Meeting_Body
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 27, 2018
Subject
SUBJECT: TECHNICAL CONSULTANT FOR ZERO EMISSION BUS
(ZEB) PROGRAM MASTER PLAN
Action
ACTION: CONTRACT AWARD
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. AWARDING a cost plus fixed fee Contract No. PS51220 to ZEBGO Partners, JV for technical consultant services for the Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Program Master Plan, in the not-to-exceed amount of $7,139,376 for a period of performance of up to 21 months from issuance of a Notice-to-Proceed (NTP), subject to resolution of protest(s), if any; and
B. AMENDING the FY19 budget by $6,111,500 for anticipated contract expenses.
Issue
ISSUE
In July 2017, the Board approved Motion #50 by Directors Bonin, Garcetti, Najarian, Hahn, and Solis (with amendments) to establish a working group and develop strategies for a master plan detailing the steps and costs associated with converting the Metro bus fleet to Zero Emission by 2030. (Attachment C) This action authorizes contract award to ZEBGO Partners, JV (ZEBGO) to provide technical consulting support services to develop comprehensive plans for phasing in zero emission buses (ZEB) on Metro’s entire system, including Local and Rapid bus routes, by 2030.
Background
BACKGROUND
In July 2017, the Metro Board endorsed staff’s Strategic Plan for the Transition to Zero Emission Buses. The first phase in that plan is to convert the Metro Orange Line to full Zero Emission operation by 2020 and the Metro Silver Line as soon as feasible, thereafter. The second phase involves the creation of a Zero Emission Master Plan that would evaluate the entire Metro bus system and map out the best strategy and anticipated cost to convert to zero emission operation. Authorization of this Contract will support staff’s efforts to affect the Strategic Zero Emissions Master Plan [Plan].
The transition plan is in agreement with Metro’s Alternative Fuel Initiative policy that was adopted in 1993 and keeps Metro at the forefront of a healthier environment for our growing population. This plan also accelerates by 10 years the schedule being considered by CARB to require all of California’s transit services to transition to 100% zero emissions by 2040.
To date, Metro has awarded three ZEB contracts for the electrification of the Orange and Silver BRT lines; two with BYD for five 60’ ZEB’s intended for the Orange Line and sixty 40’ ZEB’s intended for the Sliver Line; and one with New Flyer for forty 60’ ZEB’s intended for the Orange Line.
DISCUSSION
Awarding this professional services contract to ZEBGO ensures Metro remains on schedule with transitioning to a zero emissions bus operation by 2030. The award recommendation is based on a Best Value selection that considered price and non-price factors. ZEBGO’s proposal provides the Best Value and is most advantageous to Metro. Price analysis shows that the negotiated amount for the recommended firm, ZEBGO, is $633,670 above the ICE. ZEBGO’s higher priced proposal, from a Best Value perspective, offers clear advantages in the areas of relevant Zero Emission vehicle and infrastructure experience and capability; project understanding, approach, and management plan; and past experience for similar projects evaluation categories.
ZEBGO’s higher proposed price is offset by providing a team of subject matter experts that far exceeded the minimum staff qualifications, and collectively have multiple transit agency experience in operating, maintaining and procuring buses, from both the transit manufacturing and operations sides. The ZEBGO team demonstrated a wide array of global electric bus experience, including deployment of electric bus depot and in-route chargers, and experience on projects with other United States transit agencies that are similar in scope and scale as the Metro program. This relevant experience and expertise in ZEB vehicle and infrastructure is critically important to the technology transition because of Metro’s program timeline objectives and the rapid changes occurring in this developing field.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
The approval of this Contract will have no negative impact to system safety.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total not-to-exceed contract amount is $7,139,376. Staff recommends that the FY19 budget be amended by $6,111,500 to include the portion of effort scheduled for completion in FY19. The budget will be allocated to project 405407 - ZEB Program Master Plan. Since this is a multi-year contract, the cost center manager will be accountable for budgeting the balance of funds in future fiscal years.
Impact to Budget
The current source of funds for this action is Measure R Admin. Staff will reassess funding sources and apply other applicable fund sources as they become available.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
Metro could rely exclusively on internal staff to perform the work. This alternative is not recommended as it would not be cost effective to maintain this level of expertise in-house on a full-time basis. Additionally, it would take staff away from the core operation functions, and would be more costly than contracting these functions on a task order basis.
The Board of Directors may choose not to authorize the Contract award for the project; however, this alternative is not recommended by staff, as this project is critical to support the planning necessary for conversion to Zero Emission operation by 2030. Without the additional contract support the timely delivery of this plan would be at risk.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will execute the contract and issue a Notice-to-Proceed to ZEBGO.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - DEOD Summary
Attachment C - Board Motion
Board Motion 2017-0524 Endorsing Strategic Plan for Metro’s Transition to Zero Emission
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Steve Schupak, Sr. Manager, Project Control, (213) 617-6294
Marc Manning, Sr. Director ,Vehicle Engineering & Acquisition (213) 617-6201
Jesus Montes, Sr. Executive Officer, Vehicle Engineering & Acquisition (213) 418-3277
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by:
James T. Gallagher, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3108
Debra Avila, Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 418-3051
