TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 5, 2018
COMMITTEE ON MONITORING AND RESEARCH
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization for payment to Marquette University for the annual membership in the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Water Equipment and Policy, in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00, Account 101-15000-612280
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to make payment to Marquette University for 2018 membership in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Water Equipment and Policy (WEP Research Center), in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00. The membership period ends December 31, 2018.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) became a member of the WEP Research Center in 2015. The WEP Research Center’s primary goal is to encourage research and development of water, stormwater, and wastewater oriented projects in an academic environment so that environmentally friendly and sustainable equipment and solutions are devised for groundwater, Lake Michigan, the Great Lakes, and international water bodies, as well as the water reclamation industry.
The WEP Research Center partners with universities and educational institutions that possess state-of-the-art water-related academic research facilities and industrial organizations and companies to create the next generation of products and processes for WEP Research Center members. Each member has one seat on the Industry Advisory Board for selecting future research projects and royalty-free access to intellectual property and student researchers. Currently, the WEP Research Center is conducting research in the following areas that will produce beneficial results applicable to the District’s operations:
1. Static, robust, low-cost flow metering technologies.
2. Ultra-low phosphorus regulations: improving removal of non-reactive phosphorus, and downstream dewaterability in Bio-P biosolids, Phase II.
3. Removal and recovery of ammonia using amtB protein.
4. Evaluating and proposing engineering, policy, and legal options to guide real-time control of stormwater infrastructure.
5. Pilot experiment to integrate water quality data streams into real-time control of green infrastructure.
6. Engineered porous material for the removal of Pb and Hg from water.
Marquette University, as the representative of the WEP Research Center, the sole source of supply, has submitted pricing for the amount of the research commitment by the District as a member in 2018. 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 Marquette University, in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00. Funds are available in Account 101-15000-612280.
Requested, Edward W. Podczerwinski, Director of Monitoring and Research, EWP:KB:HZ:AC:kaq
Recommended, Eileen McElligott, Administrative Services Officer
Respectfully Submitted, Kari 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 April 5, 2018