Proposal:

Issue RFP for Technical Advisor Services to the MSRC in Support of the AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Program

Synopsis:

Currently, the MSRC receives Technical Advisor Services from Raymond Gorski through a sole-source contract. Mr. Gorski was previously employed by SAIC which had been retained as the MSRC’s Technical Advisor through an RFP. When SAIC’s contract terminated, the MSRC retained Mr. Gorski through a sole-source contract to provide continuity of service. While the MSRC is satisfied with the services performed by its Technical Advisor, staff has recommended that because of the sole-source nature of the prior contract, the contract should go through the bidding process. To provide equal opportunity, and adhere to AQMD practice, the MSRC requests the Governing Board’s approval to issue an RFP for these services.

Committee:

MSRC, February 27, 1997, Unanimously Recommended for Approval

Recommended Action:

Approve Issuance of RFP for Technical Advisor Services to the MSRC in support of the AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Program.

John Longville
Chairman, MSRC

Background

Assembly Bill 2766 (Health & Safety Code 44244), which became effective January 1, 1991, provides that 30 percent of an annual $4 vehicle registration fee subvened to the AQMD be placed into an account to be allocated pursuant to a work program developed and adopted by the MSRC and approved by the AQMD Governing Board. AB 2766 also provides that 5% of the annual motor vehicle fees subvened into the Discretionary Fund are allowed for administrative costs of the program.

Based on the demands of the first funding cycle in FY 1991-92, the MSRC recognized that technical and contract administrative assistance, beyond what the AQMD could provide at the time, would be necessary to fully support the program. Therefore, in 1992 the MSRC released an RFP to provide technical and contract administrative support for the FY 1992-93 Discretionary Fund Program. Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) was chosen. SAIC’s contract was amended in 1993 to include support of FY 1991-92 contracts. In June 1993 another RFP was released for a consultant to provide technical and contract administrative support for the FY 1993-94 Fund Program and SAIC was selected again.

When developing the FY 1994-95 Work Program, the MSRC structured the program to require less technical and contract administrative support. Consequently, rather than exercise the option in SAIC’s contract to continue services through FY 1994-95, in August 1994 the MSRC requested bid proposals from both SAIC and AQMD staff. Based on cost, the 5% administrative cap required by law, and the level of support needed, the MSRC chose to ask AQMD to provide support on a reimbursement cost basis. When SAIC’s contract expired June 30, 1995, the MSRC chose to have AQMD staff assume all contract administrative responsibilities for 83 prior year contracts as well as support for the upcoming FY 1995-96 Fund Program. To augment this contract administrative assistance and ensure continuity of the Program, the MSRC retained Ray Gorski, who was previously employed by SAIC and already providing technical support to the MSRC, as its Technical Advisor. In June 1996 Mr. Gorski’s sole-source contract was extended to provide technical support through FY 1996-97.

Proposal

Currently, the MSRC has 236 existing contracts and anticipates entering into 30-40 additional contracts as part of the FY 1997-99 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program. The need for independent, objective technical advice and support to the MSRC continues to be vital. While the MSRC is satisfied with the services performed by its Technical Advisor, staff has recommended that because of the sole-source nature of the prior contract, the contract should go through the bidding process. To provide equal opportunity, and adhere to AQMD practice, the MSRC requests the Governing Board’s approval to issue an RFP for services in FY 1997-88. The successful bidder will enter into a one-year contract to provide support for FY 1997-88, with an option to renew the contract for three additional one-year periods.

Assuming approval of this RFP, it will be mailed to over 1,800 interested parties on the MSRC’s mailing list. Ads will also appear in several newspapers throughout the Basin, including major ethnic community newspapers. The submittal deadline for this RFP is Wednesday, April 26, 1997, by 5 p.m.

Resource Impacts

Health & Safety Code Section 44243(2)(c) requires the AQMD to deposit the discretionary fund revenues "in an account to be used, pursuant to Section 44244, to provide grants to fund projects for the exclusive purpose of reducing air pollution from motor vehicles." Since the monies for these technical services will be drawn from this special fund, there would be no fiscal impact on the AQMD’s operational budget.

Attachment