BOARD MEETING DATE: February 5, 2010
AGENDA NO. 11

PROPOSAL:

Issue Purchase Order for Condensation Particle Counters to Conduct Additional Ultrafine Particle Measurements at Airports

SYNOPSIS:

Recent studies by AQMD and others have identified jet aircraft as a major source of ultrafine particles to communities immediately downwind from airports. Given the very high levels of ultrafines that have been detected in these studies, existing AQMD equipment is not capable of accurately measuring ultrafine particles at these elevated concentrations. In order to better assess the extent and levels of ultrafines from different jet aircraft, three new condensation particle counters are needed. This action is to issue a sole source purchase order for three condensation particle counters in an amount not to exceed $100,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, January 22, 2010, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Appropriate $100,000 from the General Fund, Undesignated Fund Balance, to the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2009-10 Budget, Capital Outlays Major Object.

2. Authorize the Executive Officer to issue a sole source purchase order with TSI Inc. for three Model 3785 water-based condensation particle counters in an amount not to exceed $100,000.
   

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Several recent air monitoring studies at Santa Monica airport and LAX have identified very high concentrations of ultrafine particle numbers emitted from jet aircraft. These aircraft emissions have been shown to significantly impact ultrafine levels in residential communities downwind of the runways. More studies are needed to better quantify the relationship between the types of jet aircraft, their ultrafine emissions, and the exposure levels both outdoors and indoors in the affected communities.

AQMD currently owns and deploys a set of condensation particle counters to measure ultrafine particle numbers. However, these models are not capable of measuring particle number concentrations above 500,000 particles per cubic centimeter. Since concentrations near the runways often exceed one million particles per cubic centimeter during jet operations, a different model condensation particle counter is needed to continue AQMD studies on this issue.

Proposal

In order to better assess the extent and levels of community exposure to ultrafine particles from jet aircraft, staff recommends the purchase of three condensation particle counters capable of recording high particle number concentrations. Therefore, this action is to appropriate $100,000 from the General Fund to the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2009-10 Budget, and to authorize the Executive Officer to issue a sole source purchase order with TSI Inc. for three Model 3785 water-based condensation particle counters in an amount not to exceed $100,000.

Sole Source Justifications

TSI Inc. is the only vendor that manufactures and sells water-based condensation particle counters that are capable of measuring the wide range of concentrations expected in future airport studies. Therefore, the request for the sole-source purchase of the condensation particle counters is made under Section VI.A.4.a of the Procurement Policy and Procedure; the items are available from only one source.

Resource Impacts

The purchase of the new equipment will cost up to $100,000 from the General Fund.