Each year, the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP) identifies projects that provide outstanding examples of the best use of public-private partnerships (PPPs). In this highly competitive process, nominations are accepted from a wide range of sources. Judging is done by a team of seven recognized authorities on the history and current usage of PPPs in the United States and around the world. Their selection of award winners is made in three categories: infrastructure, innovation and service.
The 2011 recipients are:
Infrastructure Award: Shelby County Water and Wastewater Systems Contract ? a partnership of Shelby County (Ala.) and the SouthWest Water Company. This contract combined a long-term operations and maintenance contract with the sale of a wastewater facility, with the proceeds partially funding the construction of a new water treatment plant.
Infrastructure Award: New Orleans Wastewater facilities ? a partnership of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans and Veolia Water North America. This contract restored the wastewater facilities in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, through implementation of the private sector?s emergency preparedness plan and substantial community participation.
Innovation Award: Campbell Crossing Zero Energy Homes project (Fort Campbell) ? a partnership of the U.S. Department of the Army with Lend Lease. This project for the construction of military housing that used more cost-effective approaches in construction that still allowed the houses to receive LEED Platinum certification.
Innovation Award: Santa Paula Water Recycling Facility project ? a partnership of the City of Santa Paula, Calif., with Alinda Capital and PERC Water. This project provided for the replacement of an outdated wastewater facility with a plant that exceeds discharge standards, and was developed under a design/build contract, financed and operated by the private partners.
Innovation Award: Virgin Island Energy Alliance Program ? a partnership of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Bostonia Partners. To address the soaring energy cost, this partnership created a program to train local people in the installation of systems to improve energy efficiency and stimulate Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) to make private investments in the program through Energy Savings Performance Contracts.
Service Award: Creating a Sustainable Partnership Program ? a partnership of the City of Fayetteville, Ark., and CH2M Hill. This contract of the operation and maintenance of the city?s wastewater treatment facility has evolved over its 25 years to include a broad range of community outreach services for education, preservation of the environment and innovative approaches for improvement of the quality of life.
