BOARD MEETING DATE: May 3, 2002
AGENDA NO. 4

Execute Contracts for Technical Assistance for Advanced, Low- and Zero-Emission Mobile and Stationary Source Pollution Control Technologies

SYNOPSIS:

On December 2001, the Board approved the release of an RFP to solicit proposals to provide technical and public outreach support assistance for advanced, low- and zero-emission mobile and stationary source pollution control technologies. Fourteen proposals were received. Submittals have been reviewed. Staff recommends executing contracts with seven technical experts to provide consultation services at a total cost not to exceed $185,000 to be funded from the Clean Fuels Program.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, April 26, 2002, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Ms. Cindy Sullivan for technical assistance for the development, outreach, and commercialization of heavy-duty engine technologies in an amount not to exceed $15,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   
    
2. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Engine, Fuel and Emissions Engineering, Inc. for technical assistance for the development, outreach, and commercialization of natural gas engine technology in an amount not to exceed $30,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   
    
3. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Mr. Jerald A. Cole for technical assistance for the development, outreach, and commercialization of hydrogen infrastructure and reforming technology in an amount not to exceed $30,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   
    
4. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Mr. Neil C. Otto for technical assistance for the development, outreach, and commercialization of fuel cell technology in an amount not to exceed $30,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   
    
5. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Rose Communications for technical assistance for the development, outreach and commercialization of fuel cells and the technical coordination with federal energy and transportation departments in an amount not to exceed $25,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   
    
6. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with SynchroEnergies for technical assistance for the development, outreach, and commercialization of advanced fuel additives and lubricants in an amount not to exceed $25,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   
    
7. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the University of California at Riverside for the development, outreach, and commercialization of clean fuels technologies, hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and natural gas engine technologies in an amount not to exceed $30,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) is the comprehensive regional plan for attaining federal air quality standards in the South Coast Air Basin. In addition to full implementation of current technologies and management practices, near-term advances in current technologies and technological breakthroughs are needed. Air quality projections indicate that the federal standards for ozone is not expected to be met without such breakthroughs. Regular revisions to the AQMP are based on the most current information on technology advancements.

In 1988, the Board adopted a Clean Fuels Program and formed the Technology Advancement (TA) Office to administer and manage the program. The TA program is a far-reaching effort, incorporating a mix of short-, medium-, and long-term goals, representing a three-tiered approach to achieve clean air in the Basin. As a result, the breadth of the TA program includes demonstrations of nearly commercial technologies as well as support for research studies of technologies to be developed. The scope of the TA program also considers all potential sources of air pollution emissions in the Basin, including both stationary and mobile sources.

At the December 2001 meeting, the Board approved RFP #2002-23 for technical assistance to the Technology Advancement program. The purpose of that RFP was to update the list of qualified technical assistance contractors to ensure that the AQMD can obtain the best expertise available. The RFP solicited statements of qualifications from individuals and organizations potentially capable of providing technical assistance in a variety of areas to support AQMP implementation and TA activities. The RFP sought companies or individuals to provide assistance in preparation of AQMP control measures; technical assistance for feasibility studies of stationary and mobile emission control technologies; emissions assessment of new alternative-fuel technologies; evaluation of innovative emissions control systems; VOC control, coating reformulation and curing, and assessment of economic, regulatory and technical barriers to the commercialization of clean fuels and advanced technologies; and other activities as needed.

Proposal

Staff proposes to award level-of-effort contracts to seven individuals and organizations to provide technical expertise to the Clean Fuels Program on an as-needed basis. The proposed contractors, including areas of expertise, are described under Selection Process.

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:
 

Additionally, potential bidders were notified from 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 RFQ 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.

Selection Process

Fourteen proposals were received in response to the RFP. The proposals were reviewed and scored by six evaluators, four evaluators were Science and Technology Advancement staff, one evaluator was from National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and one evaluator was from California Air Resources Board. The evaluators were all male, three were Asian and three were Caucasian.

Seven contractors were selected for recommendation, based on evaluation of expertise as related to the needs of the Clean Fuels Program and cost and availability of the proposer. Five proposers did not receive the required minimum points for technical expertise and, therefore were disqualified prior to the second rating stage.

Upon review of the technologies being pursued by the AQMD and the technical expertise currently available, the areas of expertise were further defined at the time of evaluation. The Clean Fuels Program currently requires expert knowledge and experience in the areas of heavy-duty engine technologies, natural gas engine and infrastructure technologies, hydrogen reforming technology, hydrogen infrastructure, fuel cell technology, administration and coordination of fuel cell programs, and lubricant technology development. The qualified proposers and scores, in rank order, are as follows:
 

The proposed contractors were selected based upon their fields of expertise and their experience. Following is a synopsis for each of the proposed contractors:

Ms. Cindy Sullivan will provide expert consultation for heavy-duty vehicle control technologies and off-road vehicles and equipment in the amount not to exceed $15,000. Ms. Sullivan currently has a contract in the amount of $30,000 to provide technical assistance and outreach for the Strategic Alliance Initiative No. 3, Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership, to provide technical assistance for natural gas vehicles, and to provide technical assistance for administration of the Carl Moyer Program. Ms. Sullivan will provide additional expertise in clean fuels control technologies and off-road vehicles and equipment.

Engine, Fuel, and Emissions Engineering, Inc. (EF&EE) will provide expert consultation on natural gas engine technology, with funding in an amount not to exceed $30,000. EF&EE currently has a contract with the AQMD in the amount of $35,000 for technical assistance regarding alternative fuel engines. Christopher Weaver, the firm’s current president, brings over 19 years of experience in the areas of internal combustion engine technology, fuels, combustion, and emission controls. Mr. Weaver will provide expertise with the measurement and control of fine particulate emissions from diesel vehicles; emission measurements and control technology for trucks, buses, railway locomotives, and other heavy-duty diesel vehicles; natural gas, and other "clean" fuels for vehicles. Mr. Weaver also has experience and can provide assistance with environmental economics, cost-effectiveness and policy analyses.

Mr. Jerald A. Cole will provide expertise for hydrogen infrastructure and reforming technology, with funding in an amount not to exceed $30,000. Mr. Cole’s 22 years of experience includes analysis of the market for stationary fuel reformers for the hydrogen refueling market, analysis of potential markets for fuel cell based distributed power systems, and analysis of future California regulatory actions as a result of the sales of stationary reciprocating engine power generation systems. Mr. Cole has worked with CARB, CEC, DOE, and EPA and has established relationships with numerous equipment manufacturers in fuel processing industries.

Mr. Neil C. Otto will provide expertise for fuel cell development and technologies, with funding in an amount not to exceed $30,000. Mr. Otto, a recognized international expert in fuel cell business applications, served as President of Ballard Automotive for five years, Vice-President of Science Applications International for 10 years, and is currently serving as President of the Board of Directors of the World Fuel Cell Council. With a total of 27 years experience in electrochemical systems development and business development of electrochemical systems, Mr. Otto’s technical knowledge includes fuel cell technology, hydrogen infrastructure development, and fuel processing and reformation.

Rose Communications will provide expertise in fuel cell technology and administrative coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Transportation, with funding in an amount not to exceed $25,000 regarding the Fuel Cell Task Force Implementation. Rose Communications currently has a contract in the amount of $50,000. Since 1990, Bob Rose, President of Rose Communications, has provided specialized support for the AQMD’s TA program to assist with commercialization of fuel cells and other low- and zero-emission technologies. Mr. Rose is the founding Executive Director of the U.S. Fuel Cell Council and Executive Director of Breakthrough Technologies Institute.

SynchroEnergies will provide expertise in lubricant technologies, with funding in an amount not to exceed $25,000. Mr. Tom Sheahan worked for the Lubrizol Corporation for 38 years; his last position held at Lubrizol was Managing Director, Legislative and Regulatory. Mr. Sheahan will provide in-depth knowledge in the areas of fuels and lubricants, combustion, alternative energy sources, and high performance technologies.

University of California at Riverside (UCR) will provide expert technical assistance in various research areas in an amount not to exceed $30,000. UCR currently has twelve contracts including evaluating the effects of biodiesel and other clean fuel blends on exhaust emission rates and reactivity, analysis of the effectiveness of on-board diagnostics, and effects of alternative diesel fuel formulation on exhaust emission rates and reactivity. The UCR staff offers technical expertise in a number of research areas. Although as a whole, UCR did not rate as highly as other entities, the expertise of individuals are needed for areas such as advanced vehicle/transportation technologies and systems, atmospheric measurement and modeling, and renewable energy.

Benefits to AQMD

AQMD’s Clean Fuels Program has supported the development and demonstration of low emission, alternative fuel technologies since its inception in 1988. The broad range of technologies being developed, from alternative fuel cars to fuel cells, requires that the AQMD have access to specific expertise on an as-needed basis. The proposed level-of-effort contracts will provide this access. They will be utilized on a task order basis, and only after it is determined that the information or expertise required is not available in-house.

Resource Impacts

These contracts are included in the March 2002 Technology Advancement Plan under Technology Transfer and Assessment, CFT-1, Assessment and Technical Support of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination. Total amount proposed for the level-of-effort contracts shall not exceed $185,000. 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 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.

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