BOARD MEETING DATE: December 2, 2005
AGENDA NO. 10
Issue RFP to Establish List of Prequalified Consultants to Review Emission Inventories and Health Risk Assessments Developed for Rule 3503 – Emissions Inventory and Health Risk Assessments for Railyards
SYNOPSIS:
An RFP will be released to establish a list of prequalified consultants to review railyard emission inventories and health risk assessments (HRAs) submitted to AQMD per the requirements of Rule 3503. The consultants must have expertise in emission inventory development, including on- and off-road emission inventories, dispersion modeling, and HRA preparation in California. Consultants must also demonstrate that they do not have any conflicts of interest.
COMMITTEE:
Administrative, November 10, 2005, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve issuance of RFP # 2006-13 to solicit proposals from, and establish a list of, prequalified consultants to assist or augment AQMD staff in the review of emissions inventories and health risk assessments submitted to AQMD to satisfy the requirements of Rule 3503 – Emissions Inventory and Health Risk Assessments for Railyards.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Rule 3503 was adopted by the Board in October 2005. There are 19 railyards that will need to quantify emissions and identify health risks associated with their rail activities. Rule 3503 would require a railyard operator to submit a railyard-wide emissions inventory of criteria and air toxic pollutants for all stationary and mobile sources within the railyard. In addition, operators of railyards would be required to submit railyard-wide HRAs, based on the railyard-wide toxics emissions inventories. Under Rule 3503, railyards with maximum individual cancer risks greater than or equal to 10-in-a-million or total acute or chronic hazard indices greater than one (1.0) would be required to conduct public notification.
Rule 3503 requires railyard operators to submit an emissions inventory and HRA in 12 and 15 months, respectively, from the date of rule adoption, which will be October 2006 and January 2007. AQMD staff has 120 days to approve or reject the inventory and HRA. If it is rejected, then the railyard operator is given another 90 days to make the necessary corrections. The rule provides AQMD staff with 90 days to accept or reject the modified HRA. If it is rejected, then Rule 3503 requires that AQMD staff correct the remaining deficiencies within 120 days.
Proposal
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit qualified consultants to assist or augment AQMD staff in the review of emissions inventories and health risk assessments (HRAs) submitted to the AQMD to satisfy the requirements of Rule 3503, and to establish a prequalified list of same. The AQMD will retain full independent review and approval over any work prepared by the consultant. The AQMD will also retain full ownership and control over all work products prepared under this contract. Consultants are required to have, and be able to demonstrate, substantial knowledge of: Rule 3503 and the guidance documents developed for the rule; stationary and mobile source toxic and criteria emissions inventory development; stationary and mobile source air dispersion modeling in Southern California; and health risk assessment methods in California.
Total funding for this RFP will be a maximum of $500,000 for the combined fiscal years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. At the time of award, funding for this contract will be appropriated from the General Fund Undesignated Fund Balance to Planning, Rule Development & Area Sources FY 05-06 budget, Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services account. Monies will be reimbursed through fees charged to the railyard operators for plan review pursuant to Rule 306. Contracts would be valid for a period of two years. The intent of this RFP is to establish a prequalified list of up to five (5) knowledgeable and experienced consultants. As specific AQMD needs or projects arise, a scope-of-work plan will be released to each consultant retained by the AQMD. For each scope of work plan request, the consultants must submit a cost proposal, which must include both technical qualifications and cost by task. At the AQMD’s discretion, a Task Order will be awarded to the consultant providing the most advantageous work plan based on consideration of cost, technical merit, and schedule. Therefore, the actual contract amount for each consultant selected cannot be determined at this time.
Outreach
In accordance with AQMD’s Procurement Policy and Procedure, a public notice advertising the RFP/RFQ and inviting bids will be published in the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, the San Bernardino Sun and Riverside County Press Enterprise newspapers to leverage the most cost effective method of outreach to the entire South Coast Basin.
Additionally, potential bidders may be notified utilizing the Los Angeles County MTA Directory of Certified Firms, the Inland Area Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; and AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors. Notice of the RFP/RFQ 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 where it can be viewed by making menu selections “Inside AQMD”/“Employment and Business Opportunities”/“Business Opportunities” or by going directly to http://www.aqmd.gov/rfp/index.html). Information will also be available on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.
Benefits to AQMD
Consultant assistance will allow AQMD staff to handle the increased workload and the compressed review schedule required by Rule 3503.
Bid Evaluation
Proposals received will be evaluated by a diverse, technically qualified panel in accordance with criteria contained in the RFP.
Resource Impacts
The railyards subject to Rule 3503 will pay fees for the review of the submitted inventories and health risk assessments. These fees are expected to reimburse the costs of this contract.
RFP #2006-13 – Establish List of Prequalified Consultants to Review Emission Inventories and Health Risk Assessments Developed for Rule 3503 – Emissions Inventory and Health Risk Assessments for Railyards
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