Click Here to see previous Fax Alerts
September 2, 1999
AMSA, WWEMA Kick Off Procurement Dialogue
This week, AMSA advanced discussions with representatives of the Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA) on how to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of public water and wastewater utilities'purchasing procedures — often a key to enhancing the competitiveness of public agencies. Earlier this year, the Association and WWEMA discussed the usefulness of such a dialogue. Subsequently, the Board of Directors of each organization approved the formalization of the dialogue. A representative of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing is also participating in the discussions and providing a valuable perspective on key details of public sector procurement issues.With the first of the three scheduled sessions complete, the AMSA-WWEMA Procurement Dialogue has already made substantial progress by identifying key issues and possible future activities. The participants concurred that increasing competition within the water and wastewater services industry was the driving force for enhancing public procurement processes. The participants also drafted a statement of purpose for the dialogue that focuses on maximizing value to the public by developing competitive strategies for making purchasing more efficient. By using the full extent of existing laws, policies and procedures, AMSA and WWEMA representatives believe, many public agencies can streamline and optimize their procurement processes while at the same time meeting requirements for public accountability.
Members of the dialogue also recommended that the results of the AMSA-WWEMA Procurement Dialogue reach a broader audience that would include local decision makers. Future meetings will focus on what format the results of the dialogue should take and more detailed plans for outreach. Possibilities for outreach identified by the dialogue included seeking the endorsement of local government, legal and technical organizations. The issues and strategies highlighted in the dialogue could also form the basis for panel discussions at the upcoming meetings of AMSA, WWEMA or other organizations.
AMSA Awarded EPA Grant for Mercury Study . . .
AMSA has been notified that a proposed cooperative study on the “Evaluation of Effectiveness of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) Mercury Pollution Prevention/Minimization Programs” will receive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant funding. The study is intended to measure the ability of source control and pollution prevention methods to reduce mercury discharged to POTWs. The project will summarize and compile information from communities with various types of pollution prevention programs and provide more detailed insight on whether communities can attain new, more stringent compliance goals through mercury source control activities. The study will also conduct source characterization, identify controllable sources, and measure and compare the costs and effectiveness of prevention versus end-of-pipe controls.10th Anniversary Pretreatment Workshop Materials Available . . .
This week, the National Office is distributing materials for the 1999 AMSA-EPA Pretreatment Coordinators Workshop via Member Update 99-9. The workshop will be held in Dallas, Texas, November 3-5, at the Sheraton Park Central Hotel. MU 99-9 will contain a detailed agenda, registration and hotel information. MU 99-9 is also available on AMSA's web site, www.amsa-cleanwater.org. The hotel registration deadline is October 1, 1999.