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BOARD MEETING DATE: May 14, 1999 AGENDA NO. 12

PROPOSAL:

Approve Issuance of Five RFPs for TCM Programs and Programmatic Outreach as part of the Fiscal Year 1999-2000 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program

SYNOPSIS:

On March 12, 1999, the Governing Board approved in concept the $16.275 million FY 1999-00 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program that includes the phased release of funding solicitations. The MSRC is recommending the issuance of five RFPs as the third phase of its FY 1999-2000 Work Program totaling $2,650,000. RFPs are as follows: Bicycle Projects ($500K); Videoconferencing Projects ($750K); Information Technology/Advanced Traveler Management Information Services (ATMIS) Trip Reduction Strategies ($500K); Voluntary Employer-Based Rideshare Incentives Programs ($750K); and Programmatic Outreach & Website ($150K). The MSRC requests Board approval to issue these RFPs.

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review, April 22, 1999, Approved

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve issuance of the attached five RFPs as part of the FY 1999-2000 AB 2766 Discretionary fund Work Program: 1) #9899-30 – ATMIS Trip Reduction Strategies, 2) #9899-31 – Bicycle Projects, 3) #9899-33 – Voluntary-Based Rideshare, 4) #9899-34 – Video-Conferencing, and 5) #9899-37 – Programmatic Outreach.

Gregory Winterbottom
Chair, Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee

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 FY 1999-2000. In addition, the MSRC plans to redirect $3.375 million originally allocated to another program within the FY 1997-99 Work Program.

Report on FY 1999-2000 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program

To utilize these funds and achieve the maximum emission reduction benefits, the MSRC’s Work Program Development Subcommittee created a $16.275 million FY 1999-2000 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program. The proposed Work Program consists of the following elements (solicitations were released in February and March for the first two categories):

1) Light-Duty Vehicle Program ($3.475 million):

• Light-Duty Automobile Repair Assistance Program ($100,000): 50% co-funding for the repair of 300 light-duty vehicles, similar to a vehicle repair program implemented by the San Diego APCD;
• Light-Duty Purpose-Built Zero Emission Vehicle Program ($3,000,000): provides up to $5,000 per qualifying ZEV with a minimum purchase or lease of ten ZEVs for public or private entities in fleet or business applications, with funding reallocated from the $5,000 EV Buydown program in the FY 1997-99 Work Program.
• Extend the current FY 1997-99 $5,000 Electric Vehicle Buydown Program through June 30, 2001, with no additional funding;
• Extend the current FY 1997-99 $3,000 ULEV Buydown Program through June 30, 2001, with no additional funding;
• Extend participation in the California Energy Commission’s Charging Incentive program through June 30, 2001. With an additional $375,000 in funding that will be reallocated from the $5,000 EV Buydown Program.

2) Heavy-/Medium-Duty Vehicle Programs ($9.6 million) 3 RFPs released March 12, 1999:

• Alternative Fuel Transit Bus Program ($6 million): provides $40,000 in co-funding toward the purchase of new 35/40-foot OEM clean-fuel transit buses, and includes a component for co-funding of refueling infrastructure and mechanic training;
• On-Road & Off-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicle Diesel Pollution Reduction ($3.4 million): co-funds new OEM on-road heavy-duty vehicles of 14,000 GVWR or greater that would accrue at least 85% of mileage within the SCAQMD and new OEM or repowered off-road vehicles. Funds are also available to co-fund qualifying infrastructure;
• Technical Assistance to Fleets (in support of the MSRC’s Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program) ($200,000): provides a consultant team to assist with outreach to fleets, application preparation support, vehicle and refueling station specification development support, on-going technical assistance, and vehicle monitoring, data collection and reporting seeking a consultant to assist in promoting and providing outreach for current and on-going MSRC programs.

3) VMT Reductions And TCM Strategies ($3.05 million)

• 50% co-funding for Information Technologies/Advanced Traveler Management Information Systems (ATMIS) Trip Reduction Strategies ($500,000);
• 50% co-funding for voluntary employer-based rideshare incentives ($750,000);
• 50% co-funding for fleet/business VMT reduction programs ($250,000);
• 50% co-funding for bicycle projects ($500,000);
• Co-funding for video-conferencing projects ($750,000);
• 50% co-funding for transit-oriented development (TOD) land-use projects ($300,000). This RFP is tentatively scheduled for release in June 1999.

4) Programmatic Outreach ($150,000)

• The funding for EV Programmatic Outreach has been reallocated to fund a consultant or consultant team who will assist the MSRC (on a task order basis) in promoting and providing outreach for current and on-going MSRC programs that currently do not have outreach coordinators. The program also includes the development of a Web Site.

The individual target funding allocations listed above may be reassigned by the MSRC based upon the MSRC’s review and evaluation of proposals received in each respective category and to allow for mid-year adjustments.

Solicitations for these categories are being issued in four phases:

• On February 26, 1999, the MSRC released the following three PONs; PON 9899-B for three elements of TCM Strategies including the above-mentioned ATMIS, Fleet VMT Reductions strategies, and Voluntary Employer-Based Rideshare Incentive programs; PON 9899-C for a Light-Duty Automobile Assistance Program, and PON 9899-D for Light-Duty Purpose-Built Zero Emission Vehicle Projects. The pre-proposal submittal deadline for PONs B and C was March 23, 1999. Pre-proposals for PON D will be accepted until August 31, 1999.
• On March 23, 1999, the MSRC released the three Heavy-Duty RFPs listed above. The Technical Assistance RFP closed on April 13, 1999 and proposals are in the evaluation process. The Transit Bus and On-Road/ Off-Road RFPs will accept proposals through July 30, 1999 at 5 p.m.
• Four TCM RFPs and one Programmatic Outreach RFP will be released on May 14, 1999 pending Governing Board approval and are described below.
• The Transit-Oriented Development Land Use RFP is in the development stage and is scheduled for review by the MSRC in May. If approved by the MSRC it will be submitted to the Board in June.

Proposal

At its April 22, 1999 meeting the MSRC unanimously approved the following 5 RFPs for release subject to concurrence by the AQMD Governing Board at its May 14, 1999 meeting:

Video-conferencing ($750,000 available) - This program co-funds projects that cost-effectively eliminate or reduce automobile trips. For new or expanded video-conferencing systems, funds are available for purchase and installation of system hardware only. However, marketing and training are an integral part of these projects and may be used as co-funding. For existing, underutilized systems, MSRC funds may be used to offset direct costs of marketing, outreach and training. A minimum co-funding level is not required under this category.

Bicycles ($500,000 available) - The MSRC is soliciting proposals that facilitate the use of bicycles instead of motor vehicles as a transportation mode, to, from, or in proximity to the work location. Categories include co-funding for the purchase of bicycles, on-site facilities improvements, and bicycle route improvements. In an effort to reduce proposal preparation time, a specific standard proposal format has been adopted for this category only. This RFP requires a minimum co-funding contribution of 50% of the total project costs.

Voluntary Employer-based Rideshare Incentive Programs ($750,000 available) -This RFP was created based upon the responses to PON B. This RFP invites the submission of proposals detailing innovative projects that reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and/or automobile trips through employer-based incentive programs. Only employers who are currently exempt from SCAQMD Rule 2202 are eligible. Projects that propose to continue, subsidize, or substitute funding for existing rideshare incentives are not eligible. Expansions of existing projects are eligible for funding. MSRC funds may apply to direct employee incentives, marketing, and outreach expenses only. This RFP requires a minimum co-funding contribution of 50% of the total project costs.

Information Technology/ATMIS ($500,000 available) - Once again, this RFP was created due to the enthusiastic response to PON B. Under this RFP, the MSRC is soliciting proposals for projects that promote the use of state-of-the-art information technology as a means for distributing ridesharing and/or other types of commute-oriented information. Projects must result in quantifiable VMT or trip reductions with the SCAQMD and sustain these reductions beyond the MSRC funding period. This RFP requires a minimum co-funding contribution of 50% of the total project costs.

Programmatic Outreach ($150,000 available) - The MSRC is seeking a consultant to assist (on a task-order basis) in promoting and providing outreach for current and on-going MSRC programs. Assistance includes, but is not limited to: developing and disseminating marketing materials; providing direct outreach assistance to current and potential contractors as well as users of specific MSRC programs; and development and maintenance of an MSRC Web Site.

Outreach

A brochure announcing the RFPs will be mailed to the 1,700 interested individuals and entities contained in the MSRC’s mailing list. Staff will also obtain a list from transportation containing interested parties and rideshare groups. Assuming approval of the RFPs, ads will appear in several newspapers, including several papers that target minorities, throughout the basin. To assist potential bidders in submitting qualified proposals, individual Bidders’ Conferences/Workshops will be held on June 1, 1999 at the AQMD. The brochure and PONs will also be mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations. The perforated portion of the brochure may be returned to request copies of the RFPs or interested individuals may call the MSRC hotline to request copies. The RFPs will also be placed on the Internet at AQMD’s web site (http://www.aqmd.gov, "Business and Job Opportunities" Icon) and can be downloaded if so desired.

Resource Impacts

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

Attachments

1) RFP #9899-30 – ATMIS Trip Reduction Strategies
2) RFP #9899-31 – Bicycle Projects
3) RFP #9899-33 – Voluntary-Based Rideshare
4) RFP #9899-34 – Video-Conferencing
5) RFP #9899 -37 – Programmatic Outreach

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