PROPOSAL:
Issue Program Announcement for Local Government Match Program and
Augment Funding for CNG School Bus Incentives Under Phase II of FY 2006-07
AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program
SYNOPSIS:
At its January 18, 2007 meeting, the MSRC unanimously approved release
of a $2 million Program Announcement for its highly successful Local
Government Match Program. The MSRC also allocated an additional $2 million
in funding for CNG school bus incentives for private pupil transportation
providers. This would augment the $2 million already approved by the AQMD
Board on September 8, 2006. The MSRC seeks AQMD Board approval to release
the Program Announcement and to augment CNG school bus incentives under
Phase II of FY 2006-07 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program.
COMMITTEE:
Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review, January 18, 2007
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
- Approve the issuance of the Program Announcement (#PA2007-09) for the
Local Government Match Program, providing funding up to $2 million under
Phase II of FY 2006‑ 07 Work Program, as described in this letter; and
- Approve and allocate an additional $2 million for CNG school bus
incentives for private pupil transportation providers under Phase II of FY
2006-07 Work Program as described in this letter.
Gwenn Norton-Perry
Chair, MSRC
Background
In September 1990 Assembly Bill 2766 was signed into law (Health & Safety
Code Sections 44220-44247) authorizing the imposition of an annual $4 motor
vehicle registration fee to fund the implementation of programs exclusively
to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles. AB 2766 provides that 30
percent of the annual $4 vehicle registration fee subvened to the AQMD be
placed into an account to be allocated pursuant to a work program developed
and adopted by the MSRC and approved by the AQMD Governing Board.
For the past several years the MSRC has included funding in its Work
Programs for local governments to purchase heavy-duty alternative fuel
vehicles and construct alternative fuel infrastructure. The Local Government
Match Program has been highly successful and usually receives more requests
for funding than monies available. In fact, because of demand the MSRC
implemented two Local Government Match Programs under its FY 2005-06 Work
Program, both of which were oversubscribed. The AQMD Board approved the
contracts for the second program in the amount of $1,842,969 at its December
1, 2006 meeting. At its January 18, 2007 meeting, the MSRC considered
release of a Program Announcement for this highly successful program under
its Phase II FY 2006-07 Work Program. Further details are described below in
the Proposals section.
The FY 2006-07 Work Program under Phase I included $2 million in funding
for CNG school bus incentives for private pupil transportation providers.
The AQMD Board approved this allocation at its September 8, 2006 meeting.
The program was set up so that private pupil transportation providers could
apply for incentives, execute participant agreements, and the MSRC would
fund incentives up to the amount necessary to ensure compliance with Rule
1195. AQMD staff is administering the program on behalf of the MSRC. At its
January 18, 2007 meeting, the MSRC considered a recommendation to augment
this funding based on demand to date with another $2 million under Phase II.
Further details are described below in the Proposals section.
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, the State of California Contracts Register website, and placed
on the Internet at AQMD's Web site (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.
The funding solicitation will also be placed on the MSRC's website at
http://www.cleantransportationfunding.org/, and a targeted mailing to AB
2766 Subvention Fund city mayors, administrators and public works directors
within the AQMD’s jurisdiction will be done.
Bidders’Conferences
A Bidders’ Conference for the Local Government Match Program is scheduled
for Tuesday, February 27, 2006, at 1:30 p.m. in Room CC6.
Proposal Evaluation and Panel Composition
Proposals received for the Program Announcement (further outlined under
the Proposals section) will be evaluated by members of the MSRC-TAC, which
consists of a diverse group of individuals appointed by participating
members as prescribed in the Health & Safety Code.
Proposals
At its January 18, 2007 meeting, the MSRC considered two recommendations
from its Technical Advisory Committee.
As mentioned in the Background section, the MSRC considered release of a
Program Announcement to implement another round of its highly successful
Local Government Match Program. The MSRC unanimously approved release of the
$2 million Program Announcement #PA2007-09 under Phase II of the FY 2006-07
Work Program. Eligible categories include the traditional funding providing
dollar-for-dollar match for heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicles up to
$25,000 per vehicle and alternative fuel infrastructure with a maximum
amount per project of $350,000. However, it also includes a new category to
fund street sweeping operations using low-emission alternative fuel street
sweepers. The maximum amount per project is $100,000 with an allocation of
$200,000 for this eligible category. This new category will be limited to
jurisdictions that sweep streets as a documented PM10 control strategy.
Funding for all eligible categories will be distributed on a first-come,
first-serve basis with a geographic minimum per county of $250,000. The
Program Announcement includes an open application period commencing March
13, 2007 and closing June 29, 2007.
As also mentioned in the Background section, the MSRC’s Phase I FY
2006-07 Work Program included $2 million in funding for CNG school bus
incentives for private pupil transportation providers, and AQMD staff has
been administering the program on behalf of the MSRC. At its January 18,
2007 meeting, the MSRC unanimously approved augmenting this funding in light
of demand with an additional $2 million under Phase II. The MSRC’s funding
will help ensure fewer diesel school buses are put on the roads since these
incentives will go directly to the private pupil transportation provider and
ensure compliance with Rule 1195.
The MSRC respectfully requests the AQMD Board’s approval to release the
$2 million Local Government Match Program Announcement and to augment
additional funds in the amount of $2 million for CNG school bus incentives
to provide direct incentives to private pupil transportation providers under
Phase II of the FY 2006-07 Work Program.
Resource Impacts
The AQMD acts as fiscal administrator for the AB 2766 Discretionary Fund
Program (Health & Safety Code Section 44243). Money received for this
program is recorded in a special revenue fund (Fund 23) and the contracts
will be drawn from this fund. These contracts will have no fiscal impact on
the AQMD’s operational budget.
Attachment
(DOC 1183.5kb)
Local Government Match Program Announcement #PA2007-09
Feb07 Board WP 2006-07 Match Program Release & School Bus Incentives.doc
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