BOARD MEETING DATE: February 3, 2006
AGENDA NO. 3

Execute Contract to Update School Bus Inventory for the South Coast Air Basin

SYNPOSIS:

At its September 9, 2005 meeting, the Board approved the release of RFP #P2006-05 to solicit proposals to update and expand the existing school bus inventory in the Basin. The updated inventory is necessary to continue the successful implementation of the Lower-Emission School Bus Program with funds generated under AB 923. Nine proposals were received by the closing date of October 26, 2005 and were rated by an evaluation panel. This action is to execute a contract with Burnett and Burnette to update and expand the school bus inventory in the Basin for an amount not to exceed $50,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, January 27, 2006. Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; the Chairman communicated his concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Burnett and Burnette to update and expand the school bus inventory in the Basin for an amount not to exceed $50,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Exhaust emissions from high emitting diesel-fueled school buses are harmful to children and are a source of public exposure to toxic diesel particulate matter and smog-forming pollutants.  There are thousands of older school buses on the road that have remained in service simply because school districts lack funds to replace them.  To reduce emissions from these vehicles, the AQMD has awarded approximately $55.7 million in state, local, and federal funds to replace older diesel buses with new lower-emitting diesel or CNG buses, provide funding assistance to develop and enhance the alternative fuel infrastructure, and retrofit newer diesel-powered buses with particulate traps.  Over 60 percent of the funds have been awarded to schools in disproportionately impacted areas.

 To assist the AQMD in the administration of the Lower-Emission School Bus Program, RFP #P2006-05 was issued on September 9, 2005 to solicit proposals to update and expand the AQMD’s school bus inventory that was originally developed in 2000.  Given that there have been several purchases of new buses and retirements of older buses since the last survey, it is important that this school bus database be updated and expanded with the latest detailed information.  It is estimated that the survey will be completed within three months after a contract is executed with the winning bidder.

Proposal

Based on the evaluation panel scoring of the nine proposals as described below, staff recommends that the Board approve a contract with Burnett and Burnette at a cost not to exceed $50,000. The proposed contractor has provided substantial technical assistance to various school districts and cities in address-ing and resolving their alternative fuel refueling infrastructure issues.

Outreach

In accordance with the AQMD’s consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the Program Announcement & Application and inviting applications was published in the following publications:

Additionally, potential applicants 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 Program Announcement & Application 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.  

Bid Evaluation

Nine proposals were received by the due date of October 26, 2005. The nine proposals are provided in Table 1. The three-member evaluation panel consisted of a CARB Air Pollution Specialist, an AQMD Community Relations Manager and an AQMD Program Supervisor; one Asian-Pacific Islander and two Caucasian; all three male. All proposals were evaluated according to the scoring criteria outlined in the RFP. Seven out of the nine proposals received averaged technical scores above the minimum re-quired 56 points and were further evaluated for additional points for costs, small business, local busi-ness, DBVE and low emission vehicles business. Based on the evaluation panel’s score as shown in Table 1, the proposal from Burnett and Burnette received the highest score.
 

Table 1: Proposals for School Bus Inventory Study

*Cumulative points for Small Business, Local Business, DBVE, and Low-Emission Vehicle Business not to exceed 15 points.

Benefits to AQMD

The expanded and updated school bus inventory will assist staff in continuing implementation of the Lower-Emission School Bus Program through the identification of school districts and private transportation providers who could potentially participate in future school bus incentives programs to replace older, higher emitting school buses.

Resource Impacts

Total funding for this project shall not exceed $50,000.  Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels 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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