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PROPOSAL:

Establish List of Prequalified Vendors to Provide Supplemental Source Testing Services

SYNOPSIS:

On March 13, 1998, the Board approved the release of an RFQ for supplemental source testing services. This action is to establish a list of prequalified source testing firms to supplement AQMD emissions testing and test protocols and/or test method development efforts, as needed, for a one-year period.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, May 22, 1998, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve the list of prequalified vendors for supplemental source testing services listed in Attachment A, for a twelve-month period.

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

Background

On March 13, 1998, the Governing Board approved the release of RFQ #2017 to establish a list of prequalified source testing firms from which supplemental services will be purchased over a twelve-month period. Once established, the list will be used to contract with vendors to perform source tests, and to provide technical assistance to AQMD in developing, documenting, and writing test protocols and/or test methods to support AQMD regulatory programs.

The annual expenditures for these services are not expected to exceed $150,000. Expenditures will be used to augment the AQMD source testing capability during periods when existing staff cannot adequately meet agency testing needs. The AQMD will seek bids on a per-task or per-set-of-tasks basis from the established prequalified vendor list. Tasks may include, but are not limited to, the following: conducting source emission tests independently on AQMD-specified pollutants; assisting AQMD in conducting source emissions tests under on-site direction by AQMD staff; assisting AQMD in developing, documenting, and writing source test protocols to address BACT determination, equipment certification, or rule development, and assisting AQMD in revising source test methods to better reflect current technology and practice. For each task, or set-of-tasks, the AQMD will use the prequalified vendor with the lowest cost that also meets the criteria and objectives for that task or set-of-tasks, including time limitations. This process assures both a rapid response to AQMD needs and overall cost savings.

Outreach

In accordance with the AQMD’s consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the RFQ 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

Individuals and vendors 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, the AQMD’s certified minority vendors and Purchasing’s mailing list, and the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations were also notified of this RFQ via direct mail. This RFQ was placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov, "Business & Job Opportunities" icon], and advertised on the AQMD’s bidder 24-hour telephone message line.

Bid Evaluation

Two hundred fifty-six (256) copies of the RFQ were mailed out. Five proposals were received in response to the RFQ when final bidding closed at 2:00 p.m. on April 15, 1998. The submitted proposals were evaluated based on the evaluation criteria contained in the RFQ. Four out of five responding vendors met the minimum qualifications for placement on the list of prequalified vendors for supplemental source testing services. Attachment A reflects the list of bidders and those recommended for prequalification to provide supplemental source testing services.

The evaluation panel consisted of four AQMD staff: a Principal Air Quality Chemist, a Supervising Air Quality Engineer, a Senior Air Quality Engineer, and an Air Quality Analysis and Compliance Supervisor; one Asian-Indian, one Hispanic, and two White; three male and one female. The evaluation process was conducted according to the criteria described in the RFQ.

Resource Impacts

Sufficient funds have been appropriated in the FY 1997-98 Budget and the recently approved FY 1998-99 Budget to meet these needs.

Attachments

Bidder List and Recommendation for Prequalification for Supplemental Source Testing
Services – RFQ #2017

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