TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 7, 2026
COMMITTEE ON ENGINEERING
Mr. John P. Murray, Executive Director
Title
Authority to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise compliance under an Intergovernmental Agreement for the Red Line Extension
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) compliance on Contract 25-RFP-21, Rebuild of Dewatering Facility, CWRP (Dewatering Building Project) and any other contracts for which the MWRD seeks reimbursement from CTA under an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between MWRD and CTA for the CTA’s Red Line Extension (RLE Extension).
The Board authorized MWRD to negotiate and enter into an IGA with CTA allowing CTA to acquire certain real estate interests within the Calumet WRP and requiring CTA to reimburse MWRD $45,510,000.00 for its design and construction work to accommodate the RLE Extension.
CTA’s RLE Extension is partially funded by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). This federal funding requires MWRD’s Dewatering Building Project, and any other contract under the IGA for which MWRD seeks reimbursement from CTA, to comply with USDOT rules and regulations. USDOT regulations require all funding recipients to follow an established DBE Program.
On March 5, 2026, the Board authorized an amendment to the Dewatering Building Project advertisement to require proposers to comply with CTA’s DBE Program. CTA is a member of the Illinois Unified Certification Program (ILUCP). ILUCP maintains a list of USDOT approved DBE firms and has recently completed a recertification of vendors using USDOT’s required criteria for DBE status.
The MOU will outline the responsibilities of each agency for the application and enforcement of CTA’s DBE Program on the Dewatering Building Project and any other contracts under the IGA for which MWRD seeks reimbursement from CTA. Under the MOU, MWRD and CTA will work side-by-side on DBE compliance, share information, and jointly participate in site meetings and visits.
There is no financial cost to the MWRD associated with this MOU.
Therefore, authority is requested to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chicago Transit Authority for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise compliance under an IGA for the Red Line Extension.
Requested, Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, CAO:STM
Recommended, John P. Murray, Executive Director
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for May 7, 2026