September 8, 1995

South Coast Air Quality

Management District Board

Pursuant to the California Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Information and Assessment Act of 1987 (AB 2588), the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) is responsible for ensuring adequate health risk assessments (HRAs) are prepared. In the past, each individual facility has prepared their own HRA. However, in order to reduce costs to facilities and streamline the process, the AQMD Governing Board directed the staff to develop a voluntary pilot program at their August 11, 1995 meeting. Under the pilot program, the AQMD would oversee the preparation of the HRAs for facilities. The purpose of this letter is to request Board concurrence to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) to secure contractual assistance to prepare the HRAs.

Scope and Purpose of Contract

Under AB 2588, certain facilities are required to prepare an HRA to determine the level of risk facilities pose to the exposed public. Facilities entered AB 2588 in three phases depending upon the amount of criteria and air toxic emissions emitted. Facilities in phase 1 of the program have already prepared HRAs. Facilities in phases 2 and 3 have not yet been requested to prepare HRAs as required by state law. Under the direction of the AQMD, the contractor(s) will prepare HRAs for facilities in phases 2 and 3.

This contract will be one part of a pilot program designed to provide facilities with a lower cost and streamlined alternative to preparing their own HRAs. Contractual assistance is needed to implement the pilot program because:

• there is a need to augment the limited AQMD staff who are specialists in this field to accommodate the potential work load, and
  
• this is a temporary need that will cease once the phase 2 and 3 HRAs are completed.

Contract Source of Funding

This RFP seeks one or more qualified contractors to work under individual contracts on a fixed price per HRA basis. Funding will come from the facilities that choose to participate in the pilot program. No additional fees will be added to cover AQMD administrative costs.

Selection Process

Upon the Board's approval, the AQMD staff will distribute the attached RFP and evaluate the proposals received. The evaluation will be based on Board-approved guidelines and include:

• technical merit and experience;
• minority- or female- or disabled veteran-owned business standing; and
• cost and time effectiveness.

Staff will return to the Board with a recommendation to award bids to the most qualified contractor(s) at the December 8, 1995 Board meeting.

THEREFORE, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD

--Approve the distribution of the attached request for proposals to prepare Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Information and Assessment Act (AB 2588) health risk assessments.

Respectfully,

James M. Lents, Ph.D.

Executive Officer

Attachment

PL:CC:BWS:AT:WB:clb