Proposal:

Issue RFP to Provide Temporary Engineering Services

Synopsis:

Programs such as amnesty and Title V increase the number of applications to be processed beyond the normal workload. To respond to these temporary workload "spikes" it is necessary to hire outside engineering services. One or more contractors will be selected to assist in processing permits and provide services as needed. It is also necessary to reallocate FY 1996-97 budgeted money in Stationary Source Compliance (SSC) for Trading and Compliance Administration to Permit Processing Assistance, not to exceed $200,000.

Committee:

Administrative, August 23, 1996, Recommended for Approval

Recommended Action:

1. Reallocate $200,000 in the FY 1996-97 budget for SSC’s Professional and Special Services from its Trading and Compliance Administration account to its Permit Processing Assistance account.

2. Approve the release of RFP #9697-09 entitled "Request for Proposals for Engineering Services."

James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer

Background

Programs like amnesty and Title V federal operating permits increase the number of permit applications that need to be processed beyond the normal workload. In order to effectively respond to these temporary workload "spikes" and still maintain the permit processing time frames of 7, 30, and 180 days, it is necessary to augment existing staff resources with outside engineering services. Given that these outside engineering services will be used for temporary increases in work, it makes sense to contract additional resources rather than hire new staff.

Scope and Purpose of Contract -Through the attached RFP, the AQMD seeks to competitively select one or more companies to provide engineering services on an as-needed basis. Under the direction of the AQMD, the contractor(s) will process permits according to AQMD rules and administrative processes and perform other related engineering tasks necessary to support permit processing activities.

Companies selected as a result of this RFP process will remain pre-qualified for a period of two years. As the need arises, AQMD staff will issue a firm fixed-price task order or time-and-materials task order to the company(ies) to perform permitting-related work. This bidding and pre-qualification process will ensure that the AQMD can quickly obtain engineering services to adequately respond to a workload "spike" in the most cost-effective manner.

Selection Process - Upon the Board’s approval, 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 previous experience; minority- or female-owned business standing; and, cost- and time-effectiveness.

AQMD staff will advertise this RFP in the following publications:

California State Contracts Register, Eastern Group Publications, El Chicano, Hispanic News, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, La Opinion, La Voz, Los Angeles Sentinel, Los Angeles Times, M/W/DVBE Source, Orange County Register, Precinct Reporter, Rafu Shimpo, Riverside Press-Enterprise, San Bernardino Sun, The Black Voice News, Korea Central Daily, Philippine News, Inland Empire Hispanic News, Chinese News and The Excelsior.

Copies of the RFPs will be sent to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and interested minority contractors/professional associations and vendors listed in the Los Angeles County, MTA, Cal Trans, and Inland Area MBE/WBE directories. Further, the RFPs will be placed on the AQMD’s Internet home page and bidders’ 24-hour telephone message line.

Resource Impacts

The Board action includes reallocating $200,000 from the Stationary Source Compliance Trading and Compliance Administration account to its Permit Processing Assistance account. This will not increase the AQMD’s overall 1996-97 budget or SSC’s contract budget.

Attachment

RFP #9697-09