BOARD MEETING DATE: September 10, 2010
AGENDA NO. 2

PROPOSAL:

Issue RFP for Consulting Services on Transportation and Goods Movement Strategies.

SYNOPSIS:

This action is to issue an RFP to solicit proposals from firms knowledgeable in goods movement and broader transportation issues as well as air quality-related issues to incorporate the Board’s priorities in those areas. This firm would assist AQMD with maintaining existing relationships and developing new alliances with key stakeholders and policymakers, as well as building coalitions with local, state and national groups in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to advance AQMD’s agenda locally and in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. This firm will be actively engaged in state and local goods movement and transportation issues from an air quality and climate change perspective, implementation of SB 375 requirements, and assisting staff regarding the next surface transportation reauthorization legislation. Total expenditure for the contract shall not exceed $100,000 for a one-year period and may be extended for up to two one-year terms, upon satisfactory performance, at the Board’s discretion.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, July 16, 2010, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve the issuance of RFP #P2011-07 to solicit proposals for consulting services regarding transportation and goods movement strategies, at a cost not to exceed $100,000 for a one-year period. 
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Over the course of the past 30 years, the air quality in the South Coast Air Basin has improved considerably, but the region still continues to be impacted by the poorest air quality in the nation. The Board has adopted stringent but innovative policies and programs that have greatly reduced stationary source emissions, so that 80% of emissions are generated by mobile sources, including more than 11 million gasoline vehicles and over 300,000 diesel vehicles. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce emissions from this sector for Southern California to attain federal clean air standards. Both technology advancements and transportation funding and policies play an important role in cleaning up pollution from mobile sources.

Because of the need to achieve additional NOx reductions by 2030 in order to meet the new federal ozone standards, the District needs to work with transportation agencies and other regional stakeholders to define a freight transport system that meets the region’s long-term needs for transportation, mobility, air quality and climate change. This region will need to move toward broad-deployment of low-emission and zero-emission technologies in the near future for realization of these goals.

Throughout 2011 and possibly beyond, much attention will also be focused on the federal surface transportation authorization legislation, and successive state implementation bills, which will dictate transportation policies and priorities for years to come. There has been increasing interest in including a goods movement section in the federal bill, in order to ensure that the goods movement sector has a sustainable funding source to expand and maintain our freight delivery system, and that the goods movement system grows in the “cleanest” way possible.

Lastly, the implementation of SB 375 will play an important role in determining transportation priorities at the state and local level and the District should participate in such efforts in order to maximize the air quality benefits from implementation. Therefore, clean air priorities can be included during implementation of SB 375 in planning for sustainable communities and greenhouse gas reductions.

This effort is also focused on working with key stakeholders to build partnerships and coalitions with organizations that share a mutual interest in reducing mobile source emissions for greater public health protection as well as other public benefits.

Proposal

The intent of this RFP is to contract with a firm knowledgeable in goods movement, transportation issues, and air quality. While the District has initiated work in this arena, much still needs to be done. It is necessary to continue to maintain and nurture existing relationships with key stakeholders, develop new relationships, and build coalitions across the nation for this purpose. The goal is to develop clean air strategies in the transportation context, pursuant to Board direction, and have such strategies built into the transportation framework for the future. This work is intended to result in funding and policy changes to reduce mobile source emissions from the goods movement and transportation sectors by promoting and facilitating the deployment of clean transportation fuels, technologies, and infrastructure to address the regional need for mobility, clean air, and greenhouse gas reductions.

The selected firm will be expected to provide a variety of services, outlined in the work statement, and consistent with Board direction. Funding for the initial year shall be up to a maximum of $100,000. The contract will include options for two annual renewals, contingent on satisfactory performance and approval of subsequent budgets by the Board. 

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. 

Bid Evaluation

Proposals received will be initially evaluated by a diverse panel of technically qualified individuals according to the criteria described in the attached RFP #P2011-07.  The Administrative Committee of the Board may conduct oral interviews of the most highly qualified bidders if necessary and will make a recommendation to the full Board for approval. 

Resource Impacts

Sufficient funds are available in the Legislative & Public Affairs FY 2010-11 Budget for services for a one-year period.  Funding for the respective fiscal years in the future is contingent upon Board approval of the budget.

Attachment (DOC, 840k)

RFP #P2011-07 –Consulting Services on Transportation and Goods Movement Strategies