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PROPOSAL:

Issue RFP to Obtain Contractor for Electric Vehicle Charging Station Directional Signage Implementation Program as Part of FY 1997-99 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program

SYNOPSIS:

The MSRC’s FY 1997-99 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program includes $500,000 for signage implementation for publicly accessible EV charging stations. Implementation will include obtaining signage permitting from three Caltrans Districts and approximately 40 cities and 70 private property site owners; sign fabrication of approximately 1,800 directional word signs and installation at a minimum of 100 publicly accessible EV charging stations; program monitoring, reporting and documentation for all aspects of the word signage program; and seeking approval of a charging station "symbol" to complement the word signage program. The MSRC proposes to issue an RFP to identify a contractor to oversee and implement the signage program. The MSRC requests Board approval to issue this RFP as part of the FY 1997-99 Work Program.

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee,
April 23, 1998, Approved

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve issuance of the attached RFP #9798-44 for the EV Charging Station Directional Signage Implementation Program.

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

Background

In September 1990 Assembly Bill 2766 was signed into law (Health & Safety Code Sections 44220-44247) authorizing the imposition of an annual $4 motor vehicle registration fee to fund the implementation of programs exclusively to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles. AB 2766 provides that 30 percent of the 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. It is estimated that approximately $13 million, including projected interest and revenue carryover, will be available in the Discretionary Fund in FYs 1997-98 and 1998-99, respectively.

The Governing Board’s April 11, 1997, approval in concept of the two-year, $26 million FY 1997-99 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program included funding solicitations in FYs 1997-98 and 1998-99. Contracts have already been executed for elements in FY 1997-98. For FY 1998-99 the MSRC will be considering projects for eight RFPs at its May 28, 1998, meeting. In addition to those RFPs, the second year funding for the FY 1997-99 Work Program included $500,000 for implementation of an EV signage program, the preliminary work on which was started in the prior work program.

Because the ARB and the 1997 AQMP call for the accelerated introduction of ZEVs as an air quality attainment strategy, the MSRC’s FY 1995-97 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program included an EV "Quick Charge" Program, providing public funding towards the deployment of EVs within the AQMD’s jurisdiction. This Program has already resulted in more than 300 EVs on the streets and 400 alternative fuel charging stations currently under construction. Private and public entities have also constructed an additional 100 public charging stations, and it is anticipated that more charging stations throughout the Basin and the country will be constructed. Development and placement of EV signs for motorists was planned for by setting aside $500,000 in the second year of the FY 1997-99 Work Program.

After launching its EV "Quick Charge" Program, and recognizing that neither Caltrans nor local jurisdictions have the funding or resources for coordination of a signage program, the MSRC amended the existing contract with its Outreach Coordinator, The Planning Center, who was obtained through a formal bid process. Through that contract amendment, The Planning Center began preliminary work on the signage program by completing the following tasks:

• developed a signage word message;

• obtained approval from Caltrans of the signage word message and has worked with Caltrans and FHWA to eventually approve a symbol;

• developed preliminary signage guidelines for site owners, cities and Caltrans;

• developed the permitting and general process to seek approval from Caltrans and local jurisdictions, before installing signage in their right-of-way; and

• compiled an extensive inventory of publicly accessible EV charging stations in the South Coast Air Basin for signage location placement.

The remaining tasks to complete signage implementation must still be undertaken.

Proposals

The MSRC had planned to complete signage implementation through a sole-source contract with The Planning Center, its Outreach Coordinator who completed the preliminary work on the effort. However, the Governing Board determined that there was insufficient justification to proceed with a sole-source contract. At this time the MSRC proposes to release RFP #9798-44 for the EV Charging Station Directional Signage Implementation Program. The RFP is intended to obtain a prime contractor to carry out signage implementation, including the following tasks, for an amount not to exceed $500,000:

• obtaining permitting and approval for sign installation through coordination with at a minimum three Caltrans Districts, approximately 40 cities, and approximately 70 private property owners;

• fabricating and installing signs on freeways and streets/roads throughout the Basin to direct EV owners to at least 100 publicly accessible EV charging stations which would encompass 1,570 word message signs and 750 installation locations;

• providing updates to the MSRC’s existing EV Charging Station Signage Guidelines, so that future EV charging station programs can easily incorporate directional signs along with the installation of the EV charging station. The Guidelines will also be available to other communities as they proceed with their EV infrastructure programs;

• coordinating the federal and state approval of an EV signage symbol to complement the word sign; and

• improving awareness to millions of non-EV motorists that EVs and public infrastructure are operating in the region and are a feasible and cleaner alternative to the gasoline vehicle.

The MSRC requests Board approval to issue the attached RFP as part of the FY 1997-99 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program.

Outreach

In accordance with the AQMD’s Procurement Policy and Procedure, a public notice advertising this RFP and soliciting proposals 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.	Elcelsior, 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

Copies of the RFPs 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 & Job Opportunities" icon] and AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

In addition to the AQMD’s standard practice indicated above, the MSRC will send a notice announcing this funding opportunity to over 1,700 interested parties on the MSRC’s mailing list. Finally, to assist potential bidders in submitting qualified proposals, a Bidders’ Conference will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 1998.

Bid Evaluation

Members of the MSRC’s Technical Advisory Committee, the composition and membership of which is mandated by AB 2766, will evaluate the RFP.

Proposition 209 Compliance

On August 28, 1997, Proposition 209 went into effect when a stay of enforcement was lifted. Proposition 209 prohibits granting of 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 business enterprises. On October 10, 1997, the District’s Board adopted an Interim Contracting & Purchasing Policy and Consultant Selection Policy. The Interim Policy eliminates the granting of preference points based upon race or gender and only requires a good faith effort to subcontract with minority and women-owned businesses if subcontracts are to be let, when contracts are funded in whole or in part by EPA grant funds. Proposition 209 does not prohibit actions necessary to maintain eligibility for federal funding. However, the MSRC does not receive any federal funding. On October 23, 1997, the MSRC adopted a Proposition 209 Compliance Policy which eliminates preference points based upon race, ethnicity, color, sex or national origin, and awards preference for disabled veteran business enterprises and local businesses, where appropriate. Language in this RFP is based on the current policies, and also includes special criteria to ensure small business participation and geographic diversity of both the prime contractor and subcontractors.

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 this RFP will be drawn from this special fund, there would be no fiscal impact on the AQMD’s operational budget.

Attachments

RFP #9798-44 – EV Charging Station Directional Signage Implementation Program

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