TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF DECEMBER 19, 2019
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Authorization for payment to ISLE Inc., for the annual membership in the ISLE - Technology Approval Group, in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00, Account 101-15000-612280
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to make payment to ISLE Inc. (ISLE), for 2020 membership in the ISLE - Technology Approval Group (TAG), in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00. The membership period ends December 31, 2020.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) is in receipt of the 2020 annual membership renewal notice from ISLE for the period January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020.
The ISLE-TAG performs worldwide searches for innovative emerging technologies to address member needs, including treatment, asset management, and business practices. The ISLE-TAG is a global innovation forum which brings water utilities together to evaluate emerging technologies, identify pilot opportunities, and engage in collaborative research or deployment.
In 2019, ISLE consultants evaluated the District’s goals and challenges in consultation with staff from the Monitoring and Research (M&R) Department to help find solutions through the independent sourcing of innovative technologies meeting District’s needs. In 2019, thirty (30) technologies were introduced at three regional TAG meetings. The M&R Department staff is evaluating two of the technologies further for possible District applications.
Two of the key benefits to the District from the ISLE TAG membership are:
1. Collaborative evaluation: Access to innovative forums consisting of regional utilities to collaboratively review emerging technologies in a peer-to-peer environment, increasing opportunities for knowledge transfer and shared resources to support and adopt new technologies.
2. Access to the ISLE technology platform: District staff has unlimited online access to ISLE’s technology platform database, which currently consists of more than 1,500 technology profiles, case studies, and TAG evaluations of those technologies. District staff has used this platform frequently during 2019 to evaluate solicited or unsolicited technologies. Access to ISLE’s technology platform is a great resource to obtain information about new technologies more efficiently because for all technologies vetted by the TAG, the platform has all the relevant information such as current users of technology, pilot, or case studies in one place.
Continuing membership in the ISLE-TAG will be beneficial as the District strives to achieve excellence in all aspects of wastewater treatment and improve our environment.
Inasmuch as the research benefits are not available through any other source of supply, nothing would be gained by advertising for bids (Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act).
It is hereby recommended that the Board of Commissioners authorize payment, by direct voucher, to ISLE Inc., in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00. Funds are available in Account 101-15000-612280.
Requested, Eileen McElligott, Administrative Services Officer, EWP:TEK:KK:kaq
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Barbara J. McGowan, 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 December 19, 2019