South Coast Air Quality Management District

Execute Contract for Construction Management and Consulting Services for Design/Engineering, Permitting and Equipment Specification of Natural Gas Fueling Station at AQMD Headquarters

SYNOPSIS:

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. At its December 2000 meeting, the Board authorized the release of an RFP for Construction Management and Consulting Services for Design/Engineering, Permitting and Equipment Specification of a Natural Gas Fueling Station at AQMD Headquarters. In response to that RFP, Pickens Fuel Corp has been selected to perform construction management and consulting services for the AQMD. The total cost of this contract is not to exceed $26,415.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, January 26, 2001, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Pickens Fuel Corp to perform construction management and consulting services, including site analysis/selection, design development drawings, permitting assistance and equipment specifications for a new natural gas fueling station at AQMD headquarters, in an amount not to exceed $26,415 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQMP identifies the use of alternative clean fuels in mobile sources as a key attainment strategy. Alternative fuel vehicles, such as natural gas vehicles (NGVs), have demonstrated significantly lower VOC, NOx, CO and air toxic emissions than gasoline vehicles. The AQMD has made a number of purchases of CNG vehicles which have demonstrated such emission profiles. Currently the AQMD has a fleet of 88 CNG vehicles and will be adding another 27 CNG vehicles in the near future. The capacity of the AQMD's on-site CNG compressor fails to meet the fueling needs of the current fleet. The AQMD does not have in-house expertise to create design drawings or perform construction management services required to bring such a construction project to a successful conclusion.

At its December 2000 meeting, the Governing Board approved the release of RFP #P2001-19 to solicit consulting services for technical assistance and construction management services to a) produce the CNG station design development drawings, b) help select the most appropriate site for the fueling station, and c) to oversee the entire design/engineering, permitting and field construction of the CNG fuel delivery facility. Such services are necessary completion of a quality installation on time and on budget. The design development drawings must be complete prior to inviting contractor bids in order to allow the preparation of comprehensive and accurate cost proposals.

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	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.	Excelsior, 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

Additionally, potential bidders were 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 RFP 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.

Bid Evaluation

Three proposals were received by the closing date. They were from Pickens Fuel Corp, Burnett & Burnette and Fuel Solutions LLC. The proposals were reviewed and evaluated according to established AQMD guidelines, using technical criteria outlined in the RFP. Attachment A summarizes the evaluation of the proposals. The total attainable score for technical criteria was a maximum of 100 points. The proposals were also evaluated for a maximum of 15 additional points for small business, DVBE, small business or DVBE joint venture, use of small business or DVBE subcontractors, and local business.

The seven member RFP evaluation panel consisted of AQMD staff: one manager, three Program Supervisors, the Plant Engineer and Maintenance Supervisor and Staff Analyst; seven male, seven Caucasian. Based on the unanimous decision of the evaluation panel using this selection process, Pickens Fuel Corp is recommended for award.

Qualifications

Pickens Fuel Corp’s technical qualifications best meet the needs of the AQMD as described in the RFP for technical assistance and construction management services to produce the CNG station design development drawings, help select the most appropriate site for the fueling station, and to oversee the entire design/ engineering, permitting and field construction of the CNG fuel delivery facility.

Pickens Fuel Corp is a leading supplier of natural gas as a vehicle fuel. As a company, they have designed, engineered, installed, and managed the construction of more than 60 natural gas stations in several countries. They bring over 40 years of employee experience and have provided extensive services to Administrative Services Co-Op, SuperShuttle, LAX, SunLine Transit, Waste Management, Inc., and the City of Phoenix. They own and operate 35 CNG and liquid natural gas fueling stations in California and Arizona. Of these, their in-house team has designed, engineered, and managed construction of over 20 CNG and LNG fueling stations in the past four years.

Staff proposes that the AQMD enter into an agreement with Pickens Fuel Corp for an amount not to exceed $26,415.

Benefits to AQMD

The AQMP relies on the expedited implementation of advanced technologies and clean–burning fuels in Southern California to achieve air quality standards. While this contract will itself have no direct impact on air emission reductions, this work is a forerunner to siting a CNG fueling station at AQMD headquarters. This new, publicly accessible facility will help facilitate the introduction of low emission, natural gas fueled vehicles (NGVs) in private and public fleets in the area. Such increased penetration of NGVs will provide direct emissions reductions of NOx, VOC, CO, PM, and air toxics throughout the Basin.

Resource Impacts

The proposed project is included in the March 2000 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 2000M3-1 Development of Advanced Natural Gas Compressors for Refueling Stations. Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Program 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.

Attachment

Summary of Evaluation of Responses to RFP P2001-19

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