TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. Richard Lanyon, Executive Director
Title
Issue purchase order and enter into a joint funding agreement with the United States Department of the Interior-U.S. Geological Survey for the maintenance and operation of nine streamflow gaging stations within Cook County, Illinois in an amount not to exceed $70,985.00, Account 501-50000-612490, Requisition 1309910
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into a joint funding agreement with the United States Department of the Interior - U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the maintenance and operation of nine streamflow gaging stations within Cook County.
The nine streamflow gaging stations are located as follows:
• Salt Creek at Rolling Meadows
• Salt Creek near Elk Grove Village
• Salt Creek at Western Springs
• North Branch of the Chicago River at Deerfield
• North Branch of the Chicago River at Albany Avenue, Chicago
• Deer Creek near Chicago Heights
• Butterfield Creek at Flossmoor
• Midlothian Creek at Oak Forest
• Tinley Creek near Palos Park
The total cost of operating and maintaining these nine gaging stations is $107,560.00. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s (District) share of this agreement is $70,985.00 and the remaining $36,575.00 will be funded jointly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the USGS.
The streamflow data collected at these sites by the USGS will be used in conjunction with USGS streamflow data from other sites funded by the Corps and other agencies under joint funding agreements. The USGS is the recognized expert in the measurement and reporting of streamflow data. The District’s participation in this USGS program will protect the integrity of data and will help in the development of valuable historical records at the gage locations. The District first provided funding for eight gages in 2006. All of the streamflow gaging stations provide data that the District either has or will need to use in the development of the Detailed Watershed Plans and in any future watershed planning efforts. Further, ensuring the long-term continuity of the data collected by the USGS at the aforementioned gages is an important element of the service that the District provides under its Stormwater Management Program.
The USGS is a non-profit governmental agency and is therefore not required to register with the State of Illinois.
In as much as the USGS possesses a high degree of professional skill, it is recommended that the Director of Procurement and Materials Management be authorized to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement without advertising, per Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act.
Funds for the 2010 expenditures, in the amount of $17,746.25, are available in Account 501-50000-612490. The estimated expenditures for 2011 are $53,238.75. Funds for the 2011 expenditures are contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budget for that year.
Requested, Kenneth A. Kits, Director of Engineering, WSS:JPM
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Barbara J. McGowan, Chairman Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for September 2, 2010