Lake County To Manage Procurement For Naval Station Great Lakes

WAUKEGAN, IL — U.S. Navy and Lake County officials convened Tuesday for a ceremonial signing of an intergovernmental support agreement.

The Lake County Board voted in favor of the deal, known as an IGSA, at its meeting earlier this month.

IGSAs allow branches of the U.S. military to make partnerships with local governments for various services. Congress passed a law allowing for such agreements about a decade ago.

According to Lake County board staff, officials from Naval Station Great Lakes approached the county to enter into an IGSA to "optimize services, enhance mission effectiveness and readiness, reduce administrative time, and improve relationships."

The newly signed IGSA allows the county to offer material procurement, spoil removal and joint traffic monitoring services to the naval station for an estimated $148,000 a year.

These services will be provided through Lake County's established contracts, enabling the naval station to benefit from efficiencies in joint purchasing. Specifically, the county will handle procuring sand, gravel and soil, and manage their removal and disposal for the naval station.

"Lake County has had tremendous success improving efficiency and achieving cost savings by purchasing goods and services with other units of government,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart (D-Lake Bluff). “The Naval Station has always been a great partner, and we are proud to be the home of the Navy's largest training installation and the estimated 100,000 active, reserve, and retired service members and their families who live in Lake County."

Established in 1911, the naval station is the Navy's only boot camp. It sits on more than 1,600 acres in Great Lakes, and graduates about 40,000 recruits every year. The base features 1,153 buildings, 39 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"This IGSA strengthens the relationship between Lake County and Naval Station Great Lakes," said Captain Steve Yargosz, the commanding officer for Naval Station Great Lakes, who attended Tuesday's signing ceremony at the county's Libertyville offices.

"They can enhance efficiencies and develop a greater culture of mutual support. They can create new community revenue streams, and they keep jobs and dollars local," Yargosz said. The IGSAs we sign today are a win for all involved."

According to the 10-page agreement, the county will include the Navy's requirements in its future solicitations, place orders on behalf of the base and invoice the Navy for the cost of materials and services, including a 10 percent administrative fee. Both parties also commit to meetings every month to ensure compliance with federal and state standards and come up with joint traffic monitoring strategies.

“I’d like to thank the leadership of Naval Station Great Lakes and the Lake County Administrator’s leadership team for delivering this groundbreaking partnership," said Paul Frank (D-Highland Park), who chairs the county's finance and administration committee.

"This is a great example of the good things we can do when government agencies partner together to deliver efficiency and cost savings," Frank said. "I’m proud to be here today to help commemorate and launch this new partnership agreement.”