TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 4, 2016
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to amend the Master Agreement with the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois to extend the agreement termination date from December 31, 2018 to December 31, 2019
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 University of Illinois Chicago campus under the MA. On December 16, 2010, the Board granted the authority to extend the MA through March 31, 2012. On March 15, 2012, the Board granted the authority to extend the MA through December 31, 2015. The Board authorized the last extension on August 6, 2015, extending the MA through December 31, 2018.
Authorization is requested to further amend and extend the MA between the District and the U of I through December 31, 2019. This amendment is due to recent Research Project Specifications with anticipated completion dates beyond the current MA expiration date of December 31, 2018.
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.
A previous project was authorized by the Board on August 6, 2015 for Project Specification - Development of Molecular Tool to Monitor Microbial Populations Responsible for Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant. This project is under the supervision of the Monitoring and Research (M&R) Department, and is expected to be completed by August 15, 2016.
Also, the Executive Director has authorized a project “Use of Multifunctional Perennial Buffer Strips in Reducing the Nutrient Loss from Agricultural Fields.” This project will be under the supervision of the M&R Department, and a request was submitted for Board approval at the July 7, 2016 meeting. This project is expected to be completed by December 31, 2019.
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.
Since the required services under the MA are professional in nature, they are not adaptive to award by competitive bidding. Therefore, it is requested that the extension of the termination date be authorized without advertising, as stated in Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act.
This amendment is in compliance with the Illinois Criminal Code, since the change is due to circumstances not reasonably foreseeable at the time the contract was signed, and is in the best interest of the District.
Requested, Thomas C. Granato, Director of Monitoring and Research, TCG:EWP:MPC:KB:ae
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 4, 2016