TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 21, 2026
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. John P. Murray, Executive Director
Title
Issue purchase order and enter into an agreement with Agilent Technologies, Inc. to furnish, deliver, install an Agilent 5900 SVDV Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer, peripheral equipment, consumable supplies, and extended warranty, in an amount not to exceed $189,511.76, Accounts 101-16000-612970, 623570, 634970, Requisition 1657716
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with Agilent Technologies, Inc. (Agilent) for the purchase, delivery, and installation of a new Agilent 5900 Synchronous Vertical Dual View (SVDV) Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES), along with peripheral equipment (including Dichroic Spectral Combiner, autosampler, advanced valve system), consumables, and a five-year discounted extended warranty and maintenance agreement. The agreement is anticipated to conclude on or about December 31, 2031.
The new ICP-OES instrument will replace a twelve-year-old unit that has reached the end of its useful life and is no longer supported by the manufacturer. This instrument is essential for the routine analysis of trace metals in support of the Industrial Waste Pretreatment Program, the Sludge Quality Control Program, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit compliance sampling, and Chicago Area Waterway System monitoring. The Agilent 5900 SVDV ICP-OES incorporates multiple patented and exclusive technologies, including Synchronous Vertical Dual View capability, that are not available from any other manufacturer. These features enable significantly faster analysis times, substantially reduced argon consumption, lower operating costs, and improved analytical precision and robustness, particularly when analyzing complex matrices such as wastewater, sludge, and industrial wastes.
This acquisition will increase the laboratory’s sample throughput and capacity, improve turnaround times for critical compliance analyses, reduce instrument downtime and the need for sample re-runs, and enhance overall operational continuity and staff productivity. In addition, the extended warranty provides priority maintenance scheduling and full system support from a single vendor. The investment will ensure the Laboratory can continue to meet its regulatory and operational responsibilities efficiently while delivering long-term cost savings through reduced gas consumption and minimized downtime.
Agilent, the sole service provider of the Agilent 5900 SVDV ICP-OES, peripheral equipment, consumable supplies, and extended warranty, has submitted prices for the equipment and services required. Inasmuch as Agilent is the only supplier for the services required, nothing would be gained by advertising for bids (Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act).
Agilent Technologies, Inc. is registered and in good standing with the State of Illinois.
The Multi-Project Labor Agreement (MPLA) 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 Agilent in an amount not to exceed $189,511.76.
Funds for the 2026 expenditures, in the amount of $149,511.76, are available in Accounts 101-16000-612970, and 634970. The estimated expenditures for 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030 are $10,000.00 per year, in Account 101-16000-623570. Funds for the 2027-2030 expenditures are contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budget for those years.
Requested, Edward W. Podczerwinski, Director of Monitoring and Research, EWP:RA:JC:PG:nj
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
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 May 21, 2026