Title
Proposed Amendment No. 1
Contract No. 2003901
Water Resource Investigations
O&M
Body
Agenda of: April 24, 2024
Item No.: 2024-151
Amount: Original Contract $1,365.000.00
Proposed Amendment No.1 2,244,987.00
Total Contract Amount $3,609,987.00
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: March 28, 2024
RE: Proposed Amendment No. 1
Contract No. 2003901
Water Resources Investigations
Vendor: U.S. Geological Survey
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Jody Caldwell, Chief Planning Officer, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), authorizes the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to enter into Contract No. 2003901, Proposed Amendment No. 1, “Water Resources Investigations” with U.S. Geological Survey, (USGS), at an increased cost of $2,244,987.00 for a total cost not to exceed $3,609,987.00 and an increased duration of three (3) years for a total duration of eight (8) years.; and authorizes the CEO to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
A key outcome of GLWA’s Wastewater Master Plan (WWMP) was a recommendation to measure the impacts of future system improvements in terms of benefits to regional water quality. This requires the collection of baseline data followed by consistent long-term monitoring of ambient conditions in regional watersheds to compare against that baseline. To that end, the WWMP proposed a River Water Quality Monitoring Program (“Program”), to be implemented in two phases, as part of the iterative process to prove out investments made. The Program is carried out in partnership with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). USGS is responsible for a portion of the funding, the installation and maintenance of all monitoring equipment, and data collection, QA/QC, and storage.
Phase I of the Program began in the spring of 2021 with the establishment of eight (8) permanent monitoring sites in the Clinton(x2), Rouge(x3), and Detroit(x3) rivers. At that time, GLWA and USGS had a cost-sharing agreement that covered costs through 2025, with the understanding that a new agreement would be developed to carry the Program through Phase II. This amendment marks the initiation of Phase II of the Program which will include the continuation of all Phase I activities, and the establishment of 13 additional permanent monitoring sites in the Clinton(x5), Rouge(x6), and Detroit rivers(x2). GLWA’s Watershed Hub Work Group will continue to contribute in-kind services as Program advisors, as they have since the Program’s initial launch.
Upon approval of this amendment, GLWA will agree to pay $3,609,987.00 while USGS will match with $1,211,500.00 through September 30, 2028.
JUSTIFICATION
This program furthers GLWA’s WWMP goal of improving regional watershed health by identifying long-term water quality trends that can inform investment priorities. The spatial and temporal data coverage that will be garnered through this program is essential for improving the Rouge and Detroit River water quality models. In turn, these models are key tools for compliance and planning activities, such as the completion of the Long-Term CSO Control Plan. Without this program, GLWA will be unable to characterize baseline ambient conditions in the waterways that feed our intakes, and unable to quantify the outcomes of our investments in terms of regional water quality impacts. In the case of the Detroit River, an extensive water quality survey has not been conducted since 2007, which further limits our current ability to calibrate models and increases the uncertainty of the results. Together, monitoring and modeling will provide GLWA and member partners with cause-and-effect insights to support progressive, adaptive, and effective compliance strategies that are directly aligned with regional water quality conditions and goals. In addition to the benefits of this program for GLWA, it also yields information that may be useful to a variety of stakeholders for a variety of purposes, furthering GLWA’s goal of service as a regional hub utility.
Advancing the current partnership with USGS to execute Phase II activities is crucial to the success of this Program. USGS is the pre-eminent organization in the USA to measure, collect, and report on flow and water quality data. They are well-positioned to deliver information in support of GLWA’s operational and regional planning goals. They use standardized, peer-reviewed methods to operate stream gages and other equipment required to holistically assess ambient watershed conditions. In addition, the region has historically relied on USGS for water quality monitoring, and existing USGS projects and sampling locations will be leveraged as part of the Program. This spatial consistency allows us to maximize the use of historical data when evaluating long-term trends. Relying on USGS’s turn-key services is a cost-effective approach to implementing a complete sampling program that includes all fieldwork, data processing, and the use of robust quality assurance/quality control protocols. Furthermore, this work will deepen the relationship between the GLWA and the USGS, where water resources management expertise can be shared to the benefit of both parties.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT STATUS
Original Contract Time 5 years (10-01-2020 - 09-30-2025)
Proposed Amendment No. 1 3 years (10-01-2025 - 09-30-2028)
New Contract Time 8 years (10-01-2020 - 09-30-2028)
PROJECT ESTIMATE
Original Contract Price $1,365,000.00
Proposed Amendment No. 1 2,244,987.00
New Contract Total $3,609,987.00
FINANCIAL PLAN IMPACT
Summary: The proposed contract with U.S. Geological Survey encompasses Operations & Maintenance expense only. Potential positive variances of other contractual services as well as the use of this service may vary by year. Sufficient funds will be provided in the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) financial plan for this contract related to Contractual Professional Svcs-All Sewer.
Funding Source: Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Budget
Cost Center(s): Systems Operations Control Water……Operations cost center 882301
Expense Type(s): Contractual Professional Svcs-All Sewer (617905)
Estimated Cost by Year and Related Estimating Variance: See table below.
Fiscal Year Amount
FY 2026 Financial Plan (Prorated) $ 363,450.00
FY 2027 Financial Plan 509,000.00
FY 2028 Financial Plan 534,500.00
FY 2029 Financial Plan (Prorated) 124,900.00
Financial Plan Forecast 1,531,850.00
Proposed Contract Amount $ 2,244,987.00
Variance (positive/ (negative)) ($713,137.00)
COMMITTEE REVIEW
This item was presented to the Operations and Resources Committee at its meeting on April 10, 2024. The Operations and Resources Committee unanimously recommended that the GLWA Board adopt the resolution as presented.
SHARED SERVICES IMPACT
This item does not impact the shared services agreement between GLWA and DWSD.