TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF DECEMBER 7, 2017
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Issue purchase order and enter into an agreement with Brinkmann Instruments, Inc. d/b/a Metrohm USA, Inc., to furnish and deliver an Ion Chromatograph with Autosampler, in an amount not to exceed $68,257.00, Account 101-16000-634970, Requisition 1476778
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with Brinkmann Instruments, Inc. d/b/a Metrohm USA, Inc. (Metrohm) to furnish and deliver an ion chromatograph with autosampler. The Monitoring and Research Department’s Egan Analytical Laboratory at the John E. Egan Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) will use this equipment. This purchase order will expire on February 14, 2018.
The equipment will be used to determine fluoride, chloride and sulfate anion concentrations in samples submitted for analysis by the Maintenance and Operations Department for treatment plant monitoring, and by the Environmental Monitoring and Research Division to offer research project support.
The fluoride analysis is required by District WRP NPDES permits. The analysis of chloride and sulfate samples is required for wastewater treatment plant operations. The analysis of chloride is also an increasingly requested analysis for environmental studies. Ion chromatography provides a single instrument technique that allows for the sequential measurement of these anions in a single sample. Ion chromatography eliminates the need to use hazardous and costly reagents. The instrument uses a single environmentally-friendly reagent. The software controlling the instrument allows it to operate without the need of constant monitoring by an analyst. This would allow the instrument to complete the required analyses overnight without analyst attention, if necessary.
Recently, two patented technologies have been developed for ion chromatographic analysis of fluoride, chloride and sulfate anions that are necessary to attain the analytical sensitivity and sustainability of operation required by the Egan Analytical Laboratory. The first is a triple-chamber capillary chemical suppressor. This suppressor will reduce background noise, thus providing the greatest sensitivity that will lead to the lowest detection limits possible for the analysis of the fluoride, chloride and sulfate anions. In addition, it will automatically clean the cartridge and rinse it, making it ready to analyze another sample. This automatic cleaning step will reuse the same chemicals multiple times and will reduce chemical cost, chemical waste and save technician time. The second technology is inline sample preparation with filtration. This is an internal filtration step that has reusable filters which eliminates the need for more costly, disposable filters that would otherwise be needed. These two technologies are only available with the Metrohm instrument.
Metrohm, the sole-service provider to furnish, deliver, and install an ion chromatograph with autosampler for fluoride, chloride and sulfate samples, has submitted pricing for the equipment and services required. Inasmuch as Metrohm is the only source of supply for the equipment and services required, nothing would be gained by advertising for bids (Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act).
Metrohm is not registered to transact business in Illinois, but has submitted a certificate of good standing from the State of Florida. The Director of Monitoring and Research has given approval to move forward with the recommendation to issue.
The Multi-Project Labor Agreement is not applicable due to the specialized nature of the equipment and services required.
In view of the foregoing, it is recommended that the Director of Procurement and Materials Management be authorized to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with Brinkmann Instruments, Inc. d/b/a Metrohm, in an amount not to exceed $68,257.00.
Funds for 2018 are being requested in Account 101-16000-634970 and are contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budget for that year.
Requested, Edward W. Podczerwinski, Director of Monitoring and Research, EWP:KB:RA:DC:JC:bb/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 December 7, 2017