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PROPOSAL:

Issue RFP to Develop and Demonstrate Zero-Emission Technologies for Utility and Lawn and Garden Equipment Used in Commercial Applications; and Low-Emission, Alternative Fuel and Zero-Emissions Technologies for Off-Road Equipment

SYNOPSIS:

Internal combustion engines used to power utility and lawn and garden equipment and off-road equipment are significant sources of emissions in the Basin. This action is to issue an RFP to develop and demonstrate zero-emission technologies for utility and lawn and garden equipment used in commercial applications; and low-emission, alternative fuel and zero-emission technologies for off-road equipment. AQMD’s portion of the $700,000 utility and lawn and garden project is $350,000. AQMD’s portion of the $1,200,000 off-road equipment project is $600,000. Multiple awards may result from this RFP.

COMMITTEE:

Technology Committee, December 11, 1997, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve the release of the attached RFP to solicit bids to: (1) develop and demonstrate zero-emission technologies for utility and lawn and garden equipment used in commercial applications, in an amount not to exceed $350,000; and (2) develop and demonstrate low-emission, alternative fuel and zero-emission technologies for off-road equipment, in an amount not to exceed $600,000.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Acting Executive Officer

Background

The 1993 Basin emissions inventory developed for the 1997 AQMP indicates that the "Other Mobile" category, which consists of off-road vehicles, commercial boats, trains, ships, aircraft, mobile equipment, and utility equipment, is responsible for around 114 tons per day of VOC, 246 tons per day of NO_x, 1264 tons per day of CO, and 14 tons per day of PM₁₀. Relative to the overall Basin inventory, the Other Mobile category contributes roughly 9 percent of VOC, 21 percent of NO_x, 18 percent of CO, and 3 percent of PM₁₀.

During FY 1996-97, the Technology Advancement office issued a program opportunity notice (PON) seeking project pre-proposals in specific areas including "Ultra-Low/Zero-Emission Commercial Lawn, Garden, or Utility Equipment" and "Alternatively Fueled On- or Off-Road Vehicles, Boats, and Miscellaneous Power Equipment." The PON resulted in pre-proposals focusing on low-emission alternative fuel internal combustion engine technologies and zero-emission technologies (e.g., batteries, fuel cells) for lawn and garden and utility equipment and off-road vehicles. In June 1997, following a competitive solicitation, the Governing Board approved funding for a project to develop and demonstrate low-emission alternative fuel commercial lawn and garden equipment.

Proposal

As an extension of the PON, an RFP is proposed to solicit cost-shared proposals to: (1) develop and demonstrate zero-emission technologies for utility and lawn and garden equipment used in commercial applications; and (2) develop and demonstrate low-emission, alternative fuel and zero-emission technologies for off-road equipment. The emphasis of this solicitation is proven technologies, as opposed to basic research, targeting emission levels which are significantly lower than adopted emissions standards. Factors such as proposer’s related previous project experience and feasibility of commercialization will be considered. Proposals must meet a minimum of 50 percent co-funding/matching funds to be eligible for funding, with additional proposal evaluation points awarded for exceeding this requirement. Multiple awards may result from this solicitation.

Zero-Emission Utility and Lawn and Garden Equipment. This portion of the solicitation focuses on advanced battery and fuel cell technologies which can be applied to lawn and garden and utility equipment intended for professional and commercial users. Unless specified in the context of hybrid electric technologies, proposals solely incorporating internal combustion engine technologies will not be considered eligible for award because, as discussed previously, AQMD is currently sponsoring a project to develop and demonstrate low-emission alternative fuel commercial lawn and garden equipment.

Low Emission, Alternative Fuel and Zero-Emission Off-Road Equipment. This portion of the solicitation focuses on developing and demonstrating advanced technologies which can be applied to off-road equipment. Potential applications include heavy-duty construction and farm equipment, miscellaneous industrial equipment, ships, marine pleasure craft, off-road recreational equipment, port vehicles. In order to avoid categories which are preempted from emission regulations, or to minimize duplication of work, proposals in the following areas will not be considered for award: aircraft, airport ground support equipment, and locomotives.

The proposed project is included in the Technology Advancement Plan, approved on September 12, 1997, as Project 97M2-8, "Development and Demonstration of Electric Off-Road Equipment," Project 97M5-2, "Development and Demonstration of Zero-Emission Utility Equipment," and Project 97M5-3, "Development and Demonstration of Low Emission, Alternative Fuel Technologies for Off-Road Applications." The major benefits of this project include the proof of concept for new technologies; increased exposure and user acceptance of the new technologies; direct emission reductions in NOx, VOC, CO, PM, and toxics from the in-Basin demonstrations; the potential for increased use, and resulting emission reduction, of the demonstrated technologies through their expedited commercialization; and reduced noise from the use of quiet electricity-powered lawn and garden and utility equipment and off-road equipment.

In addition, it is conceivable that technologies similar to those intended for on-road vehicles could be developed and demonstrated with lawn and garden and utility equipment and off-road equipment. Conversely, low-emission alternative fuel and zero-emission technologies developed for these categories could be applied to other mobile sources.

The ARB has expressed interest in the zero-emission utility and lawn and garden portion of the proposed RFP and may donate in-kind technical support. ARB may consider providing co-funding during FY 1998-99. In order to accommodate the possibility of ARB cost sharing, the proposed RFP will require bidders to structure proposals into separable tasks.

Outreach

In accordance with the AQMD’s consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the RFP and inviting bids will be published in the following publications:

1.	Antelope Valley Press	10.	La Opinion	19.	Precinct Reporter
2.	Black Voice News	11.	La Voz	20.	Rafu Shimpo
3.	Chinese Daily News	12.	Los Angeles Daily News	21.	Riverside Press Enterprise
4.	Eastern Group Publications	13.	Los Angeles Sentinel	22.	San Bernardino Sun
5.	El Chicano	14.	Los Angeles Times	23.	Santa Clarita Signal
6.	Excelsior, The	15.	M/W/DVBE Source	24.	State of California Contracts
7.	Inland Empire Hispanic News	16.	Orange County Register		Register
8.	Inland Valley Daily Bulletin	17.	Palm Springs Desert Sun
9.	Korea Central Daily	18.	Philippine News

Additionally, potential bidders will be notified from the Los Angeles County MTA, and Cal Trans Directories of Certified Minority, Women, Disadvantaged and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises; the Inland Area Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasing’s mailing list. Copies of the RFP will be 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, "Business and Job Opportunities" icon] and AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Bid Evaluation

Quotations received will be evaluated by an ethnic- and gender-diverse panel of technically qualified individuals according to the criteria described in attached RFP #9798-21. Due to the particular importance of technical qualifications in awarding advanced technology contracts, staff has proposed in the RFP to weight a significant portion of the cost component of the scoring by technical strength, in effect a form of cost effectiveness. This form of scoring differs from the general practice of using total costs as the sole criterion, which the Board’s Consultant Selection Policy may be interpreted to call for. This change was brought to the attention of the Technology Committee, which approved this revision.

Resource Impacts

In the event ARB FY 1998-99 co-funding is made available for any projects resulting from the proposed RFP, AQMD funding would be adjusted accordingly. In any event, the total amount of AQMD funding for the proposed RFP will not exceed $950,000, consisting of $350,000 to develop and demonstrate zero-emission technologies for utility and lawn and garden equipment used in commercial applications; and $600,000 to develop and demonstrate low-emission, alternative fuel and zero-emission technologies for off-road equipment. The total project costs, including mandatory match funds/co-funding, is expected to be $1,900,000. Sufficient funds are available in the FY 1997-98 Budget.

Attachments

RFP #9798-21, Develop and Demonstrate Zero-Emission Technologies for Utility and Lawn and Garden Equipment Used in Commercial Applications and Low-Emission, Alternative Fuel and Zero-Emissions Technologies for Off-Road Equipment

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