DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jennifer Herriott, MPH
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) to contract with Southwest Research Institute to conduct air sampling, analysis, and ozone mitigation related services.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes an agreement with Southwest Research Institute in the amount of $250,000, from June 13, 2019 to June 30, 2020 to conduct air sampling, analysis and provide ozone mitigation recommendations to reduce local ozone levels in an effort to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ozone standard by December 2020. Funding for the initial contract is available from the City's FY 2019 General Fund Budget. This contract will have a one-year renewal option and future funding for the renewal option in the amount of $250,000 will be subject to appropriation as part of the annual budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On October 1, 2015, the EPA released a more stringent “health-based” air pollution standard of 70 parts per billion (ppb) for ground-level ozone.
The EPA officially announced that Bexar County was in marginal nonattainment of federal ground-level ozone standards on September 24, 2018. This was based on ozone exceedance readings at two regulatory air monitors in Northwest Bexar County.
Marginal nonattainment communities are those closest to meeting the ozone standard and have fewer mandatory planning and control requirements at the local level. If Bexar County does not reach the attainment standard by the end of 2020, the area will be moved to the Moderate designation, resulting in federal regulatory requirements.
Ozone is formed when Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) combine and are exposed to sunlight and heat. Emissions from industrial facilities, electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents are major sources of NOx and VOCs. Point sources, such as power plants and industrial sources are the largest contributors followed by on-road sources such as cars and trucks.
In response to the EPA designation, the City of San Antonio created an Ozone Attainment Master Plan. In addition, the City issued a Request for Information (RFI) on October 17, 2018 to assist the City in creating an appropriate acquisition strategy to identify VOC and NOx point sources and to mitigate those sources. The RFI responses were reviewed and used to assist in creating a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a contract to conduct air sampling, analysis and ozone mitigation services.
The City issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to secure these services on March 13, 2019 and posted on the City’s Bidding and Contracting Opportunities webpage. The RFP was advertised in the Hart Beat. A pre-submittal conference was held on April 2, 2019, to allow for Respondent questions and clarification to the RFP. The City received three (3) responses for evaluation on April 24, 2019.
The evaluation committee met on May 13, 2019 to discuss proposal responses with advisory committee members comprised from the City’s Office of Sustainability, and medical and environmental research experts identified by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) associated with University of Texas Health Science Center and the EDF.
On May 20, 2019 the evaluation committee met to score the three responsive proposals received. The evaluation committee was comprised of representatives from Metro Health, the Transportation and Capital Improvements department and USAA’s Office of Sustainability. After committee review and discussion, individual technical scores were submitted and presented. Scoring was based on the published evaluation criteria in the RFP, which included: Experience, Background, and Qualifications (40 points), Proposed Plan (40 points), Compensation (5 points), Local Preference Program (LPP) (up to 10 points), and the Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program (VOSBPP) (5 points).
After the scores were finalized by the evaluation committee, the pricing scores were revealed. Southwest Research Institute received the highest ranking and was recommended for award by the evaluation committee.
The Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) Ordinance requirements were waived due to the lack of small, minority, and/or women businesses available to provide these goods and services.
The Local Preference Program was considered in the evaluation of responses received for this contract; however, the highest ranked firm did not qualify for points because they are not a for-profit business.
There were no proposals submitted from veteran-owned small business respondents for this contract; therefore, the Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program was not applied.
ISSUE:
Exceedance of ground-level ozone standard is a public health issue. Poor air quality can aggravate asthma attacks and cause death among children & elderly especially among individuals with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. An estimated 24 deaths could be avoided annually if San Antonio air quality improves to a lower level than the EPA’s standard. The avoided cost of these deaths is estimated to be $220 million.
The scope of the agreement includes identifying where and when VOCs and NOx releases are occurring in Northwest Bexar County; identifying fugitive emissions from facilities in Northwest Bexar County; researching unplanned and accidental emissions in Northwest Bexar County, and; recommending mitigation strategies to lower ozone. The desired result is to identify ozone precursor point sources and work with businesses to implement ozone mitigation strategies as recommended by Southwest Research Institute.
ALTERNATIVES:
The scope of work in the agreement is part of the City’s Ozone Attainment Master Plan to reduce ozone levels to 70 ppb by December 31, 2020. If Bexar County is not able to lower ozone levels to 70 ppb by December 31, 2020, the local economy may see the following financial impacts: Cost of Construction Permits $12,700,000; Cost of Project Delays $897,056,940, Lost Gross Regional Product due to Road Construction Delays $458,580,755.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with the Southwest Research Institute to conduct air sampling, analysis, and recommend ozone mitigation strategies in the amount of $250,000 for a period of June 13, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Funding for the initial term is available from the FY 2019 General Fund Budget as a result of funds in the amount of $105,000 carried forward into FY 2019 for an infrared VOC detection camera and $145,000 in the FY 2019 General Fund Health Department Budget. Future funding for the renewal option of $250,000 will be subject to appropriation as part of the annual budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance, authorizing Metro Health to contract with Southwest Research Institute to conduct air sampling, analysis, and provide ozone mitigation recommendations.
This contract is procured by means of Request for Proposals and Contract Disclosure Form is attached.