Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
In December 2002, the Board approved amendments to Rule 1173 – Control of
VOC Leaks and Releases from Components at Petroleum Facilities and Chemical
Plants, which include an alternate compliance provision allowing the payment
of a mitigation fee in lieu of connecting the pressure relief device (PRD)
to a vapor recovery/control system. Facilities subject to Rule 1173 may
elect to pay a mitigation fee of $350,000 for each release of VOC from any
PRD exceeding the thresholds specified in the rule. The fees collected would
be used to conduct clean air projects in the nearby communities. A special
revenue fund was created by the Board in September 2003 to account for the
Rule 1173 mitigation fees collected and track projects funded through these
fees.
To date, approximately $1.4 million in mitigation fees has been collected as
a result of four release events that occurred at two refineries: one located
in Wilmington and the other located in Carson. On April 7, 2006, the Board
approved the set-aside of these Rule 1173 mitigation funds for two projects:
a refinery fenceline monitoring project, and a pilot study of classroom air
purifier systems at three elementary schools. The Board also directed staff
to prepare RFPs for these projects.
Proposal
The RFP for the pilot study of classroom air purifier systems was released
on July 14, 2006, and closed on September 8, 2006. Three proposals were
received and reviewed by the evaluation panel. Based on the results of the
evaluation, only one proposal received a technical score above the minimum
points needed to qualify for an award. The following table shows the average
scores of the evaluation panel.
| |
Action
Duct Cleaning Company |
Carrier
Corporation |
Thermal Comfort Systems, Inc. |
| Technical Criteria * |
39 |
52 |
61 |
| Project Cost |
N/A |
N/A |
30 |
|
Total |
N/A |
N/A |
91 |
* A proposal must receive at least 56 out of the 70 points allocated
for technical criteria in order to be deemed qualified for award.
The proposals submitted by Action Duct Cleaning Company and Carrier
Corporation were determined not technically qualified by the evaluation
panel. The panel found the proposal by Action Duct Cleaning Company
represented only a partial understanding of the scope of work and did not
clearly specify the air cleaning technologies to be utilized or how the
filtration effectiveness would be measured. The panel also found this
proposal did not provide sufficient air purification experience to complete
the pilot study. The proposal by Carrier Corporation was found to include
only one air cleaning approach, which the panel determined did not meet the
objectives of the pilot study to test different air purification systems.
The panel also found the proposal by Carrier Corporation did not provide
specific information requested for key individuals to be involved in the
project and subcontractor qualifications. The panel expressed concerns about
the potential noise impacts of the air cleaning approach proposed, and noted
the proposal did not provide sufficient information on past projects
directly related to this pilot study.
All six panel members unanimously selected the TCS proposal as the most
technically qualified. The TCS proposal was found to present the best
understanding of the project objectives. The TCS proposal involves testing
of three different air purification approaches, which will provide a range
of solutions and costs. The panel commented that the air purifier
technologies proposed by TCS are highly rated and are expected to produce
low noise.
The air cleaning approaches proposed by TCS include: 1) stand alone room air
cleaner, 2) HVAC system upgrade including the replacement of existing
filters in the HVAC system with higher efficiency filters, and 3) add-on of
a retrofitted in-line filtration system for the HVAC system. These
approaches may be used by themselves or combined as part of the study
design. All three approaches can include both particulate (High Efficiency
Particulate Arresting or HEPA) and gas-phase (activated carbon) filtration.
The stand alone room air cleaner will likely consist of a housing made of
plastic or metal, particulate and gaseous filters, a fan motor and
electronic/electrical controls. The advantage of the stand alone system is
that it can be used regardless of the type of HVAC system installed and can
be set to work even when the HVAC system is not operational.
The HVAC system upgrade will involve the replacement of the existing low
efficiency air filters in the classroom HVAC system with higher efficiency
filters. This approach is expected to work well with wall-mounted air
conditioners and packaged roof units.
The add-on filter system will be installed outside the existing HVAC system,
but will utilize the air movement of the existing HVAC system. The add-on
filter system will use larger filters, which maximizes removal efficiency
and minimizes airflow resistance. This approach is expected to generate no
additional noise inside the classroom. The engineering and installation
costs of the add-on system will be higher than those of the HVAC integrated
filter solution. This approach could be applied to wall-mounted air
conditioners or packaged roof units.
TCS is a California-licensed HVAC contractor. IQAir North America, Inc. will
act as a subcontractor to TCS by providing the air cleaning technologies and
assisting in the engineering and design of the classroom air purifier
systems. IQAir specializes in indoor air purification, and is well known for
their high efficiency residential and commercial air cleaning products. The
ambient air testing and air sample analysis will be performed by H.M. Pitt
Laboratories, Inc., a California laboratory specializing in the industrial
hygiene and environmental fields. H.M. Pitt Laboratories, Inc. will provide
a certified industrial hygienist and the air testing and air sample analysis
for this pilot study.
Staff recommends the Board approve the execution of a contract with Thermal
Comfort Systems, Inc. to complete a pilot study of air purifier systems in
classrooms at Del Amo, Dominguez and Hudson elementary schools in an amount
not to exceed $547,590. The pilot study will include the following main
phases: 1) select/design and install three different air cleaning systems in
classrooms at each school site, 2) ambient air testing before and after the
installation to determine filtration efficiencies, 3) preparation of a pilot
study report summarizing the test results and other findings, and 4)
preparation of an operation and maintenance manual to insure proper and
efficient operation of the air purifier systems. The schedule for the pilot
study will be one year.
Evaluation Panel
The evaluation panel for this pilot study was established with particular
consideration for each member’s involvement and representation in addressing
the air quality impacts to children attending the three elementary schools.
The panel consisted of a representative from each school/school district
(including a total of two members), a member from the Long Beach Interfaith
Community Organization representing the parents/teachers, the CARB Manager
of Indoor Exposure Assessment, the AQMD Senior Engineering Manager of Air
Toxics, and the AQMD Supervising Engineer of Monitoring & Analysis. Of the
six panelists, two are Asian/Pacific Islander, four are Caucasian; one
female, five male.
Following the close of the RFP, a copy of each proposal was mailed to the
panel members. On September 28, 2006, AQMD staff met with the evaluation
panel to review AQMD’s proposal evaluation procedures and answer any
questions relating to the evaluation process. For those panel members that
did not receive the proposals or parts thereof, a complete set was provided
to them at this meeting. On October 10, 2006, a second meeting was held with
the evaluation panel to provide an opportunity to discuss each proposal in
detail and identify if any of the proposals require clarification from the
bidder. It was identified that one proposal required clarification
concerning the prime contractor, the name of the laboratory to conduct the
air testing and sample analysis, and the potential for missing pages. The
meeting concluded with agreement from the panel that final scores could be
prepared and submitted to AQMD by no later than October 17, 2006, provided
AQMD staff can furnish the bidder’s clarifying information by October 13,
2006.
AQMD staff provided the clarifying information to the panel in a timely
manner and received the final scores from each member as scheduled. The
average scores of the evaluation panel revealed that only one proposal met
the minimum technical score and, thus qualifies for an award.
Benefits to AQMD
The successful implementation of this pilot program will meet a community
need to address air quality impacts at local schools and provide mitigation
for excess VOC releases from PRDs subject to Rule 1173. The pilot program
will also reduce particulate matter from the indoor air.
Resource Impact
The total cost of the pilot study shall not exceed $547,590. Sufficient
funds are available from the Rule 1173 Mitigation Fees Special Revenue Fund.
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