BOARD MEETING DATE: March 5, 2010
AGENDA NO. 16
PROPOSAL:
Approve Contract Modifications and Awards under FYs 2003-04, 2008-09, and 2009-10 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Programs
SYNOPSIS:
The MSRC approved a replacement contract for regional rideshare database enhancements as part of the FY 2003-04 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program, as well as a contract modification for A-Z Bus Sales providing additional funds for alternative fuel school buses as part of the FY 2008-09 Work Program. The MSRC also approved a sole source contract to the Coachella Valley Association of Governments to administer a Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program and a sole source contract to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to implement Clean Fuel Shuttle Service to Dodger Stadium, both as part of the FY 2009-10 Work Program. The MSRC seeks AQMD Board approval of these contract awards and modifications under FYs 2003-04, 2008-09 and 2009-10 Work Programs, respectively.
COMMITTEE:
Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review, February 18, 2010, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Approve new/replacement contract, as part of the FY 2003-04 Work Program, with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the amount of $53,500 to perform enhancements to the regional rideshare database, as described in this letter;
Approve a funding augmentation, as part of the FY 2008-09 Work Program, in an amount not to exceed $480,000 to existing contract #MS09002 with A-Z Bus Sales under the Alternative Fuel School Bus Incentives Program, using funds previously allocated to this Program but not yet awarded, as described in this letter;
Approve a Partial FY 2009-10 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program with the following elements:
Coachella Valley Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program totaling $400,000; and
Clean Fuel Shuttle Service to Dodger Stadium totaling $300,000;
Approve award of a sole-source contract to the Coachella Valley Association of Governments in an amount not to exceed $400,000 under the Coachella Valley Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program as a part of the FY 2009-10 Work Program, as described in this letter;
Approve award of a sole-source contract to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in an amount not to exceed $300,000 to provide clean fuel shuttle service to Dodger Stadium as a part of the FY 2009-10 Work Program, as described in this letter;
Authorize MSRC the authority to adjust contract awards up to five percent, as necessary and previously granted in prior work programs; and
Authorize the Chairman of the Board to execute new and modified contracts under FYs 2003-04, 2008-09, and 2009-10 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Programs, as described above and within this letter.
Ron Roberts
Chair, MSRC
Background
In September 1990 Assembly Bill 2766 was signed into law (Health & Safety Code Sections 44220-44247) authorizing the imposition of an annual $4 motor vehicle registration fee to fund the implementation of programs exclusively to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles. AB 2766 provides that 30 percent of the annual $4 vehicle registration fee subvened to the AQMD be placed into an account to be allocated pursuant to a work program developed and adopted by the MSRC and approved by the Board.
FY 2003-04 Work Program
As an element of the FY 2003-04 Work Program, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) was awarded a $120,000 contract to enhance the region’s rideshare database systems through the creation of a direct communications link between Metro’s TripMaster and the Riverside County Transportation Commission’s (RCTC’s) RidePro. Among other features, the communications link will facilitate the access of transit itineraries through the CommuteSmart.info website. In December 2009, Metro requested a six-month contract term extension. As there was no MSRC meeting in December, a two-month extension was prepared to allow time for the MSRC to consider the remainder of Metro’s request, but the modification to extend the term was not executed by all appropriate parties prior to the contract’s January 12, 2010 expiration date. At its February 18, 2010 meeting, the MSRC considered a new/replacement contract for Metro as part of the FY 2003-04 Work Program. Further details are provided below in the Proposals section.
FY 2008-09 Work Program
As part of the FY 2008-09 Work Program, the MSRC has allocated a total of $3,000,000 for the Alternative Fuel School Bus Incentives Program to provide buydown incentives for school districts. The MSRC has previously awarded a total of $1,660,000 to A-Z Bus Sales, leaving an available balance of $1,340,000. At its February 18, 2010 meeting, the MSRC considered a request from A-Z Bus Sales for an additional $480,000 for orders from the Downey, William Hart and Newhall School Districts; further details are provided below in the Proposals section.
FY 2009-10 Work Program
Coachella Valley Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program
Owing to its proximity to desert terrain, a major source of the Coachella Valley’s PM10 emissions emanates from “blow sand” deposited on roadways and arterial highways. Frequent street sweeping, especially following wind events, has been demonstrated to mitigate PM10 emissions from “blow sand”. The Coachella Valley Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program is an element of the Coachella Valley SIP. At its February 18, 2010 meeting, the MSRC considered a request from the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) for funding assistance as part of the MSRC’s FY 2009-10 Work Program to continue the Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program for the next fiscal year; further details are provided below in the Proposals section.
Clean Fuel Shuttle Service to Dodger Stadium
Passenger vehicles traveling to and from Los Angeles Dodgers’ home games generate emissions as well as contributing traffic congestion on adjacent arterial streets and freeways. The availability of a clean fuel shuttle service to Dodgers’ games would result in direct and tangible emission reductions by eliminating automobile vehicle miles traveled and automobile trips. At its February 18, 2010 meeting, the MSRC considered a request from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for funding assistance as part of the MSRC’s FY 2009-10 Work Program to offset fares on a clean fuel shuttle service to Dodger Stadium; further details are provided below in the Proposals section.
Proposals
At its February 18, 2010 meeting, the MSRC considered recommendations from its MSRC-TAC and unanimously approved the following:
FY 2003-04 Work Program
As mentioned in the Background section, Metro was awarded a contract to create a direct communications link between Metro’s TripMaster and RCTC’s RidePro. A portion of the work was completed and reimbursed, but the contract expired before all work could be completed. On February 18, 2010, the MSRC unanimously approved a new/replacement six-month contract with Metro in the amount of $53,500.
FY 2008-09 Work Program
As mentioned in the Background section, the MSRC previously awarded a total of $1,660,000 to A-Z Bus Sales to continue implementation of the Alternative Fuel School Bus Incentives Program, based on their pending orders. This $1,660,000 has already been expended or has purchase orders issued against it. A-Z Bus Sales has subsequently received the following orders for which the total incentive would be $480,000: 1) Downey Unified School District, two CNG buses at $60,000 each; 2) William Hart Unified School District, six propane buses at $40,000 each; and 3) Newhall School District, three propane buses at $40,000 each. A-Z Bus Sales requests an additional $480,000 to cover the buydown incentives for these buses. As mentioned above, the MSRC has allocated a total of $3,000,000 for the Alternative Fuel School Bus Incentives Program as part of their FY 2008-09 Work Program, with a balance of $1,340,000 remaining. At its February 18, 2010 meeting, the MSRC unanimously awarded $480,000 out of this allocation to A-Z Bus Sales in order to provide the full incentives for the buses on order.
FY 2009-10 Work Program
Coachella Valley Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program
As discussed in the Background section, the Coachella Valley Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program fulfills a requirement of the Coachella Valley SIP for attainment of the PM10 standard. The Program requires the use of clean fuel, low-emission sweepers, and prompt removal of “blowsand” reduces emissions by preventing re-entrainment of dust when vehicles drive over the material. In accordance with the Coachella Valley SIP, CVAG is the responsible and sole authority for implementation of this control strategy, but CVAG has no available funds to continue the Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program for the upcoming fiscal year. At its February 18, 2010 meeting, the MSRC unanimously approved a sole-source contract to CVAG in the amount of $400,000 to continue street sweeping operations throughout the region as part of CVAG’s Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program.
Clean Fuel Shuttle Service to Dodger Stadium
As discussed in the Background section, Metro requested the MSRC to consider the award of funding assistance to offset fares on a clean fuel shuttle service to Dodger Stadium. The shuttle service would support all LA Dodgers’ home games for the 2010 season. It would be designed to promote the use of transit (bus and rail) for stadium patrons’ trips, with the shuttle closing the gap between existing public transportation and Dodger Stadium. Metro would provide the MSRC with data on shuttle usage to allow quantification of the emission reduction benefits. Outreach for the service would also communicate the air quality benefits of ridesharing, public transportation, and alternative fuels, as well as promoting the MSRC. Metro and the LA Dodgers organization would contribute at least $465,000 in staff labor and the development and procurement of outreach and promotional materials. At its February 18, 2010 meeting, the MSRC unanimously approved a sole-source contract to Metro in the amount of $300,000 to offset fares on the 2010 Dodger Stadium shuttle service.
Sole Source Justifications
Since the Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program is an element of the Coachella Valley SIP, CVAG is obligated to continue all best available control measures, including the Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program. Thus, in accordance with the Coachella Valley SIP, CVAG is the responsible and sole authority for implementation of this control strategy, but CVAG has no available funds to continue the Regional PM10 Street Sweeping Program for FY 2010-11. CVAG has also received confirmation from representatives of the Federal Highway Administration reiterating that Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) funds cannot be used for the operational elements of the Regional Street Sweeping Program. Thus, given that CVAG has an obligation to continue street sweeping operations in accordance with the approved Regional Program, and that CVAG is the sole authority to implement the Regional Program, the request for a $400,000 sole-source award to CVAG is made under VIII.B.2.c.(1): the desired services are available only from the sole source due to the unique experience and capabilities of the proposed contractor or contractor team.
Based on its existing transportation routes and locations, Metro would have a better opportunity than any other transportation entity to attract the maximum possible ridership to a Clean Fuel Shuttle Service to Dodger Stadium. Thus, given that Metro is the only transportation entity serving that locale which has the ability to provide clean fuel buses for such service, the request for a $300,000 sole-source award to Metro is made under VIII.B.2.c.(1): the desired services are available only from the sole source due to the unique experience and capabilities of the proposed contractor or contractor team; and VIII.B.2.d.(5): performance of AQMD work concurrent with local government official duties.
At this time the MSRC requests the Board to approve the corrected award, contract modification, new and replacement awards and to authorize the AQMD Chairman of the Board the authority to execute the agreements as part of the FYs 2003-04, 2008-09 and 2009-10 Work Programs. The MSRC further requests the authority to adjust the funds allocated to each project specified in this Board letter by up to five percent of the project’s recommended funding. The Board has granted this authority to the MSRC for all past Work Programs.
Resource Impacts
The AQMD acts as fiscal administrator for the AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Program (Health & Safety Code Section 44243). Money received for this program is recorded in a special revenue fund (Fund 23) and the contracts will be drawn from this fund. These contracts will have no fiscal impact on the AQMD’s operational budget.