South Coast Air Quality Management District
South Coast Air Quality Management District
BOARD MEETING DATE: April 20, 2001 AGENDA NO. 8
Issue Invitation To Bid for the Construction and Maintenance of a Fast Fill Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Station at AQMD Headquarters
SYNOPSIS:
AQMD plans to build and operate a new natural gas fueling station at its Diamond Bar facility that can accommodate the growing alternative fuel vehicle fleet. This station will be designed to incorporate advanced gas metering technology as it is proven in the field. The invitation to bid solicits competitive bids for a turnkey fast fill compressed natural gas fueling station, and provision for 5 years of maintenance service. Proposals will be reviewed by staff prior to making any recommendations to the Board.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, February 23, 2001, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Issue the attached ITB for the construction and maintenance of a fast fill compressed natural gas fueling station at AQMD headquarters.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Air quality and health impacts of diesel exhaust have led the AQMD and others to focus attention on reducing diesel exhaust emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. The AQMP has identified the use of low-emission alternative-fuel engines in these vehicles as a control measure. Alternative fuel vehicles, such as natural gas vehicles (NGVs), have demonstrated significantly lower VOC, NOx, CO and toxic emissions than gasoline vehicles Rules 1192, 1193, 1194 and 1186.1 require the use of low emission, alternative fueled, transit buses, shuttles, refuse trucks and street sweepers. A state-funded, low-emission school bus program, and the AQMD’s Adopt-a-School Bus Program will provide incentives for the purchase of low-emission natural gas school buses.
While these important programs have set the stage for widespread penetration of clean fuel, low emission technologies, a major barrier to the entry of NGVs is the lack of wide-spread availability of NGV refueling stations. Currently, there is inadequate fueling for the AQMD compressed natural gas vehicle fleet as well as lack of publicly accessible CNG fueling infrastructure in the eastern LA County region near the 60 and 57 Freeway corridors. Implementing hundreds of natural gas vehicles in the near future will require establishing fueling facilities in this, and other areas, to support these vehicles.
AQMD desires to build and operate a new natural gas fueling station at its Diamond Bar facility that can accommodate the growing District alternative fuel vehicle fleet. This station will be designed to incorporate advanced gas metering technology as it is proven in the field. The ITB solicits competitive bids for a turnkey fast fill compressed natural gas fueling station, and provision of 5 year maintenance service. Proposals will be reviewed by a selected review panel prior to making any recommendations to the Board.
Invitation To Bid
Staff recommends that the Board approve the proposed ITB to solicit competitive bids from qualified consultants and contractors for the permitting, construction and 5 year maintenance services for a new compressed natural gas vehicle fueling station. The contractor will be completely responsible for the turnkey installation of the facility based on the performance based specifications, project conditions, and scoping documents listed within the ITB. An 8-month project cycle is planned resulting in an operational station in early 2002. The fast fill dispenser station will be 24 hour accessible by the AQMD’s internal fleet. Access will be provided by a card reader system designed to accept multiple cards including credit cards. Metering design will accommodate advanced metering systems to be installed in parallel with the commercial system employed by the facility in order to facilitate measurements.
The new CNG station facility will be located as indicated on the attached project plot plans in Exhibit B. The CNG station will consist of major components such as a 6’ high decorative block wall, dryer, enclosed compressor skid with electric or motor driver and dial out modem, ASME storage vessels, priority/sequential panel, electrical switchgear and panel, and dispensers. The attached schematic in Exhibit B describes the alignment and configuration of the above components. Detailed requirements for the design, engineering, permitting, construction, and maintenance are covered in the following sections of this RFP. Contractor shall make allowances for tie-in of advanced CNG metering to be done in parallel with Contractor proposed metering.
The proposers shall follow the generic project schedule in Exhibit B defining the primary phases and milestones. They are as follows:
Interested consultants and contractors can bid individually for the turnkey project, and are encouraged to joint venture or team where appropriate to provide the best resources and expertise to the project.
Benefits to AQMD
The proposed project is included in the March 2001 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 2001 CFM3-1 "Development and Demonstration of Advanced Natural Gas Systems for Refueling Stations. The AQMP relies on the expedited implementation of advanced technologies and clean–burning fuels in Southern California to achieve air quality standards. While not providing any direct emission reductions, the proposed station will assist in the commercialization of natural gas heavy-duty vehicles by providing a reliable source of fuel. For the Carl Moyer Program, and other programs, to be successful, fleets and other vehicle users must be able to rely on a large number of reliable and efficient refueling facilities.
Outreach
In accordance with the AQMD’s consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the RFP and inviting bids will be published in the following publications:
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1. |
Antelope Valley Press |
10. |
La Opinion |
19. |
Precinct Reporter |
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2. |
Black Voice News |
11. |
La Voz |
20. |
Rafu Shimpo |
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3. |
Chinese Daily News |
12. |
Los Angeles Daily News |
21. |
Riverside Press Enterprise |
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4. |
Eastern Group Publications |
13. |
Los Angeles Sentinel |
22. |
San Bernardino Sun |
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5. |
El Chicano |
14. |
Los Angeles Times |
23. |
Santa Clarita Signal |
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6. |
Excelsior, The |
15. |
M/W/DVBE Source |
24. |
State of California Contracts |
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7. |
Inland Empire Hispanic News |
16. |
Orange County Register |
Register |
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8. |
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin |
17. |
Palm Springs Desert Sun | ||
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9. |
Korea Central Daily |
18. |
Philippine News |
Additionally, potential bidders will be notified utilizing 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; AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasing’s mailing list. Notice of the ITB was 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 and Job Opportunities" icon] and AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.
Resource Impacts
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 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code 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.
Attachment 1 - ITB 2001-01 - Bid Documents and Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of a Turn-Key Fast Fill Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Station - Notice Inviting Bids
Attachment 2 - Bid Documents
Attachment 3 - Draft Contract Documents, including
Exhibit A - Special Provisions: Insurance Endorsement Instructions and Payment and Performance Bonds
Exhibit B - Technical Specification and Drawings (the drawings will not be available electronically but are available upon request)
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