PROPOSAL:

Execute Contract to Develop and Demonstrate the Most Efficient and Cost-Effective Control Technology for Underfired Charbroilers

SYNOPSIS:

There are approximately 10,000 restaurants in the Basin using underfired charbroilers. The AQMD's proposed Rule 1138 would control PM10 and VOC emissions from these charbroilers by establishing emissions limits. Based on results of a competitive solicitation, CE-CERT has been selected to develop and demonstrate a cost-effective control technology to achieve the desired limits. Total project cost is $149,382.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, May 16, 1997, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with CE-CERT in an amount not to exceed $149,382 from the Advanced Technology Fund to develop and demonstrate a cost-effective control technology for underfired charbroilers.

James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer

Background

There are approximately 10,000 restaurants in the Basin using underfired charbroilers with a hood temperature of 100 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. It is estimated that the total emissions inventory from these operations are 9 tons per day of PM10, and 1.4 tons per day of VOC. The AQMD's proposed Rule 1138 would control both PM10 and VOC emissions from underfired charbroilers by establishing emissions limits. To achieve this goal, there is a need for development and demonstration of a control technology which would reduce both PM10 and VOC emissions by 90% or greater from baseline, and would be cost-effective according to the AQMD's best available control (BACT) guidelines.

Proposal

This project focuses on the development and demonstration of a cost-effective control technology for reducing PM10 and VOC emissions from underfired charbroilers. The major tasks to be accomplished by this project are: a) evaluation of potential control options and possible suppliers; b) development of the most suitable control technology with the possible participation of original equipment manufacturers; c) demonstration and emissions testing of the developed control technology; and d) evaluation of emissions benefits and cost-effectiveness.

The proposed project is included in the Technology Advancement Plan, approved by the Board on October 11, 1996 as Project S3-1, "Advanced Controls for Restaurant Operations." The major benefit of this project is to assist the AQMD in the final development and implementation of Rule 1138. This will, in turn, result in significant reduction of PM10 and VOC emissions from restaurants within the Basin. An RFP was formulated for this purpose. This RFP was approved by the Board on March 14, 1997.

Outreach

In accordance with the AQMD’s consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the RFP and inviting bids was published in the following publications: The Black Voice News, Chinese Daily News, Eastern Group Publications, El Chicano, The Excelsior, Inland Empire Hispanic News, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Korea Central Daily, La Opinion, La Voz, Los Angeles Sentinel, Los Angeles Times, M/W/DVBE Source, Orange County Register, Philippine News, Precinct Reporter, Rafu Shimpo, Riverside Press Enterprise, the San Bernardino Sun, and the State of California Contracts Register. Additionally, potential bidders were identified through Los Angeles County’s Directory of Certified Minority, Women, Disadvantaged and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises; the Directory of Certified Firms published by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority; the Inland Area Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; the Caltrans electronic bulletin board listing of Disadvantaged and Women Business Enterprises; the AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasing’s mailing list. Copies of the RFP were mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations; and placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov] and on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line.

Evaluation Panel

The three-member evaluation panel for proposals was comprised of AQMD staff, two males and one female; two Caucasians and one American Indian.

Bid Evaluation

Four proposals were received by the April 25, 1997 closing date. They were reviewed and evaluated according to established AQMD guidelines. A summary of the panel's scoring is included as Attachment A. The evaluation process involved two steps. First, proposals were evaluated using technical criteria. Proposals receiving scores of at least 70 out of 100 points were considered technically qualified and eligible for contract award. Next, the technically qualified proposals were evaluated using the criteria of "cost, cost per technical approach and work statement, and other factors," as outlined in the RFP. Using this two-step selection process, the proposal from CE-CERT received the highest overall score.

CE-CERT's proposal adheres to all the tasks described in the RFP's work statement, and it is particularly strong in its technical approach compared to the other proposals. Having secured the participation of representatives from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), gas and electric utilities, and restaurant trade associations as a starting point, CE-CERT will be able to identify promising control technologies for underfired charbroilers, including but not limited to, low-temperature catalysts, scrubbers, adsorbers, absorbers, electrostatic precipitators, and afterburners. The costs and benefits associated with each technology will be developed and submitted for selection to a technical advisory committee comprised of AQMD staff and industry. An important advantage of CE-CERT's proposal is the selection of three of the most suitable control technologies for design and demonstration, with the participation of OEM's. This is particularly important, because the number of control technologies to be demonstrated is more than the other proposals, and the specific technologies are not predetermined.

Proposition 209 Compliance

It is AQMD policy to award additional points or cost benefits for minority-owned, woman-owned, and/or disabled veteran-owned business enterprises. On November 5, 1996 California voters approved Proposition 209 which prohibits discrimination or granting preferential treatment based upon race, ethnicity, color, sex or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting. (Proposition 209 does not address disabled veteran-owned business enterprises.) On December 16, 1996, the Federal District Court issued an order applicable to all government agencies in California prohibiting enforcement of Proposition 209. The December 16, 1996 court order has been reversed by an appellate panel; however, a motion for rehearing has been filed and the stay continues in effect. Therefore, the AQMD’s existing policy remains in effect. Should the status of the law change at any point during the process of issuing an RFP or RFQ or entering into a contract pursuant to a previously issued RFP or RFQ, the AQMD will abide by the law in effect at the time the action is taken and any RFP or RFQ will be deemed modified to comply with existing law and any provisions in conflict with existing law will not be enforced.

Resource Impacts

Total cost for the proposed project is $149,382. Sufficient funds are available in the Technology Advancement Fund. No cost-sharing is planned for this project.

Attachment

A- Summary of Evaluation of three Proposals Received in Response to RFP # 9697-37.

Attachment A

Summary of Evaluation of Responses to RFP #9697-37

Four proposals were received in response to this RFP. They were from College of Engineering, Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), AGAResearch (AGAR), d'Autremont-Helms & Associates, Inc., and Electric Air/DBA EAMFG.

Step 1 - Technical Criteria (70 points minimum, 100 points maximum)

	Proposer
	CE-CERT	AGAR	d'Autremont	EAMFG
Panel Average	84.7	76.0	52.7	49.3
Carry-over (50% of points > 70)	7.4	3.0	Not Qualif.	Not Qualif.

Step 2 - Cost and Other Factors (85 points maximum)

Criteria

Proposer

	CE-CERT	AGAR	d'Autremont	EAMFG
Cost (Maximum = 20 points for lowest cost) (Actual amount)	17.4 $149,382	20.0 $129,772	N/A	N/A
Cost per Technical Approach and Work Statement (Max. = 50)	48.9	50.0	N/A	N/A
Certified MBE/WBE/DVBE (Max. = 10) OR Minimum of 20% Participation by MBE/WBE/DVBE Subcontractors (Max. = 7)	7	0	N/A	N/A
Local Business Enterprise (Max. = 5)	5	0	N/A	N/A
Total	78.3	70.0	N/A	N/A

Total Score (100 points maximum)

Criteria

Proposer

	CE-CERT	AGAR	d'Autremont	EAMFG
Step 1 Carry-over Points (Max. = 15)	7.4	3.0	N/A	N/A
Step 2 Points (Max. = 85)	78.3	70.0	N/A	N/A
Total	85.7	73.0	N/A	N/A

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