TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JULY 12, 2018
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. John P. Murray, Acting Executive Director
Title
Authorization to amend the Master Agreement with Northwestern University to extend the agreement termination date from August 31, 2018, to December 31, 2020
Body
Dear Sir:
On September 4, 2014, 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 Northwestern University (NU). On August 4, 2016, the Board granted the authority to extend the MA through August 31, 2018.
Authorization is requested to further amend and extend the MA between the District and NU through December 31, 2020.
A project was authorized by the Board on August 6, 2015, for a laboratory study of two mainstream shortcut biological nitrogen removal approaches. This project is under the supervision of the Monitoring and Research Department and was expected to be completed by August 31, 2018. The duration of the project will be extended to July 31, 2019, at no additional cost to the District. Extending the duration of the project is necessary due to delay in startup of the project and the need to obtain additional useful information as identified during the course of the project.
Under the MA, NU provides valuable expertise and collaborative support to our operating departments and the MA serves as a vehicle to expedite collaboration, as organizational needs develop. The continuation of this relationship, going forward, would be beneficial to address any emerging issues, problems and challenges that would impact the District’s operations.
Therefore, since the required services under the MA are professional in nature, they are not adaptive to award by competitive bidding. As a result, 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, Edward W. Podczerwinski, Director of Monitoring and Research, EWP:KB:HZ:AC:kq
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 July 12, 2018