BOARD MEETING DATE: October 2, 2009
AGENDA NO. 4
PROPOSAL:
Execute Sole Source Contract to Demonstrate Natural Gas Powered Police Vehicle
SYNOPSIS:
At its February 2009 meeting, the Board approved the conversion of a Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor to run on compressed natural gas for the City of Redlands Police Department. Since the award, there has been interest in evaluating a CNG-powered Police Interceptor as part of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Annual Law Enforcement Vehicle Test and Evaluation Program. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department indicated their willingness to test a CNG-powered Police Interceptor at their test facilities and would provide an existing gasoline-powered Police Interceptor to be converted to run on CNG. This action is to execute a sole source contract with BAF Technologies for the conversion of an existing 2008 model year or newer Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Police Interceptor to operate on CNG. Following conversion, the vehicle would be evaluated by the Sheriff's Department. The total cost for this project is estimated not to exceed $34,500 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, September 25, 2009. Less than a quorum was present for the discussion of this item; the Committee member present communicated his concurrence and recommended that this item be forwarded for Board consideration.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with BAF Technologies for the conversion of an existing police interceptor vehicle to dedicated natural gas operation in an amount not to exceed $34,500 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Further progress in air quality goals and reductions in air toxic exposure depends on the commercial availability of alternative-fueled vehicles and other advanced emissions control technologies. There has been a greater demand for alternative-fueled vehicles given recent fluctuations in gasoline fuel price and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Several cities have placed natural gas vehicles into police services. However, past generations of natural gas vehicles were not used as pursuit vehicles given their performance under such conditions. The city of Redlands is currently evaluating the use of a CNG Police Interceptor in routine police applications. There has been recent interest in evaluating a CNG-powered Police Interceptor as part of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Annual Law Enforcement Vehicle Test and Evaluation Program, which is a nationally recognized vehicle testing program. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department indicated their willingness to test a CNG-powered Police Interceptor at their test facilities and would provide an existing gasoline-powered Police Interceptor to be converted to run on CNG. Staff believes that a positive evaluation of this vehicle model would facilitate the purchase and use of CNG Police Interceptors by law enforcement agencies located throughout the District.
Proposal
Staff is proposing to fund a second demonstration of the use of natural gas Crown Victorias in police applications. An existing 2008 or newer Crown Victoria police vehicle owned by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department would be converted to dedicated natural gas operation by BAF Technologies. BAF Technologies reviewed the Sheriff's Department testing program specifications and believes there is a need to enhance the vehicle suspension and other body related components. CNG conversion of the Ford Crown Victoria typically adds about 425 pounds to the vehicle weight. As such, BAF Technologies is proposing addition of the rear spring package with a rear sway bar to enhance stability. The front brakes would also be upgraded to accommodate the braking requirements with the additional vehicle weight. The Sheriff's Department evaluation would include testing the vehicle on a city street pursuit course, a high speed driving course, an acceleration performance test, and a brake test.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department would be responsible for refueling the natural gas-powered police vehicle, including the cost of the natural gas fuel, during and subsequent to vehicle testing. In addition, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department would be responsible for installing necessary equipment to specifically customize the police vehicle for operation in Los Angeles County. The total cost for this project is estimated to be about $34,500, with about half of this cost attributed to the design and engineering of the enhancements. It is anticipated that the future cost of converting a Police Interceptor to run on CNG and equipping the Police Interceptor with the necessary vehicle upgrades, would be significantly lower than this project cost. This action is to execute a contract with BAF Technologies to conduct this project at a cost not to exceed $34,500 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
Sole Source Justification
Section VIII.B.2 of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This request for a sole source award is made under provision B.2.c.(1) and (2): The desired services are available from only the sole source based upon one or more of the following reasons: (1) The unique experience and capabilities of the proposed contractor or contractor team; and (2) The project involves the use of proprietary technology.
The only gasoline to natural gas conversion system certified by CARB for the Ford Crown Victoria police vehicle model is a system solely manufactured by BAF Technologies.
Benefits to AQMD
The AQMP relies upon the accelerated implementation of advanced technologies within Southern California to achieve federal and state ambient air quality standards and to further reductions in air toxic exposure. Because Crown Victorias are widely used in police vehicle applications, and these vehicles typically accumulate approximately 50,000 to 60,000 miles per year, significant emission reductions could be generated by the use of natural gas vehicles in this application. The BAF Technologies gasoline to natural gas conversion system has been CARB certified as a super ultra-low emission vehicle. In addition, this demonstration program complements existing AQMD efforts to increase the commercialization of natural gas-powered vehicles used in taxicab applications. It should be noted that a significant number of Crown Victoria taxicab models originally begin service as police vehicles, and are purchased as used vehicles by taxicab fleets and converted for use as taxicabs.
Resource Impacts
The total amount of AQMD funding for this program shall not exceed $34,500 from the Clean Fuels Fund. Sufficient funds are available in the Clean Fuels Fund, which is established as special revenue from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. 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.