PROPOSAL:
Appropriate Funds from U.S. EPA for PM2.5 Program and Issue Purchase
Order
SYNOPSIS:
U.S. EPA has allocated Section 103 Grant funds of $569,466 for the
continuation of the PM2.5 monitoring program for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY)
2006 (October 2006 – September 2007). This action is to appropriate funds
to the FY 2006-07 Budget for the continuation of the PM2.5 monitoring
program. Staff will bring a proposal to reallocate any unspent FY 2005-06
Section 103 Grant funds from FFY 2005 at a later date. In addition, staff
has identified a need to purchase new continuous PM2.5 monitoring systems
as early as possible to support the upcoming Air Quality Monitoring
component of the Clean Ports Initiative. As such, this action is to issue
a purchase order, upon receipt of the award, for the five continuous PM2.5
monitoring systems based on the RFQ results. These allocations were
discussed with and approved by U.S. EPA.
COMMITTEE:
Administrative, June 9, 2006, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
- Upon receipt of the award, appropriate $187,250 to the FY 2006-07
Budget from the U.S. EPA Section 103 Grant for continuation of the PM2.5
monitoring program per Attachment 1. (Expenditure appropriations exclude
salaries and employee benefit amounts which were included in the FY
2006-07 adopted budget).
- Upon receipt of the award, authorize the Procurement Manager to
execute a purchase order with Thermo Electron Corporation for an amount
not to exceed $106,043.75 for the purchase of five continuous PM2.5
monitors.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Since 1998, U.S. EPA has been providing funds for a comprehensive PM2.5
air monitoring program under a Section 103 Grant, as part of the national
program to enhance the monitoring network for PM2.5. To date, there are 20
ambient monitoring stations operating 23 PM2.5 samplers under the U.S. EPA
funding. In addition, U.S. EPA has funded a supplemental Grant to collect
continuous particle size information, at several sites within the South
Coast Air Basin, and to purchase and operate an additional PM2.5 speciation
sampler at the Downtown Los Angeles air monitoring station to allow for a
comparison of speciated samples between the AQMD laboratory and a designated
national laboratory. This augmentation substantially added to the fine
particulate data which will help in the characterization of air quality
conditions and health impacts.
Outreach
In accordance with AQMD’s Procurement Policy and Procedure, a public
notice advertising the RFP/RFQ and inviting bids was 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 have been notified utilizing AQMD’s
own electronic listing of certified minority vendors. Notice of the RFP/RFQ
was 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 Web site (http://www.aqmd.gov). Information was also available on
AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.
Proposal
AQMD will receive U.S. EPA Section 103 Grant funds in the amount of
$569,466 to continue support of the PM2.5 monitoring network. This action is
to appropriate funds for this program, upon receipt of the award, to the
Science and Technology Advancement FY 2006-07 Budget for the PM2.5 program
and allocate those funds as set forth in Attachment 1. The proposed
allocations have been discussed with and accepted by U.S. EPA. However,
there is a potential 1% holdback of funds for Hurricane Katrina relief.
Purchase of Five New Continuous PM2.5 Monitors
On May 5, 2006, the Board approved the release of RFQ #Q2006-15 to
competitively select a vendor from which to purchase five new continuous
PM2.5 monitors. The additional monitors will expand the current network of
continuous (one-hour) PM2.5 monitors to 14. These new monitors will provide
better spatial coverage of hourly PM2.5 mass measurements and also provide
real-time data on PM2.5 pollution levels that will enhance the AQMD’s
forecasting capabilities. The acquisition of these monitors are consistent
with future U.S. EPA requirements for continuous PM2.5 monitoring and
reporting. In addition, the monitors will enhance the AQMD’s abilities to
forecast particulate levels during wildfire events, and thus, need to be
purchased as soon as possible.
Copies of RFQ #Q2006-15 for the purchase of five new continuous PM2.5
monitors were mailed out to interested parties and advertised in accord with
the AQMD advertisement policy. At the close of the solicitation on June 6,
2006, one quotation was received.
An evaluation panel with expertise in the areas of PM2.5 measurement and
monitoring was convened to evaluate the bid received from the respondents to
the RFQ. The panel consisted of a Laboratory Branch Chief from CARB, a
Principal Chemist and a Principal Air Quality Instrument Specialist from
AQMD. The three-member panel’s ethnicity and gender are as follows: One
Caucasian, two Hispanic; three male. The evaluation process was conducted
according to the criteria described in the RFQ.
The panel, based on its evaluation, determined that the single bid
received from Thermo Electron Corporation met the technical specifications
described in the RFQ. Therefore, staff recommends that the Board
authorize the Procurement Manager to execute a contract with Thermo Electron
Corporation for an amount not to exceed $106,043.75 for the purchase of
five new continuous PM2.5 monitors. Sufficient funds are available as
requested in the PM2.5 budget appropriation as a part of this letter.
Resource Impacts
The funding level provided by the U.S. EPA Section 103 Grant is
sufficient to support the continuation of the PM2.5 program and the purchase
of the five new continuous PM2.5 monitors.
Attachment (XLS 36.5KB)
Proposed PM2.5 FFY 2006-07 Budget
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