Title
Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Ecology Center, Inc. for Resource Recovery Education, Outreach, Engagement, and Marketing for $853,211.00 over Five (5) Years
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to approve a Professional Services Agreement with Ecology Center, Inc. for Resource Recovery Education, Outreach, Engagement, and Marketing for five (5) years in an amount not to exceed $853,211.00 over a 5-year period. The estimated annual cost is not to exceed $154,785.00, $255,977.00, $269,052.00, $84,408.00 and $88,989.00, respectively.
Ecology Center, Inc. has been a trusted education partner of the City since at least 2010 and as an organization has over fifty years of experience in environmental protection work including expertise in environmental education, outreach, and community-based social marketing. Previous City contracts with Ecology Center, Inc. focused on in-classroom programming and field trips for school aged children. This new contract will include youth education and also be expanded to meet the broader needs of the community as identified in both the City's Solid Waste Resource Management Plan (SWRMP) and the A2Zero Plan. The new contract will support three Resource Recovery goals of the City: (1) increase the recycling rate in the commercial sector; (2) move towards a more circular economy reducing waste generated; (3) raise community awareness about appropriate handling of recyclable, compostable, and trash materials to influence behavior change.
The City conducted extensive stakeholder engagement in order to determine priority messages and audiences for the new contract. Input was gathered from contracted partners including WeCare Denali, Recycle Ann Arbor, Waste Management; and from City staff including Public Works, Customer Service, Community Standards, Office of Sustainability and Innovation; Parks, and Natural Area Preservation, and from regional partners including Washtena...
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