TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 6, 2015
COMMITTEE ON Procurement
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to extend and amend the Master Agreement with the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois from an expiration date of December 31, 2015 to an expiration date of December 31, 2018
Body
Dear Sir:
On September 19, 2002, the Board of Commissioners (Board) granted authority to enter into a Master Agreement (MA) between the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) and the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois on behalf of its Urbana-Champaign Campus (U of I). Initially, this agreement was for an approximate period of three years to terminate on December 31, 2005. On October 16, 2003, the Board granted authority to amend and extend the agreement for an additional three years to December 31, 2008. On May 3, 2007, the Board granted the authority to extend the MA through December 31, 2010. On April 17, 2008, the Board granted the authority to formally include the U of I Chicago campus under the MA. On December 16, 2010, the Board granted the authority to extend the MA through March 31, 2012. The Board authorized the last extension on March 15, 2012, extending the MA through December 31, 2015.
Authorization is requested to further extend and amend the MA between the District and the U of I through December 31, 2018. This amendment is due to recent research project specifications with anticipated completion dates beyond the current MA expiration date of December 31, 2015.
A previous project was authorized by the Board on June 18, 2015, for Contract 15-833-5F Watershed Specific Release Rate Study, Phase I for the Illinois State Water Survey to conduct Phase I of a Watershed Specific Release Rate Study for the Watershed Management Ordinance. This project is under the supervision of the Engineering Department. This is a 15-month project expected to be completed sometime in 2016.
Also, the Executive Director has authorized an investigation of microbial populations responsible for enhanced biological phosphorus removal at the Stickney WRP. This project will be under the supervision of the Monitoring and Research Department, and a request has been submitted for Board approval at the August 6th meeting as well. This project is expected to be completed by July 31, 2016.
Over the course of the MA, various colleges at the U of I, such as the College of Engineering and the College of Health Sciences, have provided valuable expertise and collaborative support to our operating departments. The MA has provided a vehicle to expedite collaboration, as organizational needs developed. The continuation of this relationship, in the future, would be beneficial to address any emerging issues, problems and challenges that would impact the District’s operations.
In view of the foregoing, it is requested that the Board of Commissioners authorize the Director of Procurement and Materials Management to extend and amend the MA with the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois till December 31, 2018.
Requested, Thomas C. Granato, Director of Monitoring and Research, TCG:MPC:KB:mh
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Barbara J. McGowan, Chairman Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for August 6, 2015