BOARD MEETING DATE: November 5, 2010
AGENDA NO. 9
PROPOSAL:
Execute Contract To Provide Technical Assistance for Alternative- Fueled Trucks Funded Under AQMD’s Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck Replacement Program
SYNOPSIS:
The AQMD has received grant awards from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency for LNG truck projects approved under AQMD’s Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck Replacement Program, including administrative funds. AQMD’s administration of the program consists of project outreach and solicitation, project evaluation, inspections, contracting, invoice processing, project monitoring and other activities to comply with all program requirements. AQMD is required to monitor the operation of each LNG truck on a quarterly basis for a period of two years. This action is to execute a contract with Clean Fuel Connection to provide technical assistance for quarterly reporting and other program administrative activities in an amount not to exceed $80,000.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, October 15, 2010, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Clean Fuel Connection to provide technical assistance for quarterly reporting and other program administrative activities in an amount not to exceed $80,000 from the Proposition 1B–Goods Movement Program Fund (81), comprised of $40,000 each from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (U.S. EPA) portion of the administrative funds.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
The AQMD has received grant awards from the DOE and U.S. EPA, including administrative funds, to help fund the replacement of older heavy-duty diesel trucks used for goods movement with newer, low-emitting alternative fueled trucks. AQMD’s program administration includes, but is not limited to, project outreach and solicitation, project evaluation, inspections, contracting, invoice processing, and project monitoring. Under both federal grants, AQMD is required to monitor the operation of each LNG truck on a quarterly basis for a period of two years. This involves the collection of operational information from the truck owners/operators, such as fuel usage and mileage data, after the end of each quarter for a period of two years. AQMD is also responsible for other administrative tasks, such as monitoring the overall performance of the program and keeping track of any changes in ownership of the alternative-fueled vehicles, to insure full compliance with the terms and conditions of the grant awards.
Proposal
AQMD requires technical assistance to help administer grant requirements affecting the alternative-fueled trucks funded under AQMD’s Heavy-Duty Truck Replacement Program, including trucks funded by the Proposition 1B Program. AQMD was awarded grant funds from the DOE and U.S. EPA, including administrative funds, for this program. Both federal grants require AQMD to submit quarterly and annual reports documenting actual miles traveled by each alternative-fueled vehicle and other operational information. AQMD is also required to track ownership changes for each vehicle and monitor the overall performance of the program. This action is to execute a contract with Clean Fuel Connection to provide technical assistance for program administrative activities in an amount not to exceed $80,000 from the Proposition 1B-Goods Movement Program Fund (81), comprised of $40,000 each from the DOE’s and the U.S. EPA’s portion of the administrative funds.
Sole Source Justification
Section VIII.B.2 of the Procurement Policy and Procedures identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This request is for a sole source award pursuant to the provision B.2.d: Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interest of the AQMD. Specifically, the circumstances that apply to this sole source award are: B.2.d. (4) Level-of-effort expert consultation services. Clean Fuel Connection has assisted AQMD with implementing a wide-array of incentive programs to deploy lower-emitting heavy-duty vehicles and advanced transportation technologies. Clean Fuel Connection’s Principal, Ms. Enid Joffe, has over 15 years of experience with zero-emission and low-emission technologies and has extensive experience and professional knowledge about the feasibility and inner workings of AQMD’s incentive programs. Specifically, Clean Fuel Connection assisted the AQMD in the evaluation, ranking, and contracting of the trucks under the Proposition 1B Program. Contractor’s familiarity and solid foundation of knowledge with respect to incentive programs is needed to help AQMD continue to develop and implement a wide array of incentive programs.
Benefits to AQMD
The successful implementation of this program will reduce NOx, PM and other pollutant emissions in a cost-effective and expeditious manner which will help achieve the goals of the 2007 AQMP. The new vehicles funded under this program are expected to operate for many years and provide long-term emission reduction benefits at the ports and in the region.
Resource Impacts
Total funding for this contract award to provide technical assistance for alternative-fueled trucks shall not exceed $80,000 from the Proposition 1B–Goods Movement Program Fund (81), comprised of $40,000 in administrative funds from the DOE grant and $40,000 in administrative funds from the U.S. EPA grant. Sufficient funds are available in the Proposition 1B–Goods Movement Program Fund (81).