TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 2, 2018
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. John P. Murray, Acting Executive Director
Title
Authority to advertise Contract 18-116-11 Furnish and Deliver a Biocatalyst Pilot Bioreactor at the Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant, estimated cost $300,000.00, Account 201-50000-645650, Requisition 1497264
Body
Dear Sir:
Contract documents and specifications have been prepared for Contract 18-116-11 to furnish and deliver a biocatalyst pilot bioreactor at the Terrence J. O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant (O’Brien WRP). The contract will be for thirteen months, beginning on approximately November 15, 2018, and ending December 31, 2019.
The purpose of this contract is to fabricate a pilot bioreactor for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) to test a new technology to explore an option for removing phosphorus and meeting National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit limits.
On December 7, 2017 the Board of Commissioners approved the Director of Procurement and Materials Management to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with Microvi Biotech Inc. (Microvi) to lease to the District the appropriate type and quantity of biocatalysts for the duration of a year-long pilot plant study, and to provide technical support to the District during the startup and commissioning of a pilot plant for an amount not to exceed $50,300.00.
Microvi has developed a suite of products together called MicroNiche™ technology. The Microvi technology was featured at the Water Research Foundation’s (WRF) recent Intensification of Resource Recovery forum as a technology that shows promise to significantly alter conventional wastewater treatment and improve process efficiency. The WRF (of which the District is a subscriber) will provide support to the District’s pilot project by providing peer review of the project.
Fabrication of an approximately 25,000 gallons per day capacity pilot plant will allow the District to operate, monitor, and fully evaluate the MicroNiche™ technology at the O’Brien WRP. The pilot plant will also allow the District to understand if the MicroNiche™ technology can be cost effectively used to potentially reduce energy demand, improve process performance under stressed conditions, accommodate enhanced nutrient removal to meet known and future permit limits, and produce less sludge. The District trades will perform the necessary labor to install this pilot bioreactor. This bioreactor can be repurposed to test other technologies in the future.
The estimated cost for this contract is $300,000.00. The estimated 2018 and 2019 expenditures are $50,000.00 and $250,000.00, respectively.
The bid deposit for this contract is $15,000.00.
The Multi-Project Labor Agreement (MPLA) is not applicable to this contract because it is primarily a furnish and deliver contract.
The Affirmative Action Ordinance, Revised Appendix D is not included in this contract because it is primarily a furnish and deliver contract.
The tentative schedule for this contract is as follows:
Advertise September 19, 2018
Bid Opening October 16, 2018
Award November 15, 2018
Completion December 31, 2019
Funds for the current year are available in Account 201-50000-645650. Funds for 2019 are contingent on the Board of Commissioner’s approval of the District’s budget for that year.
In view of the foregoing, it is recommended that the Director of Procurement and Materials Management be authorized to advertise Contract 18-116-11.
Requested, Edward W. Podczerwinski Director of Monitoring and Research, EWP:KB:HZ:KK:lf
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 2, 2018