Inc., is the only selected vendor with an allocated expenditure above $50,000, and the only vendor requiring council approval, library administration wishes to provide the entire list of selected library materials vendors and the allocated expenditures.
For price comparisons, staff extrapolated a sample set of ten (10) books for children and ten (10) books for teens and compared prices with a vendor outside of the state contract. Results of up to 51% savings for children’s materials and up to 39% savings for teen materials can be found compared to Amazon’s suggested retail price. A breakdown and explanation of costs are included in the Materials FY25 Comparisons Memorandum.
Attachments:
1. Proposed Resolution
2. Texas Smart Buy 715-M2 Contract Details
3. Materials FY25 Comparisons...
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