Contract Award for Implementation of Telework Demonstration Program

As part of the MSRCs FY 2009-10 Work Program, an RFP to implement a Telework Demonstration Program was released with a $200,000 maximum target funding level. The program parameters were intended to include researching why telework programs have not been more widely adopted, what can be done to remove employer resistance, and to demonstrate these concepts at actual employment sites within this region. It would also include development of a toolkit that would allow other employers after the demonstration to more easily implement telework programs. The RFP closed on July 20, 2010, at which time four proposals were received. At its September 20, 2010 meeting, the MSRC unanimously awarded a contract in the amount of $199,449 for design, implementation and administration of a telework demonstration to Elham Shirazi. The AQMD Board will consider this award at its October 1, 2010 meeting.

Additional Funds Approved for Alternative Fuel School Bus Incentives

For its FY 2008-09 Alternative Fuel School Bus Incentives Program, the MSRC allocated $3 million, of which $420,000 remains, for allocation to the two qualified vendors, A-Z Bus Sales and BusWest, for public schools purchasing CNG or propane buses. At its September 20, 2010 meeting, the MSRC unanimously awarded A-Z Bus Sales an additional $180,000 to provide incentives for an anticipated order from the Ontario-Montclair Unified School District. The modification will only be processed if and when the actual purchase order is submitted by the school district.

FY 2010-11 Work Program Development

MSRC staff reported to the MSRC that following the joint offsite retreat between the MSRC and its Technical Advisory Committee, five subcommittees were formed to develop work program categories and parameters. The five subcommittees are: Vehicles; Infrastructure; Local Government Match; Transportation Control Measures; and Showcase (referring to the MSRCs program to verify on-road retrofit devices on off-road construction equipment). The subcommittees have been rethinking the parameters of and how the MSRC implements its programs and has placed a strong emphasis on quantifiable emission reductions and cost-effectiveness. Staff briefly outlined the overall concepts for several of the proposed elements, but the presentation and discussions, due to the late hour, were continued to the next MSRC meeting. Additional information including more specific details and proposed funding targets will be presented to the MSRC for consideration at its October 21, 2010 meeting. It is estimated that more than $20 million will be available for the FY 2010-11 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program.

Update on Express Bus Service to Dodger Stadium

In February 2010, the MSRC awarded a $300,000 sole-source contract to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to demonstrate a clean fuel transit service (Dodger Stadium Express) to Dodger Stadium as part of the FY 2009-10 Work Program. The funding would offset fares during the 2010 baseball season for the Dodger Stadium Express. Riders could catch the Express at Union Station simply by showing their Dodger game ticket. Metro reported that the Express has been a very successful program to reduce vehicle miles traveled throughout the region, not just Los Angeles County. On average 1,600 baseball fans per game boarded the alternative fuel buses deployed for the Express. The highest ridership came on opening day with 3,000 riders and the Yankee series in late June averaged 2,600 riders. The MSRC grant helped fund the use of six CNG buses. However, Metro increased it to nine to fulfill demand, and 20 for the Yankee series. Metro also surveyed riders during two games in June, an Angels game and a Yankees game, to determine where riders traveled from and what transportation mode they used to get to the Express. The survey revealed that 60% of the riders used transit to get to Union Station. Of that sixty percent, 85% used Metro rail and 7% used Metrolink and Amtrak. Passengers traveled on the shuttles from the surrounding five counties and as far away as Kern and Santa Barbara Counties. The service was promoted extensively to Metro riders and to Dodger fans both before and during the season. In addition to brochures and electronic information, Metro produced a video spot promoting the service including clips of fans enjoying the ride and showed it on board their transit TV monitors. The general public learned of the service through Metro briefs or ads in 109 publications throughout LA County as well as on Metros website and at Union Station. A key component was advertising on the Dodger radio network where radio spots promoted the service regularly. The Dodgers also contributed by promoting ads on the scoreboards during games and on their website. Metro also developed cross-promotions with eight restaurants across town enabling Dodger fans to enjoy discounts on pre-game meals and then catch the Express. For the future Metro and the Dodgers are exploring sponsorship advertising opportunities with advertising vendors such as CVS Outdoors and the Dodger radio network and hopes to generate funding to offset the cost of the clean fuel transit service going forward. Metro thanked the MSRC for its funding and support.

Report on Results of Mountain Area CNG School Bus Demonstration Program

Four years ago the MSRC approved implementation of a CNG school bus demonstration program in the mountain area to determine the viability of this technology in higher elevations, hilly terrain and colder, snowy weather. The program provided two CNG school buses and a temporary CNG refueling station to Bear Valley Unified School District (Rim of the World, the other school district in the mountain area, declined to participate.) The MSRCs contribution to this program totaled $180,000 with the AQMD providing co-funding to extend the bus leases. The program successfully demonstrated performance of the technology with high driver and school administration satisfaction. The school bus leases expire shortly and Bear Valley has expressed a strong desire to keep the buses or to obtain new CNG school buses. The MSRC agreed to consider their interest during development of the FY 2010-11 Work Program. The AQMD staff also agreed to work with the MSRC and Bear Valley to determine what, if any, funding mechanisms might be available to assist them in procuring CNG school buses.

Appointment of Regional Rideshare Agency Representative

AB 2766 [H&S Code 44244(a)] stipulates that MSRC membership shall include a regional ridesharing agency selected by the other members of the committee. When the MSRC last considered this appointment, in May 2003, they unanimously selected the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) as the Regional Rideshare Agency because RCTC was at that time performing the majority of duties associated with a regional rideshare agency. Currently, all four county transportation commissions are performing some local and regional rideshare services. At its September 20, 2010 meeting, the MSRC considered which agency should at this time represent the Regional Rideshare Agency for participation on the MSRC. The MSRC unanimously selected the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Commission (Metro) as the Regional Rideshare Agency representative. Metro plans to appoint a representative to both the MSRC and its Technical Advisory Committee.

Sole-Source Award Policy

Recently, the MSRC asked the AQMD District Counsel Office to craft a sole-source award policy to establish a process by which sole-source requests would be considered and to consider regional equity on sole-source requests. At its July 15, 2010 meeting, the MSRC considered the proposed policy language. After discussion, however, the MSRC realized some language needed further refinement and clarification. Consequently, staff submitted a revised sole-source policy to the MSRC for consideration at its September 20, 2010 meeting. After minor refinements, the MSRC adopted a sole-source award policy. The policy is consistent with AQMDs sole-source justification requirements in its Contracting and Procurement Policy.

Received and Approved Final Reports

The MSRC received and approved three final report summaries, as follows:

1. Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Contract #MS10002, which provided $400,000 for a regional PM10 street sweeping program;
   
   
2. City of Cathedral City Contract #MS07019, which provided $32,500 to modify the Citys maintenance facility; and
   
   
3. Trillium USA Company Contract #MS08067, which provided $311,600 to construct a CNG fueling station in Anaheim.

All final reports are filed in the AQMDs library and a two-page summary of each closed project can be viewed in the electronic library on the MSRC's website at http://www.cleantransportationfunding.org.

Contract Modification Requests

The MSRC considered contract modification requests and took the following unanimous actions:

1. For City of Hemet Contract #ML06035, which provides $414,000 towards the purchase of seven CNG refuse trucks and installation of a CNG station, approval of a 16-month, no-cost contractual term extension;
   
   
2. For City of Riverside Contract #ML07023, which provides $462,500 towards the purchase of 14 heavy-duty CNG vehicles and CNG station upgrade, approval of a 21-month, no-cost contractual term extension;
   
   
3. For City of La Habra Contract #ML07033, which provides $75,000 towards the purchase of one heavy-duty CNG vehicle and CNG station upgrade, approval of a one-year, no-cost contractual term extension;
   
   
4. For Sukut Equipment Contract #MS07068, which provides $26,900 to demonstrate retrofit devices on off-road vehicles, approval of a vehicle substitution and 18-month, no-cost contractual term extension;
   
   
5. For City of Los Angeles Contract #MS07061, which provides $85,200 to demonstrate retrofit devices on off-road vehicles, approval of a 16-month, no-cost contractual term extension;
   
   
6. For Go Natural Gas Contract #MS08062, which provides $400,000 to install a public access CNG fueling station in Rialto, approval of a one-year, no-cost contractual term extension;
   
   
7. For Go Natural Gas Contract #MS08063, which provides $400,000 to install a public access CNG fueling station in Moreno Valley, approval of a one-year, no-cost contractual term extension;
   
   
8. For Clean Energy Contract #MS08055, which provides $400,000 to install a public access LNG fueling station at the Port of Long Beach, approval of a one-year, no-cost term extension;
   
   
9. For Clean Energy Contract #MS08058, which provides $400,000 to install a public access CNG fueling station at the Ontario Airport, approval of a one-year, no-cost term extension; and
   
   
10. For New Bern Transport, a subsidiary of Pepsi Bottling Group, a correction of their $113,865 award, under the FY 2009-10 Heavy-Duty Alternative Fuel Engines for On-Road Vehicles Program, to provide for the purchase of up 2 vehicles and the repower of up to 10 vehicles (instead of the purchase of up to 12 vehicles). This award correction is subject to AQMD Board approval and will be considered at their October 1, 2010 meeting.

Contracts Administrators Report

The MSRCs AB 2766 Contracts Administrator provides a written status report on all open contracts from FY 2002-03 through the present. The Contracts Administrators Report for September 2010 is attached for your information.

Closing Comments

Under closing comments, the MSRC was provided a brief update on plans for the upcoming 20^th Anniversary Celebration, which will be held in January as a luncheon outreach event. A small subcommittee of MSRC and MSRC-TAC members was previously formed to finalize plans for this outreach event and to date sponsorship funding totaling approximately $19,000 has been raised to conduct the event. Further information will be provided to the MSRC as the event date approaches.

Attachment (PDF, 192k)

September 2010 Contracts Administrators Report