South Coast Air Quality Management District

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Amend Contract to Cosponsor School Electric Vehicle Outreach Effort

SYNOPSIS:

Following an October 1998 Program Opportunity Notice to solicit clean fuels outreach projects, a contract was executed with California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) to develop and implement a school/community visitation program featuring the Solar Eagle III, an award winning solar electric vehicle developed and built by the university. CSULA has proposed to extend the term of the project through the 2000-01 school year and to expand the project to include a school mentoring program for the 2000-01 school year. Total project cost is $100,582. AQMD’s contribution shall not exceed $37,400, with CSULA contributing $63,182.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, May 26, 2000, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to amend contract #99134 with California State University, Los Angeles, to extend a school and community visitation program to present the Solar Eagle III solar electric vehicle and to initiate a school mentoring program, in an amount not to exceed $37,400 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Historically, funding from the AQMD Clean Fuels Program has been made available to educational institutions (high schools, community colleges, colleges, and universities) for projects to develop and demonstrate clean alternative fuel applications for on- and off-road vehicles. In October 1998, Program Opportunity Notice (PON) #9899-A, entitled "School Clean Fuels Projects," was released. The PON included an allocation for co-sponsorship of specific events, student competitions, and other outreach efforts focusing on increasing the utilization of clean alternative fuels in on- and off-road vehicle applications.

A proposal from California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) was one of four contracts awarded under the PON. Featuring the Solar Eagle III, an award winning solar powered car designed and built by students, faculty, and staff at CSULA’s School of Engineering and Technology, CSULA has developed and implemented a visitation program for elementary, middle, and secondary school students, community college students, and the community at large. Using a full-time educator and a student assistant, the program focuses on using the Solar Eagle III to illustrate the possibilities of alternative fuels, particularly solar-powered electricity, the feasibility of designing and building alternative fuel vehicles as a student or professional, and the role modern engineers can play in future development of zero-emission transportation. The term of the current program is from September 1999 through May 2000, which corresponds with the traditional academic school year.

Proposal

CSULA is seeking additional funding to: (1) extend the school/community visitation program through the 2000-2001 school year; and (2) establish a school mentoring program for the 2000-2001 school year.

School/Community Visitation Program. Since September 1999, CSULA has averaged at least three school/community visitations per week. Response to the program has been positive, based on post-presentation survey results. Under the existing visitation program, considerable effort went towards recruiting and training the Solar Eagle III outreach coordinator, as well as towards developing and obtaining presentation tools, materials, and educational curriculum. At this point, the program is fully operational, with no additional expenditures for program development needed. CSULA has proposed continuation of the program, with a goal of making at least two visitations per week from October through May. CSULA has proposed a reduced visitation schedule to accommodate the school mentoring program.

School Mentoring Program. The goal of the mentoring program is for CSULA to establish relationships with local high schools within the AQMD’s jurisdiction to assist in developing electric cars, solar electric cars, and solar electric bicycles. Through the mentoring program, CSULA will provide advice to high school student teams for developing experimental zero-emission vehicles, potentially for entry into national or regional competitions. A team of faculty, staff, and students from the School of Engineering and Technology will provide the technical support to high schools that are interested in participating in the mentoring program. Faculty to be made available for the program include the chief faculty advisor for CSULA’s three internationally known solar electric vehicle projects as well as a researcher on electric cars, electric bicycles, and super mileage vehicles. The school/community visitation program education coordinator will also develop and coordinate the mentoring program.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the March 2000 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 2000T-1, "Assessment of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination." The main benefit of this project is to use educational outreach and mentoring as a means to expedite the acceptance and commercialization of advanced vehicle technologies in the Basin.

The proposed project seeks to educate students on clean alternative fuel vehicles, particularly solar electric vehicles, as well as to foster interest among high school students to develop and build advanced electric vehicles and bicycles. This, in turn, fosters environmental awareness and may encourage students to pursue further research in alternative fuel vehicle technologies.

Sole Source Justification

Section VIII.B.2 of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This request for a sole source award is made under provision B.2.c.: The desired services are available from only the sole source. Specifically, these services are: B.2.c.(1) The unique experience and capabilities of the proposed contractor or contractor team.

CSULA has developed an educational outreach program based on the Solar Eagle III which, in June 1997, participated in the national collegiate competition, Sunrayce 97, finishing first in a field of 36 solar cars built by U. S. and Canadian universities. In its role as both an educational institution and the developer and builder of a state-of-the-art solar electric vehicle, CSULA is uniquely qualified to administer the proposed program.

Resource Impacts

The total cost for this project is $100,582. AQMD’s funding for this project shall not exceed $37,400. CSULA will provide direct co-funding of $63,182. Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code Sections 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code Section 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.

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