PROPOSAL:
Execute Sole Source Contract for Locomotive Certification Testing under
AB 1222
SYNOPSIS:
On July 14, 2006, the Board awarded a sole source contract for $400,000
to Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. to develop and implement
the Remote Sensing Device technology feasibility study under AB 1222.
Subsequent to that action, the AB 1222 Advisory Committee has recommended
a sole source contract award to Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) for an
additional cost of $140,000 to be split equally between the Railroads and
AQMD. This action is to execute a contract with SwRI to perform
locomotive emissions testing in California as part of the AB 1222 RSD
technology feasibility study at a cost not to exceed $70,000.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, November 17, 2006, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the Executive Officer to execute a sole source contract with
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), to perform locomotive exhaust
emission certification testing in California as part of the AB 1222 RSD
technology feasibility study to measure locomotive exhaust emissions, in
an amount not to exceed $70,000 from the Science and Technology
Advancement FY 2006-07 Budget, Professional and Special Services Account.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Assembly Bill 1222 (Jones, chaptered October 6, 2005) requires that CARB
implement a pilot program, designed in consultation with an Advisory
Committee, to measure the feasibility of using Remote Sensing Devices (RSDs)
to determine locomotive exhaust emissions. The Advisory Committee is made
up of recognized experts in the field of remote sensing and locomotive
technology, and representatives of citizen community groups, AQMD,
Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, Union Pacific
Railroad and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
Specifically, the objectives of the pilot program are to determine
whether remote sensing devices can accurately and replicably determine, with
a reasonable level of precision:
- The levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM),
and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from locomotives.
- Whether a locomotive is subject to Tier 0, 1, or 2 federal
certification standards.
- Whether the measured results can be calibrated to determine
compliance with applicable federal emission certification levels.
AB 1222 requires that the program include data from a sufficient number
of locomotives that would be representative of the locomotive fleet
operating in northern and southern California. The pilot program will also
address the ability of RSD systems to identify high-emitting locomotives.
In July 2006, the Board recognized and received $100,000 from CARB to
combine with the $300,000 that the Board had approved to co-fund the AB 1222
program.
Proposal
Subsequent to the July 2006 Board action, the Advisory Committee issued a
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify groups capable of performing
locomotive exhaust emission tests using Federal Test Procedures for
locomotives. Four groups responded to this RFQ. Of these four respondents,
the Advisory Committee concluded that only one group, Southwest Research
Institute (SwRI) located in San Antonio, Texas, met all the necessary
qualifications to perform the testing. The Advisory Committee also agreed
that certification testing be conducted in California on locomotives
identified as operating in California at an additional cost of $140,000.
The Railroads have agreed to share this cost equally with the AQMD.
This action is to request Board approval of a sole source contract with
Southwest Research Institute in an amount not to exceed $70,000, to perform
locomotive exhaust emission certification testing in California on
locomotives identified as operating in California, and to share equally the
total additional cost of these tests ($140,000) with the Railroads.
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 being made under the following
provisions:
B.2.c (1): The unique experience and capabilities of the proposed
contractor or contractor team. SwRI has performed locomotive exhaust
emission certification testing for more than 30 years and performed over 150
locomotive exhaust emissions tests for U.S. EPA, CARB, AQMD, Transport
Canada, the locomotive OEMs, the engine component suppliers, the Association
of American Railroads, and for the individual railroads. SwRI test data has
been used for more certification applications than from any other source
including the locomotive engine manufacturers. The AB 1222 Advisory
Committee unanimously agrees that SwRI is uniquely qualified in meeting all
conditions necessary to the objectives of AB 1222;
B.2.d (1): Projects involving cost sharing by multiple sponsors. The
cost associated with this element of part three of the objectives of AB 1222
identified above is being shared equally between the AQMD and the Railroads
(Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific);
B.2.d. (8): Research and development efforts with educational
institutions or nonprofit organizations. SwRI is an independent, nonprofit
applied research and development organization.
Benefits to AQMD
As emission contributions from stationary sources become a smaller
component of the AQMD’s emissions inventory, the focus has been increasingly
directed at mobile source emissions. Mobile source emissions (both on-road
and off-road) represent a major category of the emissions of both ozone and
fine particulate matter forming pollutants, and locomotives emit significant
levels of ozone forming pollutants in the South Coast Basin (equivalent to
that of approximately 1.5 million automobiles). This fact, combined with the
close proximity of many rail yards and tracks to communities, demonstrates
the necessity of ensuring that only the cleanest locomotives operate in the
Basin. Successful implementation and validation of Remote Sensing Devices
could allow deployment of such devices across the railroad corridors in the
Basin to identify the high-emitting locomotives and with the intent of
taking necessary steps to reduce their emissions. The potential reductions
in emissions could be substantial and the mitigation of health impacts from
such reductions would be significant.
AQMD staff is therefore proposing that the AQMD enter into a sole source
agreement with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to share equally
($70,000) with the Railroads the $140,000 additional California-based
locomotive exhaust emission certification testing costs. SwRI’s experience
and technical expertise ensure accurate certification testing that will aid
in validating the effectiveness of RSD technology as a tool for identifying
high-emitting locomotives and to help achieve the emission reductions needed
to reduce the health and air quality effects of these emissions.
Resource Impacts
The total amount of AQMD funding for this program shall not exceed
$70,000. Sufficient funds are available in the Science and Technology
Advancement FY 2006-07 Budget, Professional and Specialized Services Account
to cover the cost of this project.
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