BOARD MEETING DATE: June 9, 2006
AGENDA NO. 4
(Continued from June 2, 2006 Board Meeting)

Execute Contracts to Review Emission Inventories and Health Risk Assessments Developed for Rule 3503 – Emissions Inventory and Health Risk Assessment for Railyards

SYNOPSIS:

On December 2, 2005, the Board approved the release of an RFP to secure assistance with reviewing emission inventories and health risk assessments submitted by railyards per the requirements of Rule 3503.  Eleven proposals were received and reviewed by a qualified evaluation panel.  It is recommended that the five most qualified bidders be awarded time and materials contracts for a total amount not to exceed $500,000 for Fiscal Year 2006-07.  The funds will be reimbursed by fees paid by the railyards, contingent on the Board’s approval of the June 2006 fee amendments.  (Reviewed:  Administrative Committee, March 10, 2006)

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, March 10, 2006, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Appropriate, effective July 1, 2006, $500,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance of the General Fund to the FY 2006-07 Planning Rule Development and Area Sources Budget, Professional and Special Services account.
2. Authorize the Executive Officer to execute contracts with PAN Environmental Inc.; AMI Environmental; Yorke Engineering, LLC; Environmental Audit Inc.; and Eastern Research Group, Inc. each for an amount not to exceed $100,000 in FY 2006-07 to assist in the review of emission inventories and health risk assessments developed for Rule 3503.

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 requires 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 are required to submit railyard-wide HRAs, based on the railyard-wide toxics emissions inventories.

Rule 3503 requires railyard operators to submit an emissions inventory and HRA in 12 and 15 months, respectively, from the date of rule adoption; submittals are thus due 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.

On December 2, 2005, RFP #P2006-13 was released to establish a list of prequalified consultants to review railyard emission inventories and HRAs submitted to the AQMD per the requirements of Rule 3503.  Consultants with expertise in emission inventory development, including on- and off-road emission inventories, dispersion modeling, and HRA preparation were sought to assist AQMD staff in implementation of Rule 3503.

Outreach

In accordance with AQMD’s Procurement Policy and Procedure, a public notice advertising the RFP 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 AQMD’s Web site (http://aqmd.gov/).   Information was also available on AQMD’s bidders 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Bid Evaluation

Eleven bids were received in response to the RFP.  Attachment 1 reflects the evaluation of the proposals for the consultants who submitted bids.  One bidder did not receive the minimum technical score of 56 points and was dropped from further consideration.  Using the prescribed evaluation criteria to consider cost, technical qualifications, additional points including small and local business status, and the commitment in the RFP that AQMD would choose up to five qualified consultants, AQMD staff recommends that the Board award the contracts to PAN Environmental Inc.; AMI Environmental; Yorke Engineering, LLC; Environmental Audit Inc.; and Eastern Research Group, Inc.

Review work for the 19 railyards identified in Rule 3503 will be distributed equally and randomly among the five qualified consultants.  Thus, the top four consultants (i.e., PAN Environmental Inc.; AMI Environmental; Yorke Engineering, LLC; and Environmental Audit Inc.) will be assigned four railyard emission inventory and HRA reviews and the fifth qualified consultant (i.e., Eastern Research Group, Inc.) will be assigned three reviews.

Panel Composition

The panel consisted of two Program Supervisors, one Senior Air Quality Engineer, and one Air Quality Specialist from Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources.  Of the four panelists, three are Asian/Pacific Islander and one is Caucasian; one female and three male.

Resource Impacts

The railyards subject to Rule 3503 will pay fees for the review of the submitted inventories and HRAs, contingent on the Board’s approval of the June 2006 fee amendments.  These fees will cover the costs of this contract.

Attachment(s)
1 - Evaluation of Bid from Respondents to RFP #2006-13.

ATTACHMENT 1

Evaluation of Bids from Respondents to RFP #2006-13

[1]   Score is the average of the four panelists.  Minimum technical score of 56 points is required to be considered.

[2]   10 points added to small business or small business joint venture; 10 points added for DVBE or DVBE joint venture; 7 points for use of DVBE or small business subcontractors; 5 points for local business.  Cumulative points awarded in this category cannot exceed 15 points.

[3]   Bidder dropped from consideration since technical score is below minimum requirement of 56 points.