Back

PROPOSAL:

Execute Contract to Develop an Enhanced Ammonia Emissions Inventory as Part of Technical Enhancement Program for the Year 2000 AQMP

SYNOPSIS:

On May 8, 1998 the AQMD released an RFP to solicit proposals for the Technical Enhancement Program for the Year 2000 AQMP (TEP 2000) project entitled "Ammonia Emission Inventory Enhancements." This action is to execute a contract with AeroVironment Environmental Services Inc. Funding for this project had been allocated in the FY 1997-1998 Budget. A separate board action at this meeting is proposed to reallocate funding for this project to the FY 1998-99 Budget.

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source, June 26, 1998, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with AeroVironment Environmental Services Inc. in an amount not to exceed $69,717, to develop an enhanced ammonia emissions inventory as part of TEP 2000.

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

Background

The 2000 AQMP revision will include an analysis for the 1-hour ozone and PM10 standards and will address the new ozone and PM2.5 air quality standards. In order to provide a technical foundation for the 2000 AQMP revision, the Governing Board approved a comprehensive technical enhancement program, TEP 2000, at its February 13, 1998 public hearing. One component of TEP 2000 is the enhancement of the gridded ammonia emissions inventory. Because of the complex chemical relationship among ammonium nitrate/sulfate aerosols and their precursors, control strategy assessments (e.g., NOx vs. ammonia) depend on accurate gridded emission inventories for all precursor pollutants, including ammonia. On May 8, 1998 the AQMD released RFP #9798-42 for the development of an enhanced ammonia emissions inventory as defined in the TEP 2000 Workplan.

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:

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 were identified using 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; AQMD Purchasing’s mailing list; and AQMD’s Planning Division expertise-sorted mailing list. Copies of the RFPs 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 AQMD’s 24-hour telephone message line for bidders (909) 396-2724.

Over 300 copies of the RFP were mailed out.

Panel Composition

The proposal evaluation panel consisted of the following: an AQMD Program Supervisor, two AQMD Air Quality Specialists, and one California Air Resources Board Air Pollution Specialist. Of these four panelists, one is female and three are male; one panelist is Asian-Pacific American and three are Caucasian.

Bid Evaluation

Four bids were received in response to the RFP when final bidding closed at 1:00 p.m. on June 19, 1998:

• AeroVironment Environmental Services, Inc. (AVES)

• E.H. Pechan and Associates, Inc.

• Earth Tech, Inc.

• Sonoma Technology, Inc.

Of the four bids, none of the bids included a disabled veteran-owned business enterprise or proposed use of a DVBE subcontractor. None of the bids was from a women-owned business enterprise. The attachment summarizes the evaluation of the proposals and the respective ratings/costs of the submitted bids.

The Evaluation Panel judged two of the bids as not meeting the minimum technical criteria specified in the RFP (i.e. scored below 70 points). The two remaining bids were judged by the panel as technically capable of successfully completing the Ammonia Emission Inventory Enhancement Project.

The Step 2 evaluation of the proposals that met the minimum technical criteria primarily considers cost and DVBE designation. The objective of this two-step evaluation process is to select the most cost-effective, technically sound bid. Based on this evaluation process, AVES received the highest final score. AVES presented a thorough understanding of the process to develop a gridded ammonia inventory for the modeling domain. AVES has an extensive and experienced technical staff that is capable of preparing a sound ammonia inventory. AVES will subcontract with Systems Applications International (SAI), which has extensive experience in the development of gridded emission inventories and is the developer of the Urban Airshed Model. They will also subcontract with Dr. Eric Winegar to provide consulting services related to chemical test data accuracy.

Proposal

Based on the AQMD’s bid evaluation procedure, staff recommends that the contract be awarded to AeroVironment Environmental Services, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $69,717, to develop an enhanced ammonia emissions inventory.

Resource Impacts

The total amount of AQMD funding for this contract will be an amount not to exceed $69,717. Sufficient funds were available in the FY 1997-98 Budget as described in the February 13, 1998 TEP 2000 Board package. A separate board action at this meeting is proposed to reallocate funding for this project to the FY 1998-99 Budget.

Attachment

A. Evaluation of Respondents to RFP #9798-42 Who Exceeded the Minimum Technical Criteria

ATTACHMENT A

EVALUATION OF RESPONDENTS TO RFP #9798-42

WHO EXCEEDED THE MINIMUM TECHNICAL CRITERIA

Bidder	Bid Cost	* Step 1 Tech Points	** Cost Points	*** DVBE	**** Local Business Points	Step 1 Tech Carry Over Pts	Final Score
AeroVironment Environmental	$69,717	85	70	0	0	7.4	77.4
E.H. Pechan & Associates	$75,393	93	64.3	0	0	11.6	75.9

	* Step 1 Points A minimum of 70 points is required in Step 1 in order to be considered technically qualified and proceed to Step 2. Fifty percent (50%) of points in excess of 70 are carried over into Step 2.
	** Cost Points 70 points are awarded to the lowest bid.
	*** Certified DVBE/Joint Ventures 10 points, or 7 points if using DVBE subcontractors.
	**** Local Business • 0 points - Majority of AQMD’s budget, including this program, is funded in part by EPA grant funds. No local business preference points will be granted.

/ / /