PROPOSAL:
Execute Contract to Purchase Fuel Cell Curriculum Packages for
Distribution to High School Science Programs Throughout District
SYNOPSIS:
Staff recommends the purchase of fuel cell curriculum packages,
including demonstration kits, for distribution to high school science
programs located in the four counties of the District. These school
programs are selected and contacted through the state-sponsored California
Regional Environmental Education Community Network. Staff recommends
funding in an amount not to exceed $20,000 from the Advanced Technology,
Outreach and Education Fund.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, February 22, 2002, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Eco-Soul, Inc. in
partnership with MRS Enterprises for the purchase of 22 HOPE fuel cell
curriculum packages, including demonstration kits, with the contractor
providing any product or technical support needed for implementation, in
an amount not to exceed $20,000 from the Advanced Technology, Outreach and
Education Fund.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
The approaching commercialization of fuel cell vehicles has increased the
need to develop and expand alternative fuel technology educational outreach
programs. One such educational tool is the Hydrogen Outreach Program for
Education (HOPE) curriculum package. AQMD can augment the educational
efforts in this area through the provision of HOPE fuel cell curriculum
packages to high school science programs as either a modular resource on
fuel cells/alternative fuels or as an integral part of the science
curriculum.
Proposal
The HOPE curriculum package was developed and copyrighted by MRS
Enterprises under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy to
educate secondary and high school students about the potential benefits of
hydrogen as a fuel and an energy carrier. The HOPE program is intended as a
supplement for existing instructional programs. All learning material in the
HOPE curricula is linked to national science standards.
To augment its fuel cell curriculum program, MRS Enterprises has
partnered with Eco-Soul, Inc. as part of the latter’s National Fuel Cell
Education Program; under this partnership, each curriculum package will be
augmented with an Eco-Soul regenerative fuel cell demonstration kit.
Eco-Soul, Inc. is a Tustin-based 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation which
partners with other science education entities, in this case MRS
Enterprises. The kit consists of a Proton Exchange Membrane Unitized
Regenerative Fuel Cell (PEM URFC), a small solar panel, electric motor (with
propeller) and battery pack. The unique design of this kit is well suited to
classroom applications, since the clear high-pressure polycarbonate shell
allows the students to observe the formation of hydrogen during the reverse
electrolysis cycle.
The high school version of HOPE consists of these major modules:
- Fundamentals
- Production
- Storage
- Distribution and Safety
- Utilization
- Renewables and Renewable Energy
The package also includes the following videos:
- The Pollution Solution
- Renewable Power: Earth’s Clean Energy Destiny
And complimentary copies of:
- Beakman’s World: Hydrogen, It’s a Gas!
- Mission H2 : a CD ROM
The Eco-Soul’s PEM URFC Kit is a fully integrated self-contained unit
with:
- Battery and photovoltaic power supplies, and
- Appropriately sized loads for demonstration.
Staff proposes to purchase 22 HOPE curriculum packages, each augmented
with the Eco-Soul reversible fuel cell demonstration kit, to high school
science programs.
Distribution
Up to ten of the HOPE curriculum packages will be distributed to high
school science programs participating in the "Design a Hydrogen Fueling
Station" Project being developed by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of
Engineering through the Mayor’s Office of Healthy Neighborhoods. This
project will combine the various aspects of a typical local-government board
approval process such as planning, zoning and environmental impact
assessment, with the specific technical and engineering aspects of designing
and building a fueling station for hydrogen vehicles. The HOPE curriculum
packages will enhance the program by providing fuel cell and hydrogen
resources and instructional lessons on the technical issues and principles
needed for the project. Upon completion of the project, the high school
programs will retain the HOPE packages for future use.
The remaining HOPE curriculum packages will be distributed to high school
science programs throughout the four counties of the district. These
programs will be identified and selected with the assistance of California
Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network.
The CREEC Network is a program of the California Department of Education,
specifically its Office of Environmental Education. The Network was
established to provide quality control as well as pragmatic linkage between
providers of environmental education resources and the teachers who use
those resources. CREEC ensures environmental education offerings correlate
to formal California State Education Standards, yet supports local choice
and flexibility. The CREEC Network (website at
http://www.creec.org ) is comprised of
eleven state regions, each with a coordinator; Southern California is
represented by Region 9B North (Orange county), Region 10 RMS (including
Riverside and San Bernardino counties), and Region 11 (Los Angeles county).
The cost of the 22 HOPE curriculum packages with the fuel cell
demonstration kits and technical support will not exceed $20,000. The
contractor, Eco-Soul, Inc., in partnership with MRS Enterprises, will
provide the packages, orientation instruction in their use and technical
support as needed.
Benefits to AQMD
AQMD’s Clean Fuels Program has been active in funding the development and
demonstration of low emission, alternative fuel technologies. The AQMD has
also supported a number of activities directed to commercialization of
low-emission alternative fuel technologies. The proposed project with
Eco-Soul, Inc., in partnership with MRS Enterprises, will support
educational outreach to school children to teach them about fuel cells,
hydrogen and its uses, and the potential role of clean fuel in environmental
programs, modes of transportation, and broader energy application. The
commercialization and acceptance of future hydrogen fueling stations and
fuel cell vehicles needs the support and understanding of thepublic.
Outreach programs such as the HOPE curriculum allow teachers to incorporate
fully vetted hydrogen and fuel cell lessons into their existing or planned
science programs.
Sole Source Justification
Section VIII.B.2. of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four
major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This
request for a sole source award is made under provision B.2.c.: The desired
products are available from only the sole-source. Specifically, B.2.c.(2):
The project requires the use of proprietary technology and B.2.c.(3): The
contractor has ownership of key assets required for project performance;
specifically, MRS Enterprises holds a copyright for the HOPE curriculum and
Eco-Soul holds a patent for the reversible fuel cell demonstration kits.
Resource Impacts
Total cost for the purchase of 22 HOPE curriculum packages augmented with
Eco-Soul fuel cell demonstration kits will not exceed $20,000. This cost
also includes orientation instruction for the classes and follow up
technical support as needed. Sufficient funds for this proposal are
available from the Advanced Technology, Outreach and Education Fund. This
fund was established as a special revenue fund for revenues received as a
result of fines, penalties and settlements from air pollution violations.
These settlement payments by the violators are to be used by the AQMD to
support the development and demonstration of advanced technologies, and the
assessment of resulting emissions benefits.
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