Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: HVAC ASSEMBLIES FOR P3010 LIGHT RAIL VEHICLES
Action
ACTION: AWARD CONTRACT
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to award a one-year firm fixed price contract, Contract No. OP126710000, to Merak North America for the purchase of 18 P3010 Light Rail Vehicle (LRV), Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) Assemblies in the amount of $1,408,500, effective date September 29, 2025, subject to the resolution of any properly submitted protest(s), if any.
Issue
ISSUE
This procurement is for the acquisition of 18 HVAC units for float spares in support of revenue service and the upcoming component overhaul program consisting of 10 HVAC units overhauled monthly over a five-year period.
Execution of the component overhaul project includes an HVAC exchange program by staff removing the presently installed HVACs and replacing them with overhauled HVAC equipment to meet the production schedule, consisting of 10 overhauls per month over five years. The HVAC equipment provides a comfortable (heat or cool) air supply to Metro’s passengers. In-service failure of the HVAC equipment is considered an operational safety hazard to both passengers and train operators, resulting in the vehicle being removed from service until repaired.
Background
BACKGROUND
The P3010 LRV fleet consists of 235 rail cars manufactured by Kinkisharyo International, LLC. The fleet was placed in revenue service between 2016-2023, operating on all of Metro’s light rail lines A, C, E, K, and L lines. The fleet is Metro’s newest and most reliable light rail LRV fleet with consistent performance, reliability, and safety, amassing over 102,815,659 fleet miles.
The HVAC equipment is mounted onto the LRV rooftop and is rarely turned off, providing either cooling or heating for the LRV operator and passenger compartments. The design life of the HVAC equipment is 30 years of routine maintenance, and component-level overhauls are performed at the 600,000-mile target interval.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
There are two HVAC units mounted onto the vehicle’s rooftop that are subject to harsh outdoor environments (e.g., heat, cold, dust, and debris) with the high probability of declining reliability and service delays.
The HVAC Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) identified a preventive maintenance overhaul at the 600,000-mile interval when specific components within the HVAC equipment are overhauled or replaced to ensure sustained reliability and safety. Purchase of 18 new HVAC units served two purposes 1) available for the Divisions (shops) to install in the event of in-service equipment failures 2) float spares for the component overhaul project spanning over 5-year production schedule.
Approval of this Board action will ensure sufficient spare float stock is available to support the forthcoming overhaul production schedule, while assuring vehicle availability during the overhaul. It will also maintain passenger and operator comfort in a climate-controlled environment while riding the P3010 LRV fleet.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Operator and passenger comfort and safety are of the utmost importance for Metro. Passengers expect clean, safe, and reliable vehicles in a comfort-controlled environment. The HVAC equipment provides heating or cooling to the compartments. Should the HVAC equipment become inoperable, the LRV is removed from service as Metro’s operating procedures deem the unsafe for continued operations.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding of $500,000 for the Contract is included in the FY26 Budget in Rail Feet Services Cost Centers for P3010 light rail fleet, Project 214009, and Account 50441.
Impact to Budget
Funding for this effort includes operating eligible sources, such as Prop A35, Measure M, and STA. Using these funding sources maximizes the project funding allocations allowed by approved provisions and guidelines.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The P3010 fleet is Metro’s largest fleet and operates on all A, C, E, K, and L lines. Purchasing 18 HVAC units will prevent service disruptions from vehicle unavailability due to decreased fleet availability from spare parts during the forthcoming overhaul program. All Metro’s passengers riding the P3010 LRVs have access to climate-controlled vehicles throughout all weather seasons, particularly during the winter and summer months. This investment ensures a comfortable ride for those riding on Metro Rail, including many low-income, transit-dependent, and historically marginalized communities who rely on Metro Rail as their primary means of transportation.
The Diversity & Economic Opportunity Department (DEOD) did not recommend a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal for this procurement.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit. * Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through operational equipment purchase activities that will maintain and further encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Approval of the P3010 fleet purchase of 18 HVAC units proactively supports Strategic Goal 1: Provide high quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling as the forthcoming HVAC overhaul project ensures sustained fleet reliability, including safe, accessible, and affordable transportation for all riders of Metro’s light rail system. The recommendation supports Metro’s Strategic Plan Goal 5): Provide Responsive, Accountable, and Trustworthy governance within the Metro organization.
Contract Modification Authority and Contract extension safeguard overhaul production continuance while meeting passenger safety and fleet reliability.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
An alternative considered is to defer the procurement for the 18 spare HVAC units, but this will negatively impact on the upcoming fleet overhaul project due to insufficient spare units to sustain the production schedule of five LRVs or 10 kits per month. This alternative is not recommended as HVAC equipment is vital to sustain a positive operator and customer experience. If the HVAC were to fail, the LRV is pulled from revenue service for repairs, as Metro Operations will not allow the vehicle to remain in service without central heat and air conditioning.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board Approval, the upcoming component overhaul project will have the necessary spares to move forward and meet the production schedule deadlines of five kits or 10 overhauls per month over a 5-year project.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Bob Spadafora, Senior Executive Officer, Rail Fleet Services
(213) 922-3144
Richard M. Lozano, Superintendent, Rail Fleet Services
(323)-224-4042
Matthew Dake, Deputy Chief Operations Officer
(213) 922-4061
Debra Avila, Deputy Chief, Vendor/Contract Management
(213) 418-3051
Reviewed_by
Reviewed by: Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, Transit Operations (213) 418-3034
Digitally approved by Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer