TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 2, 2026
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. John P. Murray, Executive Director
Title
Issue Purchase Order and Enter into an Agreement with ABB Inc., for a Multi-Year Industry Care Priority Agreement to Provide Telephone Support, Online Support, and Software Maintenance for the ABB DCS System at O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant, in an Amount not to Exceed $1,803,985.00, Account 101-67000-612650, Requisition 1649597
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with ABB Inc., for a multi-year Industry Care Priority agreement to provide telephone support, online support, and software maintenance for the ABB DCS System at O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant. The service would begin upon issuance of the purchase order and terminate on December 31, 2030.
The DCS and associated workstations are installed at various locations throughout the North Side Service Area, and they are an integral component of the wastewater treatment process. The ABB Industry Care Priority support program provides the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant with technical support resources to assist in troubleshooting, diagnosis, and resolution of difficult problems that may arise from component failures. In addition, the Industry Care Priority program also includes a software maintenance program for each subscribing DCS to ensure the notification and implementation of software revision updates, software patches, and other refinements typical with version support of installed DCS software. It is important to ensure a connection with some level of technical support and expertise from the OEM, which this agreement would provide.
ABB, Inc., the sole source provider of ABB Industry Care Select services and parts, has submitted prices for the services and parts required. Inasmuch as ABB, Inc. is the only source of supply for the services and parts required, nothing would be gained by advertising for bids (Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act).
ABB Inc. is registered and in good standing with the State of Illinois.
The Multi-Project Labor Agreement (MPLA) is not applicable because the requirement does not fall under the provisions of the MPLA.
The Affirmative Action Ordinance, Revised Appendix D and Appendix V, are not included because ABB Inc. is the sole provider of these specialized services and parts.
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 ABB Inc., in an amount not to exceed $1,803,985.00.
Funds for the 2026 expenditure, in the amount of $297,475.00, are available in Account 101-67000-612650. The estimated expenditures for 2027 are $346,964.00, for 2028 are $377,835.00, for 2029 are $386,373.00, and for 2030 are $395,338.00, and are all contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budget for those years.
Requested, Pinakin V. Desai, Acting Director of Maintenance and Operations
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management, DAL:SEB:MS:jd
Respectfully Submitted, Precious Brady-Davis, Chairperson, Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for April 2, 2026