TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JANUARY 9, 2025
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Authorization for payment to Isle Inc., for the annual membership in the Isle - Technology Approval Group, in an amount not to exceed $21,962.00, Account 101-15000-612280 (As Revised)
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to make payment to Isle Inc. (Isle), for a 2025 membership in the Isle - Technology Approval Group (TAG), in an amount not to exceed $21,962.00. The membership period ends December 31, 2025.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) is in receipt of the 2025 annual membership renewal notice from Isle for the period January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
The Isle - TAG performs worldwide searches for innovative emerging technologies to address member needs, including treatment, asset management, and business practices. The Isle - TAG is a global innovation forum which brings water utilities together to evaluate emerging technologies, identify pilot opportunities, and engage in collaborative research or deployment.
The District became a member of the Isle - TAG in 2019; since then, one hundred and seventy (170) technologies have been introduced to the District at seventeen regional TAG meetings. In 2024, twenty-one (21) technologies were introduced at two regional TAG meetings. On July 30, 2024, Isle consultants and District staff conducted an exercise to collaboratively evaluate the District’s goals and challenges to help find solutions through the independent sourcing of innovative technologies that will meet the District’s needs in accordance with the District’s 2021 - 2025 Strategic Plan. Based on this needs assessment, Isle provided a summary of priority technology needs and opportunities for innovation tailored for the District. Isle also referred vendors that provide solutions according to the District’s needs. A similar technology needs assessment will be conducted in 2025 as part of the membership.
Two of the key benefits to the District from the Isle - TAG membership include:
1. Collaborative evaluation: access to innovative forums consisting of regional utilities to collaboratively review emerging technologies in a peer-to-peer environment, increasing opportunities for knowledge transfer and shared resources to support and adopt new technologies.
2. Access to the Isle technology platform: District staff has unlimited online access to Isle’s technology platform database, which currently consists of more than 1,500 technology profiles, case studies, and TAG evaluations of those technologies. District staff has used this platform frequently since 2019 to evaluate solicited or unsolicited technologies. Access to Isle’s technology platform is a great resource to obtain information about new technologies more efficiently, as all technologies vetted by the TAG use a platform that has all the relevant information such as current users of technology, pilot, or case studies in one place.
Continuing membership in the Isle - TAG will be beneficial as this is an important partnership in developing the District’s Innovation Ecosystem as the District strives to achieve excellence in all aspects of wastewater treatment and improve our environment in accordance with the District’s Strategic Plan.
Isle Inc. is not registered to transact business in Illinois but has submitted a certificate of good standing from the State of California. The Administrative Services Officer has given approval to move forward with this vendor.
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 Isle Inc., in an amount not to exceed $21,962.00.
Funds are available in Account 101-15000-612280.
Requested, Shellie Riedle, Administrative Services Officer, EWP:RA
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Marcelino Garcia, 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 January 9, 2025