BOARD MEETING DATE: April 5, 2002
AGENDA NO. 15

Authorize Purchase of Frequency Filter Modification for Ontario Radar Wind Profiler

SYNOPSIS: 

Due to radio frequency interference from the Automatic Vehicle Identification System at Ontario International Airport, the AQMD radar wind profiler at this location is not able to obtain accurate wind measurements. The Airport worked with staff to adjust their operating frequencies as much as is feasible, but this has not eliminated the problem. Vaisala Inc., the profiler manufacturer, has developed a modification that will filter the interfering signals. The total cost for this modification is approximately $6,500, requiring Board approval as a capital outlay. Funding for this new fixed asset is available in the FY 2001-02 Budget from the EPA Section 105 Grant supplement for the PAMS Program.

COMMITTEE: 

Administrative, March 8, 2002, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Authorize the Procurement Manager to issue a purchase order for a frequency filter modification to the Ontario radar wind and temperature profiler from Vaisala Inc., at a cost not to exceed $6,500;
   
    
2. Transfer funds from the major object Services and Supplies Professional and Special Services account to the major object Capital Outlays.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

In 1996, AQMD installed a Vaisala Inc. (formerly Radian/URS) Model LAP-3000 radar wind and temperature profiler at the Ontario International Airport to help fulfill PAMS upper air monitoring requirements. In 1999, shortly after the new airport terminals at Ontario became operational, AQMD noticed a significant reduction in the quality and height range of the wind and temperature profiles. Through a lengthy process, it was determined that a radio frequency transmitter for the airport's automatic vehicle identification (AVI) system was interferring with the radar echoes received by the AQMD instrument. The AVI system tracks taxicabs and busses that service the airport terminals. Airport staff and consultants worked closely with AQMD to identify which AVI transmitter created the interference and AQMD purchased a new AVI transmitter for the airport to change the frequency farther from that of the AQMD radar. While this improved the measurements somewhat, it did not solve the problem.

Vaisala, Inc., the profiler's manufacturer, developed changes to the final amplifier to narrow the receiver bandwidth, which should filter the interfering signals without affecting the operational specifications of the radar. Vaisala provided a price quotation for the materials and labor at a cost of $6,000, plus taxes. This will be a sole-source purchase since Vaisala is the only company making or servicing this equipment. EPA PAMS funding that was earmarked for relocating the Ontario site will be used for the frequency filter modification, as this should eliminate the need to relocate. This change to the PAMS expenditures was discussed with and accepted by EPA.

Proposal

Staff is recommending that the Board authorize the purchase of a frequency filter modification to the Ontario radar wind and temperature profiler from Vaisala Inc. Staff further recommends reallocating existing PAMS funds from the major object Services and Supplies Professional and Special Services account to the major object Capital Outlays for this purpose.

Sole Source Justification

Section VIII(B) of the Procurement Policy Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This request for sole source award is made under provisions B.2.c: The desired services are available from only the sole-source based upon (1) The unique experience and capabilities of the proposed contractor or contractor team; (2) The project involves the use of proprietary technology; and (3) The contractor has ownership of key assets required for project performance. Since Vaisala Inc. is the sole manufacturer and commercial vendor of this radar instrumentation, they are uniquely experienced and capable of modifying it. Such work requires the use of proprietary technology and key assets that Vaisala has uniquely developed for work on these instruments.

Resource Impacts

AQMD does not have the technical expertise or resources to make the necessary modifications to the radar system. The purchase and installation of this modification uses existing PAMS pass-through funds and will not impact AQMD staff or fiscal resources.

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