The Natural Resources Conservation Service recently shared the link below with the Allegheny County Conservation District who subsequently shared it with the QVCOG. It is a survey for homeowners and municipalities to let NRCS know if they were impacted by the record setting April rains leading to streambank erosion, landslides and other detrimental impacts. The hope is that gathering this info could lead to more funding for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program. Survey results will be assessed, and eligible property owners will be notified if the EWP Program is made available in Allegheny county. Correspondence will include additional program information and next steps. Program availability is not guaranteed.
USDA Seeking Disaster Recovery Needs in Western Pennsylvania | Natural Resources Conservation Service. The deadline to submit answers to NRCS is May 17. TO: Participating Municipalities in the SHACOG Purchasing Alliance FROM: Stanley Louis Gorski SUBJECT: Rock Salt - Exercise of Second Option Year For the second consecutive year, many have questioned if we actually had a winter season, but according to the calendar, winter is officially behind us, and the second season under the current rock salt contract will soon be coming to an end. Although it may appear somewhat early, pursuant to the terms of the contract, attention must already be focused on the next winter season. Recall that the bid for the current contract was designed to accommodate a multi-year arrangement. The third year of the contract - referred to as the second option year - is one that must be achieved by mutual agreement with the vendor, Cargill, Inc. It is unknown at this time if Cargill is interested in pursuing an option year. Nonetheless, it is necessary to protect your municipal interest by formally giving notice of your municipality’s desire to extend the contract if Cargill finally agrees. Under the current terms, unless the municipality has terminated the contract with Cargill, Inc. the participating municipality may give notice of its intent to extend the term of the contract from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. This notice must be communicated in writing to the vendor by May 1, 2024. Cargill, Inc. then has until May 10, 2024 to notify the participating municipality in writing if it wants to continue the contractual relationship. If it agrees, then the contract continues under the same terms and conditions, with only the price subject to an adjustment. That price may be adjusted by the CPI formula in the contract. Only the first option year price, unchanged by fuel price adjustments, is used in that calculation. By way of example, the formula would accommodate the current CPI of 3.2% so if that percentage was to prevail, the price would increase from $85.85 (the initial first option year price not altered by fuel price adjustments) per ton to $88.60 per ton. The option to extend is exercised by giving written notice to the vendor by May 1, 2024 that your municipality is exercising that option. Because the municipality is the official party to the contract with the vendor, only the municipality can exercise the option. Consequently, each municipality must send its own letter. For your convenience, a sample letter is attached. (This letter should be transferred to your municipal letterhead.) It is unknown if Cargill will grant exceptions for communications received late, so if you are going to invoke the option year, it is imperative that your letter is sent so that it arrives before the May 1, 2024 deadline. You should email your letter exercising the first option year to Salt_CustomerCareRoadSafety@cargill.com. Receipt is to be acknowledged by Cargill. You are requested to copy both SHACOG and your COG on your email. If Cargill, Inc. agrees to the option, those participating municipalities that invoked the second option year will receive subsequent communication concerning estimated requirements for the forthcoming winter season. If the vendor declines, you will receive pertinent information for the next bid. Please note that you do not have to commit to an estimated tonnage requirement at this time. Your letter is intended only to secure the option year. Considerations concerning the balance of the current year purchase obligations and estimated requirements for the second option year, if successfully secured, will be addressed later in subsequent communications. Should you have any questions or require additional information concerning the above, please contact the SHACOG's office by phone at 412-429-1130 or send an email to sue.dawson@shacog.com.
Bids for 2024 Spring Commodities were opened on March 7, 2024. The bid tabulation is available on the SHACOG Purchasing Alliance website for the following products: • Road Aggregates • Liquid Asphalt • Bituminous Surfacing Materials • Line Painting and Reflective Glass Beads • Guide Rails and Posts, Components and Installed • Traffic Signs and Sign Posts • Thermoplastic Pavement Markings • Frames, Rings & Grates – Cast Iron and Steel • Precast Concrete Inlets and Risers • Manhole Inserts • Plastic Pipe • Swimming Pool Chemicals • Wastewater Treatment Chemicals • Fertilizers • Weed Killer • Ballfield Mixture • Top Soil • Hardwood Bark Mulch • Wood Carpet • Mushroom Compost • Portable Toilet Rental Service Please remember that participants must formally accept the bids to secure the prices offered by the vendors. It must again be emphasized that each municipality is responsible for accepting these bids. The joint purchasing format employed to secure these bids does not result in a master contract. Therefore, formal notice of bid acceptance must be issued to the vendors by your community in order to secure the quoted prices. This should be done by May 17, 2024. Please be reminded that absent notice by this date the vendors are not obligated to honor these prices. Following through with this formal award procedure is of particular importance due to the many conditions imposed on their bids by the various vendors. This is especially true concerning product availability and surcharges, which are specifically prohibited by our specifications. Although placing a condition on a bid technically represents a counteroffer and not a bid, the final decision about what to do with a vendor’s offering is that of each municipality. Since price will often prevail regardless of any condition, to preserve that price, notice of acceptance of the bid by the stipulated date is critical. Remember, this is a contractual process. The bid – or offer – by the vendor is the first part of that process. Municipal acceptance is the second part. Do not, however, confuse acceptance with the actual placement of an order. Unless otherwise indicated, these prices are firm for a one year period. Since these are not requirements contracts, the municipality is not obligated to purchase anything. Nonetheless, that should not preclude notifying the vendor that its bid was accepted to “lock in” the price. The municipality is then protected should a purchase be required in the future. A sample letter to achieve this end is provided below. Of course, if the municipality wants to place an order, a purchase order should simply be sent with the notice of award. You are encouraged not to delay the issuance of these notices. Please send copies of these letters to the SHACOG office. Should you have any questions or require additional information concerning the above, please do not hesitate to contact the SHACOG office at 412-429-1130.
In partnership with the Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) the QVCOG has financially supported the return of a “Hard to Recycle” event to the region. The event has been scheduled for Saturday, July 27th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event is set to take place at Leetsdale’s Buncher Industrial Park, Building No. 15 (380 Leetsdale Industrial Drive, Leetsdale, PA 15056). Hard to Recycle events provide responsible and convenient disposal for items that are not eligible for curbside recycling. At these events, individuals have been able to recycle items such as e-waste, cell phones, polystyrene, Freon-containing appliances, tires and more. These events require all participants to register in advance. Additional details of the event, including disposal fees and registration details can be found here.
The READY Local Government Grant provides no-cost training to help local government officials better identify, secure, manage, and implement federally funded projects. Topics within the training include the following:
Following completion of the nine-week training program, participants will be eligible for up to $50,000 in funding (no-match required) to implement internal capacity-building projects to help them better serve communities. An informational webinar will take place on February 8th from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. You may register here. Applications are due by February 29th. More information can be found here. On January 17, 2024 the QVCOG was made aware of several Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund (GEDTF) Grants that were awarded to member communities totalling $752,800 who utilized the organization during the application submission process during the Fall of 2023. The Project descriptions and award amounts can be found below. In the coming weeks, grantees should receive a formal award letter from the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority. GEDTF grants are administered by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County and are funded through gaming revenues. These grants provide financial support to municipalities, authorities, councils of governments, non-profits, and others to carry out important economic development projects in Allegheny County. Eligible projects promote local economic activities, create jobs, improve or create infrastructure, promote public safety, assist in workforce development, or improve recreational activities.
The Bond/WAPMM Local Government Internship Program is a partnership between the Western Association of Pennsylvania Municipal Management (WAPMM) and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), University of Pittsburgh. It is funded by an endowment through the University of Pittsburgh established by former Municipal Manager and GSPIA Alumnus, Marshall W. Bond. Although it is available at no financial cost to the successful municipal applicant, municipalities are encouraged to supplement the endowment stipend. This opportunity has been developed to help identify, encourage, and train up future municipal managers. The application form can be found below and is due by February 29, 2024. Completed applications should be sent via email to jbastianini@twp.marshall.pa.us.
Local Government Academy’s Municipal Intern Program connects local governments with enthusiastic undergraduate or graduate students seeking real-world experience working at the grassroots level. Eligible placement sites include municipalities, councils of governments, and municipal authorities in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Applications for host sites are open on LGA’s website from January 8 - February 9, 2024. Recent MIP projects have included, but are not limited to, MS4, blight remediation, code enforcement, trail development, sustainability initiatives, community engagement, historical preservation, asset management, and much more! QVCOG member communities interested in applying for an municipal intern are strongly encouraged to contact Executive Director Conners prior to submittal. Further details about the Program can be found here.
Newly elected Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and her transition team have put together a comprehensive survey for County residents. The goal is to hear from residents of all backgrounds and from every municipality. The survey is expected to remain available throughout the month of January. QVCOG member communities are encouraged to share the survey on their websites, social media pages, etc. The survey results are expected to be used to inform the Innamorato Administration’s governing agenda. This is an important opportunity for the QVCOG member communities and their residents to help shape how the County government invests its resources and delivers services. The survey can be accessed here.
The year 2023 witnessed continued buy in and growth for the QVCOG and its programs and services. From record setting participation in grant applications, to the consolidation of the glass recycling costs and administration, the QVCOG continues to be an integral tool for its fifteen member communities and the over 31,000 residents that call them home. Annually, the organization compiles a report that outlines the various accomplishments and accolades that took place over the previous year. You may access the 2023 report here.
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