BOARD MEETING DATE: November 6, 2009
AGENDA NO. 7

PROPOSAL:

Establish a List of Pre-qualified Consultants for Assistance Preparing California Environmental Quality Act Documents and Other CEQA-related Technical Analyses

SYNOPSIS:

At its June 5, 2009 meeting, the Board approved issuance of an RFP to pre-qualify expert services to provide assistance to AQMD staff in preparing CEQA documents for AQMD rules, regulations, and non-AQMD permit application projects where the AQMD is the lead agency under CEQA, and other topic-specific related analyses, such as GHG analysis, mitigation measure development, protocol development, or other CEQA-related activities, which may be used to update the AQMD’s CEQA Air Quality Handbook. This action is to establish a list of prequalified consultants for assistance preparing CEQA documents and other CEQA-related technical analyses.  

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source, October 16, 2009, Reviewed

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Approve Chambers Group, Inc.; Christopher A. Joseph & Associates; Environmental Audit, Inc.; Matrix Environmental; and PMC as pre-qualified CEQA Generalist Consultants.

2. Approve Matrix Environmental as pre-qualified CEQA Air Quality Specialist Consultant.

3. Approve Iteris, Inc. as pre-qualified CEQA Traffic Specialist Consultant.

4. Authorize the Executive Officer to execute contracts, as needs arise, with the pre-qualified consultants. Contracts will be valid for a period of up to two years, with an option to extend as necessary. Initial cost is not to exceed $60,000 for the FY 2009-10.

 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Pursuant to the state Public Resources Code, CEQA applies to projects undertaken by, funded by, or requiring discretionary approval from public agencies. Consequently CEQA analyses and documents or notices are required for most AQMD rules, regulations, or plans prior to their adoption or modification by the Governing Board. The AQMD also occasionally assumes the CEQA Lead Agency role for AQMD and non-AQMD permit application projects within the jurisdiction of the AQMD. In addition, the AQMD serves as a Responsible or Commenting Agency and reviews the CEQA documents for land use projects prepared by other public agencies.

At its June 5, 2009 meeting, the Board authorized release of RFP #P2009-24 to solicit proposals to augment current staff resources to assist with preparing CEQA documents, updating the AQMD’s CEQA Air Quality Handbook, and other CEQA-related technical analyses. The purpose of the RFP was to establish lists of pre-qualified consultants in three categories: Generalist CEQA Consultant, Air Quality CEQA Consultant, and CEQA Specialist Traffic Consultant. The initial amount of funding for this RFP is a maximum of $60,000 for the FY 2009–10. The contract would be valid for a period of two years with an option for the AQMD to renew the contract and increase funding as necessary upon approval of the Board or Executive Officer depending on the amount of award in accordance with AQMD procurement policy and procedures.

Bid Evaluations

A total of 97 notices of the RFP were mailed electronically to consultants and potential interested parties on June 5, 2009. Eight consulting firms representing six proposals for Generalist Consultant, two for Specialist in Air Quality, and one for Specialist in Traffic were received and evaluated according to the AQMD’s Consultant Selection Policy and Procedure. One consulting firm submitted a proposal for both the Generalist Consultant and Specialist in Air Quality. The proposals from the eight consulting firms were received by the July 7, 2009 closing date of the RFP solicitation.

AQMD staff reviewed and scored each proposal based on technical and cost criteria specified in the RFP. All proposals reviewed were rated technically qualified to perform the work identified in the RFP and received the minimum 56 out of 70 points required to meet the technical criteria. Of the eight consulting firms, four firms are small businesses or small business joint venture, two firms are local businesses, and one firm is a disability veteran (DVBE) or DVBE joint venture.

Based on the scoring and ranking, there is a natural break at 85 points. Staff is recommending that six consulting firms, having a total score of 85 points and higher, be placed on the respective pre-qualified list. These six consulting firms are as follows:

CEQA Generalist Consultant:

• Chambers Group, Inc.

• Christopher A. Joseph & Associates

• Environmental Audit, Inc.

• Matrix Environmental

• PMC

CEQA Air Quality Specialist Consultant:

• Matrix Environmental

CEQA Traffic Specialist Consultant

• Iteris, Inc.
  

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 AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors. Potential bidders were also notified from the AQMD’s e-mail list of CEQA consultants. Notice of the RFP was mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations, the State of California Contracts Register website, and placed on the Internet at AQMD’s website (http://www.aqmd.gov). Information was also available on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Bid Evaluation

Proposals received were evaluated by a diverse panel of technically qualified individuals according to the criteria described in this RFP. The evaluation panel consisted of an Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, a District Counsel, and a Planning and Rules Manager. The panel breakdown was one Asian/Pacific Islander and two Caucasian; one female, two male. Attachment A provides a summary of the final scoring for proposals that met the minimum total score of 85 points for prequalification, ranked in order of their total scores.

Resource Impacts

Funds for this proposal in an amount not to exceed $60,000 are available in Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources’ FY 2009-10 Budget, Professional and Special Services Major Object.

Attachment

A – Evaluation of Proposals

ATTACHMENT A
EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

CEQA Generalist Consultant:

CEQA Air Quality Specialist Consultant:

CEQA Traffic Specialist Consultant:

* Average of technical scores from three panelists (out of possible 70 points)

** Cost points (possible 30 points) plus additional points for small businesses, disabled veterans, and/or local businesses (non-EPA funded projects only)