Item Description:
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Amd 2 to Agmt A188951 with the University of Minnesota to provide general, professional, research and technical services countywide, ext end date to 06/30/31, incr NTE by $5,000,000 for a new total NTE of $9,500,000
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Amendment 2 to Agreement A188951 with the University of Minnesota to provide general, professional, research and technical services countywide, extending the agreement period 5 years, from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2031, and increasing the contract amount by $5,000,000 for a new total not to exceed amount of $9,500,000, be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
Hennepin County and the University of Minnesota have a long rich history of collaboration and a desire to capitalize on the unique position of both institutions to advance shared interests. After years of working through an informal partnership, County and University Leadership formally launched the Hennepin University Partnership (HUP) in 2005 to capture value for both organizations through greater collaboration, shared expertise, applied research, and student engagement on key County priorities. Since that time, over 500 joint collaborations supporting Hennepin County policy and practice have been undertaken by County departments, including projects that advance knowledge, inform policy, and drive innovation to improve outcomes for Hennepin County residents.
The HUP receives oversight and strategic direction from a Leadership Team that includes Commissioner Marion Greene, the County Administrator Jodi Wentland, Assistant County Administrators, as well as leaders from the University.
The HUP Office is jointly funded by Hennepin County and the University of Minnesota, and employs a full-time Director, a full-time staff position, and graduate students. The HUP office serves as facilitators of work, helping to catalyze high-impact research between County staff and University faculty, convene events, vet projects, usher projects through the contracting process, and track project outcomes. The HUP Office does not take on projects for the County or the University; however, the Office does have programming and other functions that it implements throughout the year.
The Master Cooperative Agreement (MCA) provides an immense benefit for the partnership, streamlining the contracting process and providing pre-negotiated terms for both institutions, including data sharing. The existing MCA (A188951) was approved by the Board in 2018 and established a framework for expedited collaboration with the University, reducing the need for repeated negotiations and supporting consistent contract administration countywide. The Agreement was amended in 2021 to extend the term through June 30, 2026, and to increase the not-to-exceed amount to $4,500,000.
Since the agreement’s execution, County departments have continued to partner with the University on a wide range of work orders, including community-engaged research, program evaluation, technical assistance, climate and sustainability analyses, public health projects, and policy development initiatives aligned with the County’s Climate Action Plan, disparity elimination goals, and data-informed decision-making efforts. Project costs are the responsibility of County departments, and the work is completed by County staff and University faculty.
This Amendment 2 extends the Master Cooperative Agreement to June 30, 2031, and increases the not to exceed amount to $9,500,000 to ensure adequate funding capacity for future work orders. Work orders exceeding $100,000 are brought to the Board for approval, as well as projects with policy or budget implications.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval