BOARD MEETING DATE: July 7, 2006
AGENDA NO. 4

Execute Contracts for Technical Assistance in Goods Movement

SYNOPSIS:

On April 7, 2006, the Board approved release of an RFP to solicit proposals for expert technical consultation in goods movement operations and logistics.  Three technical proposals were received and reviewed.  This action is to execute contracts with technical experts to provide services at a total cost not to exceed $174,000 from the Clean Fuels Program. 

COMMITTEE:

Technology, June 23, 2006, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Authorize the Executive Officer to execute a level-of-effort contract with

1. Don Breazeale and Associates, Inc. for technical assistance related to air quality impacts of regional goods movement in an amount not to exceed $58,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund;
2. Dowling Associates, Inc. for technical assistance related to air quality impacts of regional goods movement in an amount not to exceed $58,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund; and
3. The Tioga Group for technical assistance related to air quality impacts of regional goods movement in an amount not to exceed $58,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

As a result of the significant growth in regional goods movement, pollutant emissions and air quality impacts around the marine ports and distribution centers are increasingly significant and need to be addressed expeditiously.  External expertise is needed to assist AQMD staff to address the air quality impacts and potential mitigation strategies as staff prepares the 2007 AQMP Revision and evaluates various approaches to mitigating goods movement related emissions.  

To address this need, the Board released RFP #P2006-17 on March 3, 2006 to solicit level-of-effort expertise in goods movement.  Several awards were made from this RFP to assist staff on technology evaluations.  However, sufficient responses were not received in the specific area of goods movement logistics and operations efficiencies at marine ports, railyards and warehouse distribution centers.  As a result, the Board released RFP #P2006-18 on April 7, 2006 to solicit this specific expertise at a cost not to exceed $175,000.

Outreach

In accordance with AQMD’s Procurement Policy and Procedure, a public notice advertising the RFP/RFQ and inviting bids was 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 have been 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 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).  Information was also available on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Proposal Evaluations

Three proposals were received in response to the RFP for the Goods Movement area.  The proposals were reviewed and scored by a four member panel in accordance with established AQMD guidelines and using the technical criteria outlined in the RFP.  The panel consisted of one AQMD Deputy Executive Officer, one AQMD Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, one AQMD Senior Policy Advisor, and one CARB Deputy Executive Officer.  The panel’s gender and ethnic distribution were one female, three male; two Asian-Pacific Islander, two Caucasian. 

The evaluation panel scored the three proposals for technical merits.  Technically qualified proposals were subsequently scored for cost-effectiveness based on the criteria provided in the RFP.  Ten additional points were possible if the proposer is a small business and another five points if located within the AQMD jurisdiction.  The resulting average scores, including the cost effectiveness and additional points, are shown in Table 1 for the Goods Movement area.

Table 1:  Goods Movement Proposal Scores

The evaluation panel discussed the technical qualifications of each of the proposers including relevant direct expertise in the area of goods movement logistics within and around the ports and other transportation corridors.  Specifically, the RFP stated a need for technical assistance relative to port-specific operations, which includes having direct experience or knowledge of on-dock container loading, alternative maritime power, infrastructure planning, and alternatives to current goods movement practice such as advanced goods movement infrastructure, cleaner vehicles, and cleaner marine vessels. 

Proposal

Based on the scores from the review panels provided in Table 1 and the unique expertise that each of the proposers exhibited, staff recommends funding all of the proposers at a cost not to exceed $58,000 each for a total of $174,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.  Each of the proposers provides unique expertise which staff believes would benefit the AQMD.  Don Breazeale and Associates, Inc. provided experience with shipping lines and landside operations.  Dowling Associates, Inc. proposed a team consisting of experts in the area of terminal operations, marine vessel operations, control strategy development, and truck operations.  The Tioga Group has primary expertise in rail and landside operations.  All of the proposers have provided consulting services to the ports in California, California Department of Transportation, and Southern California transportation agencies.  Projects will be assigned to the contractors only if they promote the use of clean fuels in motor vehicles.

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 expertise needed to adequately evaluate control strategies on goods movement -- from the international movement of cargo via marine vessels to port terminals and drayage by rail and on-road trucks -- requires that the AQMD have access to specific expertise on an as-needed basis.  The proposed level-of-effort contracts will provide this access.  The contracted experts 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

Sufficient funds are available in the Clean Fuels Fund for the three recommended awards at a total cost not to exceed $174,000.  These expenditures are included in the March 2006 Technology Advancement Plan Update under the Outreach and Technology Transfer category as “Assessment and Technical Support of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination.”

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.