BOARD MEETING DATE: October 1, 2010
AGENDA NO. 10
PROPOSAL:
Issue Program Announcements for Electric Lawnmower Vendors, Licensed Scrappers and Support Service Providers
SYNOPSIS:
Staff proposes to extend the successful Lawnmower Exchange Programs by offering similar incentives in the Spring of 2011 to generate cost-effective emission reductions. This action is to issue Program Announcements to solicit competitive bids from manufacturers of cordless electric lawnmowers in sufficient quantities and at the lowest possible price for the 2011 program, and from licensed scrappers and support service providers to physically handle mowers at lawnmower exchange events.
COMMITTEE:
Mobile Source, September 24, 2010, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve issuance of the following Program Announcements for the Lawnmower Exchange Program:
PA #2010-04 for production of up to 4,000 electric lawnmowers,
PA #2010-02 for scrapping old gasoline-powered lawnmowers, and
PA #2010-03 for support service providers at exchange events.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
As part of Rule 2202 On-Road Motor Vehicle Mitigation Options, affected employers may elect to participate by funding the Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP) which is an AQMD-administered restricted fund. Investment can be either $60 annually per employee reporting to the worksite during the 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. peak window, or $125 triennially per employee. The restricted monies are to be used by the AQMD to fund proposals that achieve mobile source emission reductions that would otherwise have been achieved by implementing a rideshare program.
Upon registering under this option and submitting the designated investment amount, an employer is considered to be in compliance with the Rule, and there is no need for the employer to take further action to reduce mobile source emissions. The collected monies are used to fund alternative mobile source emission reduction strategies that reduce mobile source emissions at a more cost-effective rate which could potentially result in greater overall emission reductions.
If sufficient funds are not available from the Rule 2202 AQIP, Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund may be used. AQMD may receive potential additional funds from CARB under AB 118 AQIP Program, which would provide a 1:1 match.
Proposals
Over the last eight years, AQMD has conducted fifty-eight (58) lawnmower exchange events where operable gasoline-powered lawnmowers were exchanged for zero emission cordless electric lawnmowers. The program, funded by the Rule 2202 Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP), has helped mitigate a substantial amount of emissions. Individuals exchanging their lawnmowers pay a substantially discounted price. Staff believes additional events should be considered in spring 2011.
The purpose of Program Announcement PA #2010-04 is to solicit competitive proposals from qualified manufacturers/suppliers for the production and supply of cordless electric lawnmowers to be used in the Lawnmower Exchange Program in the South Coast Air Basin. Staff recommends that participants be given a specific discount and an option to choose from different manufacturers/models. The goal of this proposal is to identify potential manufacturers/suppliers and products for AQMD’s Lawnmower Exchange Program at the lowest possible price. Proposals from the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)/suppliers are to include, but not be limited to, the following:
Detailed product specification
Availability
Supply commitment
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)
Price offered to SCAQMD:
Each manufacturer must provide their best price for each model they plan to offer. Although the AQMD plans to exchange up to a total of 4,000 mowers, there is no way to predict how many of each make or model will be sold.Lead time
Details of assistance to be provided for the lawnmower exchange event advertisement outreach.
Details on exchange-event staffing to be provided by the company.
At the minimum, each company is expected to provide adequate staff to operate its own cashier stations and product loading lines. In addition, each company must staff a small display area at each event where undecided customers can see and discuss the product.Product warranty information to be provided to consumer.
AQMD staff will evaluate the proposals based on product specifications, availability, production capacity and the lead time, price of the product and the exchange event assistance capabilities of the contractor.
Program Announcement PA #2010-02 is to solicit competitive bids from licensed scrappers to provide roll-off bins and the required staff to collect lawnmowers, drain fuel from the gas mowers, and haul the fuel and the mowers for scrapping at a licensed scrapping yard, all in a safe manner and in compliance with all applicable Federal, State and Local Laws.
Under Program Announcement PA #2010-03, competitive bids are also being sought from vendors to provide traffic control and provide manpower to unload gasoline mowers from participant vehicles at the Lawnmower Exchange Program events.
Outreach
In accordance with AQMD’s Procurement Policy and Procedure, a public notice advertising the RFP/RFQ and inviting bids will be published in the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, the San Bernardino Sun, and Riverside County Press Enterprise newspapers to leverage the most cost-effective method of outreach to the entire South Coast Basin.
Additionally, potential bidders may be notified utilizing AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors. Notice of the RFP/RFQ will be mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations, and placed on the Internet at AQMD’s website (http://www.aqmd.gov where it can be viewed by making menu selections “Inside AQMD”/“Employment and Business Opportunities”/“Business Opportunities” or by going directly to http://www.aqmd.gov/rfp/index.html). Information is also available on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.
Resource Impact
Amount of funding will be determined after the selection of contractors from the submitted proposals. Funding will be provided from the Rule 2202 AQIP Fund.
Attachments (Exe, 1.8m)
Program Announcement PA #2010-04; Lawnmower Exchange Program
Program Announcement PA #2010-02; Licensed Scrappers
Program Announcement PA #2010-03; Support Service Providers