TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 10, 2023
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Issue purchase order and enter into an agreement with SEAL Analytical Inc. to Furnish, Deliver, and Install an Automated Discrete Analyzer, Peripheral Equipment, Preventive Maintenance, and Consumable Supplies in the Analytical Laboratory at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant in an amount not to exceed $59,523.00, Accounts 101-16000-612970, 634970, Requisition 1602121
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with SEAL Analytical Inc. (SEAL) to furnish, deliver, and install an automated discrete analyzer, peripheral equipment, preventive maintenance, and consumable supplies in the Analytical Laboratory at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant. This purchase order will expire on December 31, 2024.
SEAL, the sole-service provider of the AQ400 Discrete Analyzer System (AQ400), consumables, training, and preventive maintenance, has submitted pricing for the services required. The AQ400 is being purchased to accommodate the increase in sample volume for total phosphorus analysis for required National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and new studies. The Calumet NPDES permit currently requires that effluent meet 1.00 parts per million for regulatory compliance for phosphorus. This compliance level is scheduled to become lower in future permit requirements. The analyte affects total nutrient loading resulting in algal blooms and die-offs, leading to low dissolved oxygen in the lower Mississippi River basin that results in massive species failure. The Calumet WRP is undergoing studies to minimize the District’s impact on these crucial environmental impairments. In order to minimize the District's impact on phosphorus loading, the Industrial Waste Division along with the Environmental Monitoring and Research Division have collaborated with the Analytical Laboratories Division to study both the Industrial Waste component of the phosphorus loading from several industrial users combined with the biological phosphorus removal studies conducted at the Calumet WRP.
The AQ400, while providing the automation of a robotic system, is the only discrete analyzer that delivers the capability of a flow-through quartz cuvette, which maximizes the reproducibility of results, and is the only discrete analyzer that allows for the use of cadmium reduction column, which is a cleaner and more cost-efficient method than the use of hydrazine or enzyme reduction based analytical methods that other analyzers use. Furthermore, the AQ400 is the only discrete analyzer on the market to employ a probe wash assembly which eliminates the risk of front-end contamination.
SEAL, the sole-service provider for the AQ400 Discrete Analyzer, peripheral equipment, preventive maintenance, and consumable supplies, has submitted pricing for the goods required. Inasmuch as SEAL is the only source of supply for the goods required, nothing would be gained by advertising for bids (Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act).
SEAL is registered and in good standing with the State of Illinois.
The Multi-Project Labor Agreement (MPLA) is not applicable because the classification of work does not fall under the provision of the MPLA.
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 SEAL in an amount not to exceed $59,523.00.
Funds for the 2023 expenditure, in the amount of $55,848.00, are available in Account 101-16000-634970. The estimated expenditure for 2024 is $3,675.00, in Account 101-16000-612970. Funds for the 2024 expenditure are contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budget for that year.
Requested, Edward W. Podczerwinski, Director of Monitoring and Research, EWP:RA:JC:JM: jb
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 August 10, 2023