BOARD MEETING DATE: April 5, 2002
AGENDA NO. 4

Execute Contract to Purchase Fuel Cell Curriculum Packages for Distribution to High School Science Programs Throughout District

SYNOPSIS:

Staff recommends the purchase of fuel cell curriculum packages, including demonstration kits, for distribution to high school science programs located in the four counties of the District. These school programs are selected and contacted through the state-sponsored California Regional Environmental Education Community Network. Staff recommends funding in an amount not to exceed $20,000 from the Advanced Technology, Outreach and Education Fund.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, February 22, 2002, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Eco-Soul, Inc. in partnership with MRS Enterprises for the purchase of 22 HOPE fuel cell curriculum packages, including demonstration kits, with the contractor providing any product or technical support needed for implementation, in an amount not to exceed $20,000 from the Advanced Technology, Outreach and Education Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The approaching commercialization of fuel cell vehicles has increased the need to develop and expand alternative fuel technology educational outreach programs. One such educational tool is the Hydrogen Outreach Program for Education (HOPE) curriculum package. AQMD can augment the educational efforts in this area through the provision of HOPE fuel cell curriculum packages to high school science programs as either a modular resource on fuel cells/alternative fuels or as an integral part of the science curriculum.

Proposal

The HOPE curriculum package was developed and copyrighted by MRS Enterprises under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy to educate secondary and high school students about the potential benefits of hydrogen as a fuel and an energy carrier. The HOPE program is intended as a supplement for existing instructional programs. All learning material in the HOPE curricula is linked to national science standards.

To augment its fuel cell curriculum program, MRS Enterprises has partnered with Eco-Soul, Inc. as part of the latter’s National Fuel Cell Education Program; under this partnership, each curriculum package will be augmented with an Eco-Soul regenerative fuel cell demonstration kit. Eco-Soul, Inc. is a Tustin-based 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation which partners with other science education entities, in this case MRS Enterprises. The kit consists of a Proton Exchange Membrane Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell (PEM URFC), a small solar panel, electric motor (with propeller) and battery pack. The unique design of this kit is well suited to classroom applications, since the clear high-pressure polycarbonate shell allows the students to observe the formation of hydrogen during the reverse electrolysis cycle.

The high school version of HOPE consists of these major modules:

• Fundamentals
• Production
• Storage
• Distribution and Safety
• Utilization
• Renewables and Renewable Energy

The package also includes the following videos:

• The Pollution Solution
• Renewable Power: Earth’s Clean Energy Destiny

And complimentary copies of:

• Beakman’s World: Hydrogen, It’s a Gas!
• Mission H₂ : a CD ROM

The Eco-Soul’s PEM URFC Kit is a fully integrated self-contained unit with:

• Battery and photovoltaic power supplies, and
• Appropriately sized loads for demonstration.

Staff proposes to purchase 22 HOPE curriculum packages, each augmented with the Eco-Soul reversible fuel cell demonstration kit, to high school science programs.

Distribution

Up to ten of the HOPE curriculum packages will be distributed to high school science programs participating in the "Design a Hydrogen Fueling Station" Project being developed by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering through the Mayor’s Office of Healthy Neighborhoods. This project will combine the various aspects of a typical local-government board approval process such as planning, zoning and environmental impact assessment, with the specific technical and engineering aspects of designing and building a fueling station for hydrogen vehicles. The HOPE curriculum packages will enhance the program by providing fuel cell and hydrogen resources and instructional lessons on the technical issues and principles needed for the project. Upon completion of the project, the high school programs will retain the HOPE packages for future use.

The remaining HOPE curriculum packages will be distributed to high school science programs throughout the four counties of the district. These programs will be identified and selected with the assistance of California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network.

The CREEC Network is a program of the California Department of Education, specifically its Office of Environmental Education. The Network was established to provide quality control as well as pragmatic linkage between providers of environmental education resources and the teachers who use those resources. CREEC ensures environmental education offerings correlate to formal California State Education Standards, yet supports local choice and flexibility. The CREEC Network (website at http://www.creec.org ) is comprised of eleven state regions, each with a coordinator; Southern California is represented by Region 9B North (Orange county), Region 10 RMS (including Riverside and San Bernardino counties), and Region 11 (Los Angeles county).

The cost of the 22 HOPE curriculum packages with the fuel cell demonstration kits and technical support will not exceed $20,000. The contractor, Eco-Soul, Inc., in partnership with MRS Enterprises, will provide the packages, orientation instruction in their use and technical support as needed.

Benefits to AQMD

AQMD’s Clean Fuels Program has been active in funding the development and demonstration of low emission, alternative fuel technologies. The AQMD has also supported a number of activities directed to commercialization of low-emission alternative fuel technologies. The proposed project with Eco-Soul, Inc., in partnership with MRS Enterprises, will support educational outreach to school children to teach them about fuel cells, hydrogen and its uses, and the potential role of clean fuel in environmental programs, modes of transportation, and broader energy application. The commercialization and acceptance of future hydrogen fueling stations and fuel cell vehicles needs the support and understanding of thepublic. Outreach programs such as the HOPE curriculum allow teachers to incorporate fully vetted hydrogen and fuel cell lessons into their existing or planned science programs.

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 products are available from only the sole-source. Specifically, B.2.c.(2): The project requires the use of proprietary technology and B.2.c.(3): The contractor has ownership of key assets required for project performance; specifically, MRS Enterprises holds a copyright for the HOPE curriculum and Eco-Soul holds a patent for the reversible fuel cell demonstration kits.

Resource Impacts

Total cost for the purchase of 22 HOPE curriculum packages augmented with Eco-Soul fuel cell demonstration kits will not exceed $20,000. This cost also includes orientation instruction for the classes and follow up technical support as needed. Sufficient funds for this proposal are available from the Advanced Technology, Outreach and Education Fund. This fund was established as a special revenue fund for revenues received as a result of fines, penalties and settlements from air pollution violations. These settlement payments by the violators are to be used by the AQMD to support the development and demonstration of advanced technologies, and the assessment of resulting emissions benefits.

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