Proposal:

Provide Additional Funding for Technical Support of AQMD’s Technology Advancement Program

Synopsis:

Since 1988, AQMD’s Technology Advancement (TA) program has co-sponsored hundreds of development, demonstration, and research projects designed to expedite wide-scale use of progressively cleaner technologies and fuels. To optimize the effectiveness of this program, it has been advantageous to supplement in-house technical resources and expertise with outside assistance. A total of $51,500 in FY 1996-97 funding is proposed to amend two level-of-effort contracts to provide ongoing technical support for the TA program.

Committee:

Technology, September 27, 1996, Recommended for Approval
Administrative, October 18, 1996, Recommended for Approval

Recommended Action:

Authorize the Executive Officer to execute an amendment to contract #95105 with S.E. Hamilton & Co. for an additional $16,500 and to contract #96051 with Davis & Associates for an additional $35,000.

James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQMP includes provisions for the expedited, future implementation of advanced emissions-reduction technologies and clean-burning fuels. To help meet the technological needs of the AQMP, the Board adopted a Clean Fuels Program in 1988 and established AQMD’s Technology Advancement (TA) office to administer the program. Since its inception, AQMD’s TA program has co-sponsored hundreds of development, demonstration, and research projects.

To optimize the effectiveness of AQMD’s TA program, it has been advantageous to supplement in-house technical resources and expertise with outside assistance. Through the use of selected consultants, AQMD staff are best able to keep informed about the broad range of emerging technologies and clean-burning fuels and help facilitate their deployment in the Basin. This also ensures that the most up-to-date information can be assimilated for use in the AQMP. A very useful type of contract for getting technical assistance on an "as-needed" basis is the level-of-effort (LOE) contract, which, once executed, allows staff to issue task orders to a consultant for ongoing work as well as to provide specific assistance when needs and issues arise.

Proposals

Staff proposes awarding FY 1996-97 funding to amend LOE contracts with two consultants. These two proposals were considered at the October 11 Board meeting after being approved by the Technology Committee, and the full Board carried them over to the November meeting. At its October 18 meeting, the Administrative Committee approved the two carried-over proposals on a sole-source basis for consideration at the November 8 Board meeting. As recommended by the Administrative Committee, future staff proposals for sole source awards in which costs to prepare documents exceed cost for consultant will include cost comparisons. Staff also is moving ahead to establish a list of pre-qualified experts through an open-bid process for Technology Advancement-related consulting contracts.

Proposal #1: Amend S.E. Hamilton & Co. Contract

Since March 1995, S.E. Hamilton & Co. has provided technical support for AQMD’s TA program. The total amount of funding that has been authorized to date is $33,000. Staff proposes to amend LOE contract #95105 with S.E. Hamilton & Co. for an additional $16,500. Steve Hamilton has been providing the AQMD with a valuable service gathering information about the activities of the transit industry to deploy low-emission, alternative-fuel buses. Under the proposed amendment to his contract, Mr. Hamilton will continue to provide information on the availability, air-quality benefits, and cost of alternative-fuel buses and help get the word out to local transit districts. Mr. Hamilton will continue to attend and report on relevant local transit committee meetings regarding the implementation of alternative-fuel buses. He will coordinate discussions on related issues among AQMD staff and key transit district staff, and identify major problems and barriers related to the phase-out of diesel buses in the Basin.

Proposal #2: Amend Davis & Associates Contract

Since late 1994, Davis & Associates has provided technical support for AQMD’s TA program. The total amount of funding that has been authorized to date is $85,000. Staff proposes to amend LOE contract #96051 with Davis & Associates for an additional $35,000 to continue providing technical assistance involving transit buses and other heavy-duty vehicles. Specifically, the proposed amendment will allow Davis & Associates to 1) assist staff in evaluating the emission benefits, availability, cost, and obstacles to the commercialization of heavy-duty, mobile emission control technologies; 2) assess technical progress and economic aspects of current transit industry programs involving new technological applications for low- and zero-emission transportation, including the Advanced Technology Transit Bus (ATTB) program, the Fuel Cell Buyers Consortium, and activities of the Federal Transit Administration; and 3) participate in AQMD’s Fuel Cell Implementation Task Force and other selected technical forums involving low- or zero-emission transportation applications.

Sole Source Justification

Section II, Step 3 (C) of the Consultant Selection Policy and Procedure identifies four provisions under which a sole-source award may be justified: (1) cost to prepare documents exceeds cost for consultant, (2) delay would result in the endangerment of public health, (3) services are only available from sole source, and (4) other circumstances exist identifying sole source as in the best interests of the AQMD. Sole source justifications for these proposals are made under the following provisions:

S.E. Hamilton & Co.

This request for a sole-source award is made under provision (4). Staff believes that it is in the best interests of the AQMD to amend the existing contract with S. E. Hamilton & Co. Steve Hamilton is the principal of this minority-owned governmental and public affairs consulting firm. Mr. Hamilton is an experienced government-relations specialist and an established public transportation agency expert. Mr. Hamilton has extensive experience and expertise in coordinating clean-fuel-related technology transfer activities among local governments, industry, and transit districts. He has established extensive contacts within many municipal and regional transit properties, as well as throughout local governments. He has worked successfully with city council members and transit board members to explain the environmental and public-health benefits of clean, alternative-fuel buses, as well as their commercial viability. Mr. Hamilton’s past work for the AQMD in this area was instrumental in the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA’s) October 1993 adoption of a pledge to phase out the purchase of diesel-powered buses. In sum, staff believes that Mr. Hamilton is uniquely qualified to act as a liaison among AQMD staff, transit staff, minority communities, and local officials regarding policy towards clean-fuel buses and low-emission transportation technologies. Amending the existing contract with S.E. Hamilton appears to be the most cost-effective means for staff to continue obtaining the needed services.

Davis & Associates

This request for a sole-source award is made under provision (4). Staff believes that amending the existing contract with Davis & Associates is in the best interest of the AQMD, based on several factors. Davis & Associates has extensive transit industry expertise, and, equally important, the ability to provide objective and independent technical assessments regarding the many types of emerging low- and zero-emission transit bus technologies. Rich Davis, principal of Davis & Associates, is a recognized expert in public transportation applications and issues. His detailed technical expertise in alternative-fuel applications for transit buses is acknowledged worldwide. As Director of Equipment Maintenance for one of the nation’s largest transit properties (now LACMTA), he managed the largest alternative-fuel and low-emission bus program in the world. Reports from his engineers were used by state, local, and federal regulators as the basis for new efforts to clean up the heavy-duty vehicle sector. He was instrumental in obtaining funding, designing, and constructing Southern California’s first commercial, heavy-duty test facility at LACMTA. This facility enables the State of California to perform comparison emissions testing on heavy-duty alternative-fuel engines and vehicles. Mr. Davis’s original concept of a purpose-built, environmentally friendly transit bus for the 21st century led to initiation of the internationally recognized ATTB program.

In sum, Davis and Associates is highly qualified to conduct the proposed work and has a proven ability to provide objective and independent technical assessments. Amending the existing contract with Davis and Associates appears to be the most cost-effective means for staff to continue obtaining the needed technical services.

Resource Impacts

The total cost of executing these contractual arrangements, as summarized in the table below, is $51,500. Sufficient funds are available in the FY 1996-97 Budget.

Contractor	Recommended Action	Proposed Funding
Davis & Associates	Amend Existing Contract	$35,000
S.E. Hamilton & Co.	Amend Existing Contract	$16,500
Grand Total		$51,500