BOARD MEETING DATE: August 6, 2004
AGENDA NO. 7

Execute Contract to Cosponsor Demonstration of Advanced Diesel Emission Control System in Diesel-Fueled Heavy-Duty Engines to Meet 2010 Heavy-Duty Emissions Standards

SYNOPSIS:

In September 2003, the Board authorized the release of an RFP to demonstrate and evaluate the performance, durability, and emission-reduction potential of advanced emission control systems for diesel-fueled engines that would meet 2010 emissions standards. Three proposals were received to demonstrate two different control technologies. This action is to award two contracts to Cummins Inc., and West Virginia University, respectively, at a cost not to exceed $1,000,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. U.S. DOE and CARB will provide $700,000 and $100,000 in cofunding, respectively, with the remainder of the $5,157,000 total project costs to be covered by the proponents.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, July 23, 2004, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Authorize the Executive Officer to

1. Execute an interagency agreement with CARB to receive funding in an amount not to exceed $50,000 to co-sponsor a project with Cummins Inc., and recognize this funding, upon receipt, in the Clean Fuels Fund;
    
2. Execute an interagency agreement with CARB to receive funding in an amount not to exceed $50,000 to co-sponsor a project with West Virginia University (WVU), and recognize this funding, upon receipt, in the Clean Fuels Fund;
    
3. Execute a contract with Cummins Inc., to co-sponsor demonstration and evaluation of the performance, durability, and emission-reduction potential of an advanced diesel emissions control system (ADECS) for low-sulfur diesel-fueled heavy-duty engines in an amount not to exceed $750,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund; and
    
4. Execute a contract with WVU to co-sponsor demonstration and evaluation of the performance, durability, and emission-reduction potential of an ADECS for low-sulfur diesel-fueled heavy-duty engines in an amount not to exceed $350,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

On September 5, 2003, the Governing Board approved the release of RFP #P2004-06 to solicit cost-shared proposals to demonstrate and evaluate performance, durability, and emission-reduction potential of advanced diesel emission control systems (ADECS). The RFP solicited proposals from contractor teams consisting of an original engine manufacturer (OEM), control technology manufacturers, a fuel supplier, and technical experts in the field of alternative fuel technologies, diesel-fueled heavy-duty engines, and waste collection chassis. The prospective prime contractor is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the project including securing test engines, procuring fuel, emission control devices and hardware, modifying engine combustion system, calibrating engine and emissions control system, scheduling and coordinating all engine and/or control technologies’ installations and testing, conducting analyses, and preparing reports.

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	11.	La Opinion	21.	Rafu Shimpo
2.	Black Voice News	12.	La Prensa Hispana	22.	San Bernardino Sun
3.	Chinese Daily News	13.	La Voz Publications	23.	State of California Contracts
4.	Desert Sun	14.	Los Angeles Daily News		Register
5.	Eastern Group Publications	15.	Los Angeles Sentinel	24.	The Daily Breeze
6.	El Chicano	16.	Los Angeles Times	25.	The Excelsior
7.	El Informador	17.	Orange County Register	26.	The Signal
8.	Inland Empire Hispanic News	18.	Philippine News	27.	Wave Community Newspapers
9.	Inland Valley Daily Bulletin	19.	Precinct Reporter
10.	Korea Central Daily	20	Press Enterprise

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 and AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Bid Evaluation

Three proposals were received in response to RFP #P2004-06 by the deadline of December 18, 2003. The proposals were reviewed and evaluated by a five-member panel in accordance with established AQMD guidelines, using technical and cost criteria outlined in the RFP. The proposals receiving a score of at least 56 out of 70 points were considered technically qualified and eligible for the contract award. The five-member evaluation panel consisted senior staff from the AQMD, the U.S. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the California Energy Commission, the CARB, and TIAX LLC; all male, one Asian/Pacific Islander and four Caucasian.

The table below identifies the panel evaluation scores for each of the three proposals.
 

Because the top two proposals were so close in scoring, and each represented a different technology approach to meet the federal standards, the evaluation panel recommended funding these two proposals. The results of these projects will serve as a means of comparing the effectiveness of each strategy to control NOx and PM emissions.

Proposals

The Cummins and WVU proposals adhere to the tasks described in the RFP’s work statement and satisfy the requirements of the RFP technical and cost sharing criteria. The proposals are described below.

Cummins

Cummins Inc. is an engine manufacturer with vast experience in testing and development of engines and vehicles with an emphasis on emissions, alternative fuels and related technologies. Cummins has assembled a team consisting of experienced personnel, subcontractors, and suppliers to execute this project. The subcontractor is ICT, Inc., a catalyst supplier.

Cummins has selected a new 8.9 L ISL engine for the demonstration project and proposes a two-step strategy to achieve the federal 2010 heavy-duty NOx and PM emissions standards. The first step involves using a high capacity exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, a variable geometry turbocharger, high injection pressure, and a robust controls architecture to reduce base engine-out NOx and PM emissions to 1.0 g/bhp-hr or less. In the second stage, the ISL engine will be equipped with a NOx adsorber catalyst and particulate filter to further reduce NOx and PM emissions to the desired targets of 0.2 and 0.01 g/bhp-hr, respectively. Cummins will perform engine dynamometer tests over the U.S. EPA heavy-duty Federal Test Procedure (FTP) and steady-state test cycles to optimize and assess fuel consumption, gaseous emissions, and particulate matter emissions from the ISL engines, with and without the NOx and PM emission control technologies.

West Virginia University

WVU has managed several projects involving testing and development of engines and vehicles with an emphasis on emissions, alternative fuels, and related technologies. In addition, WVU is an educational institution, one of few that has a capability to test heavy-duty vehicles on a transportable chassis dynamometer. WVU is teaming with the engine manufacturer Volvo Powertrain (Mack Trucks Inc.) as required by the RFP. The other team members include an aftertreatment supplier and manufacturer and individuals with a wide range of experience in alternative fuel technologies and heavy-duty engines.

WVU will work with Volvo Powertrain to modify the combustion system of a Volvo MD11 diesel engine equipped with a high-pressure, external, cooled EGR system. The modifications will include changing the original EGR system to accommodate a larger volume of EGR, retrofitting the MD11 engine with a variable geometry turbocharger, and optimizing injection system parameters to yield the lowest engine-out NOx and PM emissions. The MD11 engine will then be equipped with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system and diesel particulate filter to further reduce NOx and PM emissions to the desired targets of 0.2 and 0.01 g/bhp-hr, respectively. WVU will perform engine dynamometer tests over the U.S. EPA heavy-duty Federal Test Procedure (FTP) and steady-state test cycles to optimize and assess fuel consumption, ammonia slip, gaseous emissions, and particulate matter emissions from the MD11 engines, with and without the NOx and PM emission control technologies.

Staff has worked diligently to engage both the state and federal agencies to participate in these projects since the results will benefit the local, regional, and national stakeholders involved with clean, advanced technology engines. As a result, CARB has agreed to co-fund both the Cummins and WVU projects at $50,000 each. U.S. DOE has also agreed to provide co-funding for the Cummins project at a level of $700,000.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the 2004 Technology Advancement Plan Update under the Engine Technology and Emission Control Technology categories. The proposed project supports the implementation of advanced alternative fuel technology that could potentially reduce NOx and PM emissions from diesel-powered solid waste collection vehicles to the 2010 heavy-duty engine exhaust standards of 0.2 and 0.01 g/bhp-hr, respectively.

Resource Impacts

The total cost for this project is estimated to be $5,157,000, of which AQMD cost shall not exceed $1 million. DOE will contribute $700,000, while CARB will provide $100,000 in direct cash contributions. Significant cost sharing will be provided by the contractors Cummins Inc. and WVU will provide $2,977,000 and $380,000, in in-kind contributions, respectively. The total estimated costs for this project are:
 

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.

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