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

PROPOSAL:

Amend Contract with Technical and Business Systems, Inc. to Conduct Systems and Performance Audits of AQMD Meteorological Monitoring Network

SYNOPSIS:

On June 6, 2008, the Board awarded a new contract with Technical and Business Systems, Inc. to conduct systems and performance audits of the AQMD meteorological monitoring network, with an option to extend the term and add funds for additional station audits. Based on the contractor’s responsiveness and performance, this action is to recommend amending this contract in an amount not to exceed $60,000. This will bring the contract total to $120,000 to continue the assessment and analysis of the entire AQMD meteorological network. Funding for this amendment is budgeted in the 18^th year PAMS award from the Program Audits ($30,000) and the Data and Network Analysis ($30,000) Contract allocations.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, May 14, 2010, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Authorize the Executive Officer to exercise the option to amend the existing contract with Technical and Business Systems, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $60,000 to conduct additional systems and performance audits of the AQMD meteorological monitoring network. 
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

AQMD operates an extensive network of approximately 40 surface meteorological stations, as well as five upper air meteorological stations. These provide meteorological data for air quality analyses, forecasting, and regional photochemical modeling in the South Coast Air Basin and meet meteorological measurement requirements of the U.S. EPA Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS) program. Instrumentation consists of tower-mounted surface meteorological sensors (winds, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, ultraviolet radiation and solar radiation), as well as radar wind profilers (RWP) with a radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) and acoustic wind profilers at the upper air stations.

To ensure the quality of measurements for AQMD needs, as well as for the overall objectives of the PAMS program, independent quality assurance audits are needed on a regular basis. On April 4, 2008, RFP #P2008-18 was released to solicit proposals from qualified consultants to conduct systems and performance audits of the AQMD meteorological monitoring network. 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, to date has included systems and performance audits of the upper air stations and associated tower-mounted instruments. The continuing effort will audit meteorological systems throughout the AQMD jurisdiction and provide analyses of the data processing for the AQMD meteorological network.

Proposal

Based on the available FY 2009-10 funding for this purpose, the success of the audit project to date, the continuing need for this service, and the responsiveness and satisfactory performance of Technical and Business Systems, Inc., staff recommends exercising the option in the contract to increase funding by $60,000. 

Resource Impacts

Funds for this contract are available from the U.S. EPA Section 105 Grant for the PAMS 18^th Year program. These funds, in the amount of $30,000 were recognized, appropriated and reallocated by the Board at the October 2, 2009 meeting (Agenda No. 5) to Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources under Contracts – Program Audits (26530-67450). The additional $30,000 is identified from unspent funds for the PAMS 18^th Year Program from Contracts – Data and Network Analysis (26530-67450). This change to the 18^th Year PAMS allocation has been discussed with U.S. EPA and approved.