South Coast Air Quality Management District

Issue RFP for Development and Demonstration of Alternative Fuel or Hybrid-Electric Midsize School Bus

SYNOPSIS:

Local school districts have a growing need for midsize (30 feet) buses. This action is to issue an RFP to develop and demonstrate a midsize alternative fuel and/or hybrid-electric school bus powered with microturbines. The RFP calls for the cooperative efforts of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in microturbine, electric and hybrid-electric chassis, bus, and technology integration experts. Funding for the development of two alternative fuel buses is $600,000, and funding for the development of the hybrid-electric school buses is $1,400,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, April 27, 2001, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve issuance of RFP # 2001-40, to solicit proposals to develop and demonstrate midsize (30-foot) school buses with alternative fuel and/or hybrid-electric powered with microturbine drive trains.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Over 60% of the Basin’s NOx emissions inventory can be attributed to mobile sources; heavy-duty trucks and buses account for approximately 20% of the NOx inventory. Low emission, alternative fuel heavy-duty engines have one-half or less the NOx emissions of their conventional diesel counterparts and a fraction of the particulate emissions, without particulate traps.

Over the past year, the AQMD adopted a series of fleet vehicle rules that require the purchase of lower-emitting vehicles upon replacement or addition to the fleet. School bus fleets are a part of those rules.

The AQMD has supported a number of development and demonstration projects for lower-emitting heavy-duty vehicles, and specifically school buses. Additionally, the AQMD is actively involved with the State's Lower Emission School Bus Program for replacement and retrofit of existing diesel buses. Major bus OEMs commercially offer 40 foot school buses with alternative fuel engines, specifically CNG, but none of these OEMs currently offer any alternative fuel midsize (approximately 30 feet) school buses. School districts have a growing need for the midsize buses for their mandated Special Education Programs.

The Department of Water and Power (DWP), under its Electric Bus Initiative Program, has participated in a similar project to develop hybrid-electric (HE) transit buses powered with two 30 Kw microturbines as well as CNG engines. DWP will participate in this project by providing funding and technical expertise. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has the largest fleet of school buses in the Basin, and has agreed to participate in the development of midsize alternative fuel or HE buses powered by microturbines. Recently, the Capstone microturbine technology was certified by the California Air Resources Board as a cleaner alternative engine for heavy-duty uses, indicating 75% reduction in NOx emissions, as compared to current heavy-duty diesel engines. A bus OEM has commercialized 22 foot HE transit buses (shuttles) powered by the Capstone microturbine.

Using the microturbine technology to charge a battery pack could achieve super-low emission levels. Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a 30-foot school bus developed by an OEM, using the microturbine as a power generator.

Proposal

The proposed project will be the development and demonstration of two initial midsize alternative fuel and/or two HE school buses powered by a microturbine. An option for four additional buses will be included, and will be exercised at the discretion of the AQMD. The proposed project will be an 18-month effort to develop and demonstrate the new buses at the LAUSD facilities, as well as provide training and on-site service of these buses for 12 months after deployment. Staff proposes to release an RFP soliciting proposals for the development and demonstration of the midsize school buses using alternative fuel or HE, microturbine-powered drive train. Funding available for the development of two alternative fuel buses is $600,000, and funding available for the development of the HE school buses is $1,400,000. Staff recommends that the AQMD provide up to $1,000,000 in Clean Fuels Program funds to support this effort. The LA DWP will provide an additional $1,000,000 and the LAUSD will provide in-kind services for this project. This project does not specifically require mandatory co-funding from the proposers, but proposals that include co-funding will receive additional points under the proposal review section.

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:

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 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 RFP will be 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

Proposals received will be evaluated by a diverse, technically qualified panel in accordance with criteria contained in the attached RFP. Technical staff from LA DWP and LAUSD will be invited to participate as panel members.

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. This project will further develop technology for heavy-duty alternative fuel or hybrid electric vehicles, and is expected to reduce NOx and PM emissions well beyond those required under existing regulations from on-road heavy-duty engines. The project will also assist the school districts by providing an opportunity to purchase cleaner-burning, midsize school buses.

Based on an extensive survey of current school buses in the Basin, there are over 2,500 midsize buses in use by school districts or private contractors. Success of this project could result in the eventual replacement of these buses with cleaner models.

Resource Impacts

This project is included in the March 2001 Technology Advancement Plan Update for 2002, under Project 2000M2-3, Development and Demonstration of Low Emission, Alternative Fuel School Buses. 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.

Attachments

RFP # 2001-40 - Development and Demonstration of an Alternative Fuel and/or Hybrid-Electric Midsize School Bus

Bus specifications (use Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file)

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