BOARD MEETING DATE: May 5, 2006
AGENDA NO. 9

Issue RFP for Technical Assistance for Advanced, Low- and Zero-Emission Mobile and Stationary Source Pollution Control Technologies

SYNOPSIS:

The RFP will solicit statements of qualifications from individuals and organizations potentially capable of providing expert technical consultation in a variety of specialized areas to support AQMD technology advancement activities.  It is anticipated that multiple awards for level-of-effort contracts will be made from this solicitation.  Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund to support this work in an amount not to exceed $300,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, April 28, 2006, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve the release of the attached Request for Proposals #P2006-20 for technical assistance for advanced, low- and zero-emission mobile and stationary source pollution control technologies in the amount of $300,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQMP is the comprehensive regional plan for attaining federal air quality standards in the South Coast Air Basin.  In addition to full implementation of current technologies and management practices, near-term advances in current technologies and technological breakthroughs are needed.  Air quality projections indicate that the federal standard for ozone will only be met with such breakthroughs.  Regular revisions to the AQMP are based on the most current information on technology advancements.

In 1988, the Board adopted a Clean Fuels Program and formed the Technology Advancement Office (TAO) to administer and manage the program.  The TAO program is a far-reaching effort, incorporating a mix of short-, medium-, and long-term goals, representing a continuum of technology improvements to achieve clean air in the Basin.  As a result, the breadth of the TAO program includes demonstrations of nearly commercial technologies as well as support for research and development of longer-term, promising technologies for both stationary and mobile sources.

Request for Proposals

Due to the rapidity in which technologies evolve and change, TAO staff occasionally require the assistance of experts to assess, coordinate, review, and implement projects.  To solicit this support, staff requests approval to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for technical assistance in areas including, but not limited to, the following:

Mobile Applications

Low and zero-emission technologies for light-, medium-,and heavy-duty vehicles (on- and non-road applications), including

• Fuel cells, hybrids (electric, plug-in, hydraulic, and others), and alternative fuels;
• Component (e.g., batteries and ultracapacitors) and system expertise (e.g., software controllers); and
• Engines and exhaust treatment technologies (e.g. catalyst and trap systems).

Fuels

Fuels processing, reformulation, and emissions analyses for

• Alternative and conventional fuels;
• Biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel, and biomass);
• Hydrogen infrastructure; and
• Gas to liquid (GTL) fuels.

Stationary Applications

• Advanced combustion technologies;
• Advanced or innovative aftertreatment control technologies;
• Renewable technologies; and
• Fuel cell, hybrid, and hydrogen-energy co-production.

Emissions and Analyses

• Toxic air contaminants and their potential formation;
• Health and safety issues related to new technologies;
• Mobile source data compilation and analyses;
• Advanced technology transition (bridging) analyses; and
• Advanced technology assessments, including market penetration and consumer acceptance studies.

This RFP will solicit statements of qualifications from individuals and organizations capable of providing technical assistance in a variety of areas to support AQMP implementation and TAO activities.  In each case, it will first be determined whether the work can be performed in-house.

Bid Evaluation

Consultants will be selected through an open bidding process according to AQMD's Consultant Selection Policy and Proposals.  Successful bidders shall be retained by level-of-effort contracts; therefore work assignments can be issued for specific needs and projects without requiring lengthy consultant selection processes for each individual project.  It is anticipated that multiple awards for level-of-effort contracts will be made from this solicitation.

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 is also available on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project supports the implementation of advanced alternative fuel technology that could potentially be used to reduce PM, NOx, CO, VOC and hydrocarbon emissions from mobile and stationary sources.  In addition, outside expertise will provide an effective means of evaluating new technologies and assessing emissions. 

Resource Impacts

The total amount of AQMD funding for the level-of-effort contracts will not exceed $300,000, with the amount of funding allocated to each contract dependent upon the consultant's qualifications and AQMD’s needs. 

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 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources and stationary 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.

Attachment (DOC 1mb)
RFP #P2006-20 - Technical Assistance for Advanced, Low- and Zero-Emission Mobile
    and Stationary Source Pollution Control Technologies