TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 1, 2008
COMMITTEE ON PURCHASING
Mr. Richard Lanyon, General Superintendent
Title
Issue a purchase order to the University of Illinois at Chicago, under the University of Illinois Master Agreement, to conduct a Chicago Area Waterways Recreation Study, in an amount not to exceed $139,545.00, Account 101-16000-601170, Requisition 1241123
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order (PO) to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), under the Master Agreement (MA), for a Chicago Area Waterways System (CAWS) study by the Survey Research Laboratory (SRL) of the University of Illinois, starting upon the award of the PO and ending approximately December 31, 2008. This work will be supervised by the Wastewater Treatment Process Research Section of the Environmental Monitoring and Research Division of the Research and Development Department (R&D).
The principal investigator for this project will be Timothy Johnson, Ph.D., who is the SRL director. Other co-investigators include Samuel Dorevitch, Ph.D. and consultation with an economist.
The purpose of this study is to conduct a telephone survey of Cook County residents on current and desired recreational use of the CAWS. This survey is necessary to assess the desire of Cook County residents to engage in primary contact recreational activities such as swimming and boating in certain reaches of the CAWS where these activities have either been prohibited or allowed on a limited basis. The results of this survey study will be useful in determining the attitudes and opinions of the public in using the CAWS for expanded recreational activities.
The concern of debate is that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is currently considering upgrades to the use designations of several reaches of the CAWS. Such upgrades could expand the uses of the CAWS to include activities that are not advisable presently. Achieving microbial water quality standards that would permit primary contact recreational activities would necessitate disinfection of the effluent at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s (District’s) water reclamation plants. Disinfection would be costly and could have environmental and other impacts. It is not known how widespread among Cook County residents is the desire to engage in primary contact recreational activities such as swimming in the CAWS. It is also not known what price, both in economic and environmental terms, the population is willing to pay for such changes in water quality in the CAWS. Survey research methodologies can be applied to address such public policy questions.
The work performed by the UIC under the MA is for the services of individuals possessing a high degree of professional skill where the ability or fitness of the individual plays an important part. Therefore, the services obtained are not adaptive to award by competitive bidding pursuant to Section 11.4 of the District’s Purchasing Act.
In view of the above, it is requested that the Purchasing Agent be authorized to issue a PO to the UIC, in an amount not to exceed $139,545.00. Funds are available in Account 101-16000-601170, Corporate Fund.
Requested, Louis Kollias, Director of Research and Development, LK:WJS:MPC:KB:bk
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Purchasing Agent
Respectfully Submitted, Barbara J. McGowan, Chairman Committee on Purchasing
ORDERED passed by affirmative roll call vote of a majority of the Commissioners present this May 1, 2008. Approved, President Terrence J. O’Brien