TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2016
COMMITTEE ON Procurement
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Issue purchase order and enter into an agreement with Teledyne Instruments, Inc., to furnish, deliver, and install a Quicktrace M-7600 Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Mercury Analyzer System, in an amount not to exceed $32,007.25, Account 101-16000-634970, Requisition 1400008
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with Teledyne Instruments, Inc. (Teledyne) to furnish, deliver, and install a Quicktrace M-7600 Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Mercury Analyzer System. The Monitoring and Research (M&R) Department’s Calumet Analytical Laboratory at the Calumet WRP is the centralized location for the analysis of all the total mercury and low level mercury samples for the District. These analyses are required by permits, regulations, and ordinances including: water reclamation plant influent and effluent samples for compliance with NPDES permits, biosolids samples for compliance with the USEPA Part 503 rule, industrial discharges to ensure that dischargers are in compliance with the industrial pretreatment regulations, and the monitoring of the water quality in the Chicago area waterways to meet the IEPA designated Water Quality Standard. This purchase order will expire on December 31, 2016.
In order for the M&R Department to maintain excellence in customer service, it is necessary to have an automated instrument that can analyze over the whole range of samples and concentrations that are received. In order to accomplish this the instrument must have the ability to adjust its sensitivity, and automatically dilute samples; the ability to run unattended increasing productivity; the system needs to be quality control compliant with the total mercury and low level mercury methods; and have the ability to analyze for total mercury and serve as a backup for low level mercury analysis to ensure continuous provision of customer service.
The Teledyne Quicktrace M-7600 System is the only equipment available that meets these performance specifications. This system meets the quality control requirements of both the total mercury USEPA Method 245.7, and low level mercury USEPA Method 1631E allowing the instrument to be used as a backup for low level mercury analysis of samples.
In addition, because this is a Teledyne mercury analyzer system and we have other Teledyne mercury analyzer systems in our laboratory we are afforded multi-unit discounts on the purchase of new equipment and for preventive maintenance contracts. Also, the six analysts that currently have their Demonstration of Capability as mandated by our IEPA Lab Accreditation to analyze total mercury samples would not have to receive major retraining to learn new operating system software and procedures allowing us to maintain our high level of service in analyzing over 7,000 total mercury samples per year. Inasmuch as Teledyne 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).
Teledyne is registered and in good standing with the State of Illinois.
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 Teledyne, in an amount not to exceed $32,007.25.
Funds are available in Account 101-16000-634970.
Requested, Thomas C. Granato, Director of Monitoring and Research, TCG:MPC:KB:VO:mh:jvs
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 June 16, 2016