REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRIAN BARR, Director
General Services Department
BY: SZARINA LOZANO, Management Analyst II
General Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the First Amendment to the consulting agreement with TRC Solutions, Inc., adding professional grant writing services to the scope of work and assist the City of Fresno with funding opportunities to implement the California Air Resource Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets regulation not-to-exceed $150,000
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve the First Amendment to the consulting agreement with TRC Solutions, Inc., adding professional grant writing services to the scope of work and assistance to the City of Fresno with funding opportunities to implement the California Air Resource Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, for an amount not to exceed $150,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Inflation Reduction Act through Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for up to $4.6 billion dollars that aims to reduce greenhouse gas es through programs, projects, and measures. All applications must be submitted to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) by April 1, 2024. The EPA anticipates the award of approximately 30 to 115 grants ranging between $2 million and $500 million under this general competition. The City intends to submit multiple projects as part of the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) regional grant application under the CPRG program. As part of this application, the City intends to submit a project to fund electrical vehicle infrastructure as required for implementation of the California Air Resource Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. The ACF regulation requires the C ity to begin transitioning medium and heavy -duty vehicles to zero emissions, effective January 1, 2024.
Due to the expedited April 1 deadline, General Services is seeking an amendment to the consulting agreement with TRC Solutions, Inc., previously approved by Council for Zero Emission Fleet Vehicle Planning services. General Services intends to leverage their expertise in grant writing, zero emission planning, green-house gas reduction calculations, and familiarity with the City’s municipal fleet vehicle data. TRC Solutions, Inc., has a dedicated team which specializes in grant writing and can assist with the extensive application process before the deadline.
BACKGROUND
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law, providing various tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, one of which was the Climate Pollution Reductions Grants (CPRG) program. Section 60114 of the IRA appropriates $4.6 billion to the EPA to support state, regional, and local efforts through the CPRG program. EPA anticipates the award of approximately 30 to 115 grants ranging between $2 million and $500 million under this general competition.
The City intends to submit multiple projects as part of the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) regional grant application under the CPRG program. As part of this application, the City intends to submit a project to fund electrical vehicle infrastructure as required for implementation of the CARB ACF regulation. The ACF regulation requires the City to begin transitioning medium and heavy -duty vehicles to zero emission effective January 1, 2024, and currently has no funding source. The municipal fleet includes more than 600 vehicles which are applicable to this regulation.
On January 11, 2024, Council approved an agreement with TRC Solutions, Inc. to provide General Services with Zero Emission Fleet Vehicle Planning services in the amount of $147,221 plus a contingency amount not -to-exceed $10,000. As the electric vehicle infrastructure project is closely related to their scope of work, General Services intends to leverage their expertise in grant writing, zero emission planning, green- house gas reduction calculations, and familiarity with the City’s municipal fleet vehicle data.
TRC Solutions, Inc. has a dedicated team that specializes in grant writing and can assist with the extensive application process before the deadline of April 1, 2024.
The level of effort and collaboration between COG, City, and TRC Solutions, Inc. requires further discussion and refinement. As such, General Services is requesting approval to establish a $150,000 not -to-exceed contract amendment for this added scope of work.
The cost of the services for the current grant opportunity is anticipated to be less than the requested $150,000. The remaining funds will be saved for future grant opportunities as the City works to fund the CARB mandate.
Upon approval, the Agreement will increase to a total value of $297,221 plus a contingency amount not-to-exceed $10,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378, the award of this contract does not qualify as a project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented as this is an amendment to an existing agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
The additional cost of this amendment will be proportionately billed to only those departments which operate vehicles subject to the California Air Resource Board Advanced Clean Fleet regulation and shall be allocated to each participating department accordingly.
Attachments:
First Amendment
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