Report:
Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee
Synopsis:
The MSRC met on Thursday, February 22, 1996. For your information below is a summary of key issues addressed at that meeting. The next MSRC meeting is Thursday, March 28, 1996, at 2:30 p.m. in Conference Room CC8.
Recommended Action:
Receive and file the attached report.
Leonard Paulitz
District Board Representative on
Mobile Source Air Pollution
Reduction Review Committee
LP:LRB:LR:DAR
Attachments (2)
(a:msrcbdlt.doc)
Minutes
The minutes of the January 25, 1996, monthly meeting were approved, as submitted, and are provided for your information as Attachment 1. In addition, the MSRC received its November 9, 1995, meeting minutes, but postponed approval until its next meeting to allow for more sufficient review of these lengthy minutes which include adoption of their FY 1995-97 Work Program. These draft/unapproved minutes are also provided for your information (Attachment 2).
Supplement to Fiscal Year 1995-97 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program
Because of an unprecedented amount of turn-back funds in excess of $2 million, higher interest income than projected, and a delay in the schedule of several high-priced contracts, the MSRC has identified at least $5 million for a supplement to the Fiscal Year 1995-97 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program. The MSRC's Lessons Learned Subcommittee, on which I have been participating periodically, has been formulating this supplement to the Work Program. Currently, the supplemental work program could consist of the following five elements; 1) $600,000 for several innovative programs, including bicycle transportation, market incentives, and broad-based land-use training for elected officials; 2) $700,000 to augment the EV Corridor Communities Program; 3) $750,000 for additional research and development projects; 4) $1.5 million for heavy-duty vehicles, targeting refuse and interstate trucks, excluding transit and school buses, with a $250,000 1-1 match minimum; and $1.5 million for advanced battery demonstration projects, possibly in partnership with the AQMD's Technology Advancement Office and auto companies. The Lessons Learned Subcommittee may be submitting its proposal to the MSRC as early as March, thus the supplemental work program could be included on our April 12, 1996, Governing Board agenda for consideration.
Zero-Emission Vehicle "Quick Charge" Program
As part of the FY 1995-97 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program, the MSRC developed a $7 million Zero-Emission Vehicle "Quick Charge" Program, consisting of three parts: 1) an RFQ for $5,000 buydown incentives ($6 million total); 2) an RFP for an 18-month appointment as the ZEV "Quick Charge" Outreach Coordinator ($175,000); and 3) an RFP for a Corridor Communities Program ($825,000). The buydown incentive RFQ was released in early December 1995, and the Planning Center, with two subcontractors (Battelle Memorial Institute and the Southern California Economic Partnership), was brought on board as the Outreach Coordinator for the ZEV "Quick Charge" Program. On February 22, the MSRC approved the RFP for the Electric Vehicle Corridor Communities Program which will assist communities in preparing for EVs by testing the consumer market and demonstrating the infrastructure, permitting process, and coordination necessary for the smooth introduction of larger quantities of EVs. Approval of this RFP for release has been included on our March 8, 1996, Governing Board agenda, so I have not attached a copy to this report. The Corridor Communities Program RFP closes in July 1996, and contract recommendations will be submitted to us in September 1996.
Sole-Source Award to the Southern California Association of Governments for a Regional Transit Database Information Exchange Project
As part of the FY 1995-97 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program, the MSRC set aside $550,000 for a Regional Transit Database Information Exchange project to facilitate the interagency exchange of transit route and schedule information for all fixed route transit and rail operations within the AQMD through the Internet or by making one phone call. The project will be completed through a sole-source award to the Southern California Association of Governments which will act as project coordinator. Approval of this sole-source contract has been included on our March 8, 1996, Governing Board agenda for consideration.
Concern Expressed by GeoChemical Engineering Regarding Rejection of its R&D Proposal During the FY 1995-97 Evaluation Process
A proposer, GeoChemical Engineering, had its proposal rejected during the FY 1995-97 evaluation process for being nonresponsive to the criteria in the Research and Development RFP under which it was applying for funds. Technical staff advised the evaluation subcommittee that the proposal was not a "new local application of remote sensing devices for NOx and hydrocarbon measuring," as required in the RFP criteria. GeoChemical disagrees. However, legal counsel has determined that since no specified criteria or grounds are enumerated either statutorily or in MSRC policies and procedures heretofore adopted, the MSRC is not required to reconsider the proposal, although it is not prohibited from doing so either. Since it would be difficult to re-evaluate and re-score this proposal after completion of the work program, without prejudicing proposers already funded, the MSRC chose not to reconsider GeoChemical's proposal. However, the MSRC decided to adjust its evaluation process in future, such that all proposals will be evaluated if they meet an initial screening process which merely checks that all parts required have been included in the submittal.
Contract Modification Requests
As recommended by its Technical Advisory Committee, the MSRC approved the following contract modifications:
The MSRC also denied a contractual term extension for Orange County Transportation Authority's ISTEA contract, #C9401. When the MSRC allocated $1,062,500 to each of the four county transportation commissions in FY 1994-95, the contracts included strict language which prohibited any extensions beyond August 1, 1996. Consequently, for one of the projects within the ISTEA contract, the MSRC had to deny a contractual term extension. However, the MSRC approved a reallocation of funds towards hardware for a City of Tustin project implemented by OCTA.
The MSRC also received and filed a report on "Scope Changes Handled Administratively by the AQMD Contract Administrator" for February which included two minor contract modifications for Omnitrans Contract #C95014, which provides $952,725 towards the purchase of 21 CNG vehicles, and City of Santa Clarita Contract #C95020, which provides $30,000 for bus stop displays.
Receipt and Approval of Final Report
The MSRC received and approved one final report for City of Santa Monica Contract #C93028, which provided $34,000 toward the purchase of electric vehicles. All final reports for the AB 2766 Discretionary Program can be viewed in the District's Library.
Contract Administrator Report
The MSRC's AB 2766 Contract Administrator provided a written status report on all fiscal years. This Contract Administrator Report is provided for your information (Attachment 3).
1996 Meeting Schedule
Since members of the MSRC also serve on the IAIC, the MSRC is considering changing its meeting time from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to immediately follow the IAIC which will be meeting from 1-2:30 p.m. the same day. The MSRC will continue to meet on the fourth Thursday of every month.