South Coast Air Quality Management District

Back

Execute Contract to Assess, Develop and Demonstrate Low-VOC Cleaning Systems

SYNOPSIS:

Solvent cleaning operations contribute significantly to the South Coast Air Basin’s VOC emissions. Technological advancements are needed to meet some of the year 2005 VOC limits of Rule 1171- Solvent Cleaning Operations. Based on results of a competitive solicitation, the Institute for Research and Technical Assistance scored highest and should be selected to assess, develop and demonstrate low-VOC cleaning systems. If cleaning systems compliant with the year 2005 VOC limits are successfully developed and implemented, approximately 9 tons per day of VOC emission reduction could take place. Total project cost will be $149,720, which will be borne by the AQMD.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, December 1, 2000, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Institute for Research and Technical Assistance (IRTA) to assess, develop and demonstrate low-VOC cleaning systems to determine the feasibility of year 2005 VOC limits in Rule 1171, in an amount not to exceed $149,720 from the Advanced Technology Outreach and Education Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Solvent cleaning operations are one of the major sources of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in the Basin. These operations constitute removal of contaminants such as dirt, soil, grease, uncured coatings, adhesives, and inks. Rule 1171 – Solvent Cleaning Operations, was originally adopted on August 2, 1991, primarily to regulate VOC emissions from solvent cleaning operations during the production, repair, maintenance, or servicing of parts, products, tools, machinery, equipment, or general work areas. Since its original adoption, Rule 1171 has become a key component of AQMD’s ozone reduction strategy and has been amended several times for additional VOC emission reductions.

Rule 1171 was amended on October 8, 1999 to achieve additional VOC emission reductions required by the AQMP (CM#97ADV-CLNG) to meet state and federal requirements. In this amendment, the additional emission reductions will be achieved in two steps by lowering the VOC limits on December 1, 2001 and July 1, 2005. The technology-forcing VOC limits effective July 1, 2005 are substantially lower than the VOC content of many of the solvents used today. However, staff is confident that a six-year lead time is sufficient enough for the broad development of compliant materials that are both effective and safe. The development of compliant materials may be achieved by the use of aqueous or semi-aqueous technologies, exempt compound substitution, or the development of new cleaning materials or technologies.

The October 8, 1999 amendment also requires the Executive Officer to complete a Technology Assessment by July 1, 2004, of low-VOC technologies for several cleaning operations to further verify the feasibility of the year 2005 VOC limits. Rule 1171 requires the technology assessment for the cleaning of electrical apparatus and electronic components; and the cleaning of application equipment for coatings, adhesives, screen printing inks, ultraviolet inks, and specialty flexographic printing inks. After the assessments, the Executive Officer is required to report to the Governing Board as to the progress in technology development and whether the year 2005 limits are feasible or require amendment.

In addition to the cleaning operations cited above which require a technology assessment, Rule 1171 also applies to other cleaning operations that are currently either exempt from the Rule 1171 VOC limits or have a substantially high VOC limits. These operations include cleaning of application equipment used for applying architectural and satellite/radiation effect coatings, and product cleaning of solar cells, laser hardware, scientific instruments, and high precision optics. If developed, low-VOC cleaning systems for these operations can also provide additional emission reductions.

Through RFP#9900-23, AQMD solicited proposals to assess, develop, and demonstrate low-VOC cleaning systems for cleaning operations cited above under the technology assessment requirement and which are currently exempt or have high VOC limits.

Proposal

The objective of the proposed project is to determine if the year 2005 limits for cleaning operations cited above are technologically feasible and cost-effective. This objective will be accomplished by the assessment, development, and demonstration of the existing and the newly developed low-VOC cleaning systems.

The project will involve collection of information on typical cleaning practices, including the solvents and cleaning methods, which are currently used for the cleaning operations subject of this study. For each cleaning operation, extensive research will be conducted to identify available cleaning systems that comply with the year 2005 limits. In the event that compliant systems are not available or effective for any cleaning operation, new solvents or methods will be identified and developed. Selected existing and newly developed low-VOC systems will then be tested at end-user facilities for their cleaning performance, and modified, if necessary, to determine the lowest feasible VOC limits. The project will also include the comparison of cleaning performance, cost-effectiveness, environmental impacts, and health-related trade-offs for the high-VOC systems currently used and the newly developed low-VOC systems.

The conclusions and analysis of testing will be presented in a final report which will include a description of the testing program, the types of testing that were conducted, the optimal alternative in each case, and the cost comparison of using the high-VOC solvents and the low-VOC alternatives.

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

In addition, the RFP was mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses, AQMD’s mailing list, and various chambers of commerce; placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov, "Business and Job Opportunities" icon], and placed on the AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724. A bidders conference was held on June 30, 2000.

Evaluation Panel

The evaluation panel was comprised of a Program Manager, Coating Group, Avery Dennison; a Staff Air Pollution Specialist, Research Division, California Air Resources Board; a Senior Air Quality Engineering Manager, AQMD; and a Principal Chemist, AQMD. The panel consisted of three males and one female; one Asian Pacific Islander and three Caucasians.

Bid Evaluation

AQMD received only one proposal, submitted by IRTA, which was reviewed and evaluated by the panel. The table below provides the maximum points for each of the evaluation criterion and the points scored by IRTA.
 

	Maximum Points	Points Scored (Arithmetic Average)
TECHNICAL FACTORS
Understanding the Problem	5	4.75
Knowledge/Experience of Solvent Cleaning Technology	20	18.25
Technical Approach	25	19.5
Management Plan	10	7.25
Previous Experience on Similar Projects	10	9.75
Total	70	59.5
COST	30	30.00
Total	100	89.5

In accordance with the AQMD procurement policy and procedures, technical factors including past experience is weighted at 70 points and cost is weighted at 30 points, for research and development projects or projects requiring special technical expertise. A proposal must receive at least 56 points out of 70 on technical factors to be deemed qualified for the award. For the cost points, the lowest cost proposal is awarded the maximum cost points available, which is 30, and all other proposals receive cost points on a prorated basis.

As shown above, IRTA received a panel arithmetic-average of 59.5, which exceeds the minimum requirement of 56 points for technical factors. IRTA also received 30 points for the cost because their proposal is the only proposal submitted.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the March 2000 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 2000S3-1, "Development and Demonstration of Near-Zero or Zero-VOC Coating and Solvent Formulations." The major benefit of this project is to assist industry in developing low-VOC cleaning systems for cleaning operations discussed above. This will, in turn, result in significant VOC emission reductions due to product enhancement, certification, and commercialization of newly developed cleaning systems, with cost-effective and satisfactory performance characteristics for end-users. If successfully identified, developed and commercialized, the new cleaning systems will result in a potential emission reduction of 9 tons per day by the year 2005.

Resource Impacts

The total AQMD funding for the work contemplated under this RFP will not exceed $149,720. Sufficient funds are available from the Advanced Technology Outreach and Education Fund. This fund was established as a special revenue fund for revenues received as a result of fines, penalties, and settlements from air pollution violations. These settlement payments by the violators are to be used by the AQMD to support the development and demonstration of advanced technologies, and the assessment of resulting emissions benefits.

/ / /