TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 16, 2017
COMMITTEE ON MONITORING AND RESEARCH
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization for payment to Marquette University for annual membership in the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Water Equipment and Policy, in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00, Account 101-15000-612280
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to make payment to Marquette University for 2017 membership in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Water Equipment and Policy (I/UCRC WEP), in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00. The membership period ends December 31, 2017.
The District became a member of the I/UCRC WEP in 2015. The I/UCRC WEP’s primary goal is to encourage research and development of water, stormwater and wastewater oriented projects in an academic environment so that environmentally friendly and sustainable equipment and solutions are devised for groundwater, Lake Michigan, the Great Lakes, and international water bodies, as well as the water reclamation industry.
The I/UCRC WEP partners with universities and educational institutions that possess state-of-the-art water-related academic research facilities, and industrial organizations and companies to create the next generation of products and processes for I/UCRC WEP members. Each member has one seat on the Industry Advisory Board for selecting future research projects and royalty-free access to intellectual property and student researchers. Currently, the I/UCRC WEP is conducting research in the following areas that will produce beneficial results applicable to the District’s operations.
1. Enhancing biosolids energy production with chaff and ash.
2. Ultra-low phosphorus regulations: Improving removal of non-reactive phosphorus and downstream dewaterability in Bio-P biosolids.
3. Model development for design and real-time control of stormwater basins for watershed management during climate change adaptation.
4. Investigating water-energy nexus to improve energy efficiency, economic profitability, and infrastructure resiliency of wastewater treatment plants.
5. Governance mechanisms to facilitate technology uptake and effective intergovernmental cooperation on watershed issues.
6. Policy workshop: Drivers for technology innovation at the food-energy-water nexus.
Marquette University, as the representative of I/UCRC WEP, the sole source of supply, has submitted pricing for the amount of the research commitment requested. Inasmuch as the research benefits are not available through any other source of supply, nothing would be gained by advertising for bids (Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act).
It is hereby recommended that the Board of Commissioners authorize payment by direct voucher to Marquette University in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00. Funds are available in Account 101-15000-612280.
Requested, Thomas C. Granato, Director of Monitoring and Research, TCG:EWP:MPC:HZ:AC:cm
Recommended, Eileen McElligott, Administrative Services Manager
Respectfully Submitted, Kari Steele, Chairman, Committee on Monitoring and Research
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for February 16, 2017