BOARD MEETING DATE: May 5, 2006
AGENDA NO. 4

Issue RFQ for Five Continuous PM2.5 Monitoring Systems

SYNOPSIS:

U.S. EPA has allocated Section 103 Grant funds of $569,466 for the continuation of the PM2.5 monitoring program.  Staff has identified a need to purchase new continuous PM2.5 monitoring systems as early as possible.  This action is to issue an RFQ to acquire five continuous PM2.5 monitoring systems.  Staff will bring a recommendation on the purchase of the continuous monitoring systems to the Board in the beginning of FY 2006-07.  In addition, staff will bring a proposal to reallocate any unspent FY 2005-06 Section 103 Grant funds from Federal FY 2005 and a proposal to appropriate Federal FY 2006 funds to the FY 2006-07 Budget.  These allocations were discussed with and approved by U.S. EPA.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, April 14, 2006, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Release RFQ #Q2006-15 for five continuous PM2.5 monitoring systems at a cost not to exceed $100,000 in anticipation of EPA Section 103 grant funds.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Since 1998, U.S. EPA has been providing funds for a comprehensive PM2.5 air monitoring program under a Section 103 Grant, as part of the national program to enhance the monitoring network for PM2.5.  To date, there are 20 ambient monitoring stations operating 23 PM2.5 samplers under the U.S. EPA funding.  In addition, U.S. EPA has funded a supplemental Grant to collect continuous particle size information, at several sites within the South Coast Air Basin, and to purchase and operate an additional PM2.5 speciation sampler at the Downtown Los Angeles air monitoring station to allow for a comparison of speciated samples between the AQMD laboratory and a designated national laboratory.  This augmentation substantially added to the fine particulate data which will help in the characterization of air quality conditions and health impacts.  In addition, the information is used in the daily air quality forecasts provided to the public.  There is a desire to deploy additional monitors as early as possible (prior to the fire season).

Proposal

AQMD will receive U.S. EPA Section 103 Grant funds in the amount of $569,466 to continue support of the PM2.5 monitoring network.  However, there is a potential 1% holdback of funds for Hurricane Katrina relief.  The proposed allocations have been discussed with and accepted by U.S. EPA.  Staff will bring the proposed allocation to the Board in the beginning of FY 2006-07.  This action is to issue an RFQ for five new continuous PM2.5 monitors.  The amount of $100,000 will be allocated into the FY 2006-07 Budget to purchase five new continuous PM2.5 monitors (Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalances [TEOMs] or Beta Attenuation Monitors [BAMS]) to expand the network of continuous (one-hour) PM2.5 monitors.  These new monitors will provide better spatial coverage of hourly PM2.5 mass measurements and also provide real-time data on PM2.5 pollution levels that will enhance the AQMD’s forecasting capabilities.  In addition, the acquisitions of these monitors are consistent with future U.S. EPA requirements for continuous PM2.5 monitoring and reporting.  Authorization to release an RFQ to provide five new continuous PM2.5 monitors is requested.

Resource Impacts

The funding levels provided by the U.S. EPA Section 103 Grant are sufficient to support the continuation of the PM2.5 program.

Attachments (doc 556kb)
Attachment 1 – RFQ #2006-15