BOARD MEETING DATE: June 4, 2010
AGENDA NO. 3

PROPOSAL:

Amend Contract with Technical and Business Systems, Inc. to Provide Technical Support for AQMD Coachella Valley Meteorological Network

SYNOPSIS:

On June 6, 2008, the Board awarded a new contract with Technical and Business Systems, Inc. to provide technical support for the AQMD Coachella Valley Meteorological Monitoring Network, with options for three annual contract renewals. Based on the contractor’s responsiveness and performance, this action is to exercise the second renewal option in the contract in an amount not to exceed $60,000. This will bring the contract total to $165,000 for ongoing field support of the Coachella Valley meteorological stations and data management. Funding for this contract amendment is budgeted in FY 2009-10 in the Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources Contracts and Special Services account.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, May 14, 2010, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Authorize the Executive Officer to amend the existing contract with Technical and Business Systems, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $60,000 to exercise the second of three one-year renewal options to provide continued technical support for the AQMD Coachella Valley meteorological network.
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Since 1995, AQMD has maintained a network of meteorological stations in the Coachella Valley to support high-wind forecasting for windblown dust issues and analyses related to U.S. EPA regulations for the treatment of exceptional and natural events that lead to violations of the federal standards for particulate matter. The Coachella Valley meteorological network provides real-time data used for improved high-wind and windblown particulate matter forecasting throughout the Valley and for public warning of such events.

On April 4, 2008, RFP #P2008-19 was released to solicit proposals from qualified consultants to provide technical support to AQMD related to the implementation, operation and maintenance of the AQMD supplemental meteorological monitoring network in the Coachella Valley as a contract with multi-year renewal options to provide for greater continuity of the measurements. On June 6, 2008, the Board awarded a contract to Technical and Business Systems, Inc for this effort. Technical and Business Systems, Inc. has provided excellent service under this contract, which has included: field measurement support, testing, calibrations and maintenance of instrumentation, research on potential new sites and equipment, data management and communications, web site development for data access, and analytical support for windblown dust events. Data recovery percentages have been high and the data collected has been proven to be an important component of the analysis and forecasting of wind events in the Coachella Valley. Staff requests that the award amount be increased to $60,000, for this one-year option from the previous amount of $55,000, to cover increasing costs of field travel.

Proposal

Based on the contractor’s responsiveness and satisfactory performance, staff recommends exercising the second of three renewal options in the Technical and Business Systems, Inc. contract in an amount not to exceed $60,000. 

Resource Impacts

The Board allocated funds for this contract amendment in the amount of $60,000 in the Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources FY 2009-10 Budget, Contracts and Special Services account (26445-67450).