TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 31, 2017
COMMITTEE ON MONITORING AND RESEARCH
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Current Innovation, NFP to Support Research and Identify Innovative Water Technologies and to Streamline Pilot Testing or Demonstrations Beneficial to Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Operations
Body
Dear Sir:
Authority is requested to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Current Innovation, NFP (Current) to support research and identify innovative water technologies and to streamline pilot testing or demonstrations beneficial to Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) operations. The MOU will be effective for three years after it is signed by both parties.
Current is a Chicago-based, not-for-profit organization, launched in 2016 with the support of the City of Chicago, the District, and World Business Chicago. Current serves as a leading platform to validate, demonstrate, commercialize and scale innovative water technologies and promote research to solve critical water challenges. The water technologies can help the District achieve its Strategic Business Goals and serve its customers more effectively. In addition, this MOU will help in streamlining the process of evaluation and adoption of technologies, which will eventually lead to more cost-effective assessment and deployment of feasible wastewater treatment or stormwater management technologies.
This MOU will allow for the cooperation and coordination on pilot studies and research. For cooperation and coordination of pilot studies, the process of validating water technology solutions includes technical and economic assessment, pilot testing and support services, and the evaluation of operational performance. When Current identifies water technologies that might be beneficial to the District, Current will refer them to the District. The District will evaluate the referrals and determine if it will participate in the pilot testing or demonstration.
For cooperation and coordination for research, Current will refer research proposals from institutions to the District. If the District agrees to pursue and support the research, this will be done under a Master Agreement between the District and the research institution. The MOU does not limit or restrict the District from participating with other entities in similar activities or arrangements. The District and Current have already identified a number of activities that may be undertaken under this MOU.
Any pilot tests or demonstrations considered under this MOU must be conducted at no cost to the District for use of the referred technology. Pilot testing does not guarantee the award of any District contract; any and all District contracts that may be pursued subsequent to pilot testing or demonstration must comply with the District’s Purchasing Act (70 ILCS 2605/11.1 et seq.), the District’s Multi-Project Labor Agreement, and the District’s Affirmative Action Requirements and Affirmative Action Ordinance, as applicable.
Based on the foregoing, the Monitoring and Research Department recommends that the District be authorized to enter into a MOU with Current for engaging in support of research and pilot scale testing for innovative water technologies, and that the Chairman of the Committee on Monitoring and Research, the Executive Director, and the Clerk be authorized to execute said Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the District, upon approval by the Acting Director of the Monitoring and Research Department as to technical matters and by the Acting General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Edward W. Podczerwinski, Acting Director of Monitoring and Research, EWP:KB:RA:kq/ae
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Kari K. Steele, Chairman Committee on Monitoring and Research
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for August 31, 2017
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