October 13, 1995

South Coast Air Quality
Management District Board

The 1994 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) calls for the adoption and implementation of several rules in 1995, 1996 and beyond. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analyses and documents are required for most SCAQMD rules or Plans prior to their adoption. The SCAQMD also occasionally assumes CEQA Lead Agency status for non-SCAQMD projects located within the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD, where the SCAQMD has discretionary permit authority. As a responsible or commenting agency under CEQA, the SCAQMD also has the responsibility of commenting upon the adequacy of the air quality analysis and mitigation measures presented in the CEQA documents prepared by other agencies.

Public Resources Code Section 21082.1 allows for the preparation of CEQA documents by the agency itself or by a consultant under contract to the public agency. The public agency must retain independent review of all documents prepared by such consultant. To augment current staff resources, staff recommends securing the services of one or more qualified consultants under contract to the SCAQMD, in contractual arrangements referred to here as time and materials task order type contracts (T&M). Consultant services are necessary to assist or augment CEQA staff in preparing portions of, or entire, CEQA documents for SCAQMD projects and non-SCAQMD projects where the SCAQMD is Lead Agency as well as to assist from time to time in the reviewing of CEQA documents prepared by other lead agencies. T&M contracts consist of Consultant contracts that are allocated a specific dollar amount, but are not assigned a specific task as part of this RFP. Subsequent to contract approval, consultants may be assigned specific tasks for a dollar amount not to be exceeded. The dollar amount of the task will be based on time and materials necessary to complete that task. The SCAQMD will retain independant review over all work performed by any consultant selected pursuant to this RFP.

Consultants must have substantial knowledge of CEQA and CEQA case law, substantial expertise in analyzing environmental impacts resulting from a variety of different types of projects as well as an understanding of the SCAQMD's rule and plan development and adoption process. Projects will be assigned to consultants based upon the consultant's particular area(s) of expertise and the needs of the SCAQMD.

Staff recommends that consultants be selected through an open bidding process according to the SCAQMD's Consultant Selection Policy and Procedure. The consultants selected shall be retained by T&M contracts; therefore, project assignments can be issued for specific needs and projects without resulting in lengthy consultant selection processes for each individual project. The estimated cost for total consultant services is $175,000, which is available in Planning, Transportation and Information Management's/Planning Fiscal Year 1995-96 Budget under the Professional and Special Services account. The amount of funding allocated for consultant contracts will depend upon each consultant's qualifications and SCAQMD needs. Proposed funding levels for each consultant selected will be submitted to the Board for approval. To initiate the consultant selection process, Board approval of the attached Request for Proposals (RFP) is necessary before it can be circulated to consultants.

This project was reviewed and approved by the Administrative Committee on September 22, 1995. [To be added after Committee action.]

THEREFORE IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD

--Approve the attached Request for Proposals for California Environmental Quality Act Analysis Assistance.

Respectfully,

James M. Lents, Ph.D.

Executive Officer

BRW:CSL:CG:SS

Attachment

(SS:\O13\RFPBDLTR)