ICT_RFP_10-1

Report as inappropriate Your report has been received

Shared by: lanyuehua

Tags

Stats

views:: 0
posted:: 8/23/2012
language:: Unknown
pages:: 9

Public Domain

Document Sample

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) #10-1

TRANSPORTATION CONFORMITY PARTICULATE MATTER
HOT-SPOT AIR QUALITY MODELING

POSTED DATE: 6/30/10; CLOSING DATE: 8/16/10

PROJECT DATA

Funds: $85,000 total, including a required 25% ($21,250) cost share from
proposing agency
Contract Term: 12 months
Projected Start Date: December 1, 2010
Deadline for Submitting Proposals: August 16, 2010
Submit Proposals via Email to: DaveKing@illinois.edu

BACKGROUND
Project level particulate matter (PM) hot-spot regulations require projects in non-
attainment and maintenance areas that are “projects of air quality concern” to model
and analyze for PM and report the results in Illinois Department of Transportation
(IDOT) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents prepared for IDOT
projects. The USEPA PM2.5 and PM10 Hot-Spot regulations (40 CFR Part 93, FR
March 10, 2006) did not identify a threshold (Average Daily Traffic [ADT] count and
percent diesel trucks) to determine what a project of air quality concern is.

Currently, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the IDOT, Bureau of Design
and Environment (BDE), require project ADT (existing and proposed) and the percent
diesel trucks be provided to determine if a project is of air quality concern. IDOT
districts are required to provide and present this information, usually at a District
Coordination Meeting. Based on the traffic volumes and percent diesel trucks,
FHWA/BDE determines if a project is of air quality concern. New and approved “Illinois”
specific ADT and percent diesel truck thresholds would provide IDOT with specific
level(s) that could be defended, if challenged, and would reduce the work required by
district staff to obtain and present project specific traffic data. Projects that exceed the
-1-
approved thresholds (projects of air quality concern) would require additional PM
modeling be undertaken.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research project is to quantitatively model motor vehicle-generated
PM in Illinois' PM2.5 and PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance areas (located in IDOT
Districts 1, 3 and 8), develop “Illinois” specific thresholds for these areas, and secure
USDOT and USEPA approval for IDOT to use these thresholds to determine if a project
is a project of air quality concern. This information will be documented in IDOT NEPA
documents or Project Reports.

RESEARCH TASKS AND REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
IDOT is seeking a researcher to:
 Generate “Illinois specific” PM2.5 and PM10 emission factors (both Annual and
24-hour) for Illinois' PM2.5 and PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance areas,
using USEPA’s Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES2010) emission
factor model. Model various roadway types, speeds, and months of the year;
 Using USEPA’s CAL3QCHR or AERMOD models (see Transportation
Conformity Guidance for Quantitative Hot-spot Analyses in PM2.5 and PM10
Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas-Public Draft, EPA-420-P-10-001, May
2010), model various vehicle traffic volumes and percent diesel trucks using the
appropriate emission factors, receptors locations, and adding the background
PM concentrations, to predict the PM2.5 and PM10 pollutant concentrations;
 Compare these concentrations to the Annual and 24-hour PM2.5 and PM10
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS);
 Assist in developing, defending and securing approval of Illinois-specific
thresholds for IDOT’s use in NEPA documents/Project Reports;
 Once thresholds are developed and approved, develop a graphical user
interface program (similar to IDOT’s COSIM Model), which will allow IDOT staff
to input simple parameters such as ADT, percent diesel trucks, county, year, etc.
The output will indicate to the user if the proposed project is a project of air
quality concern; and
 Produce a Final Report following ICT report formats that documents the project
results, including all inputs used in the MOVES2010 emissions model and the
CAL3QHCR and AERMOD models, the background concentrations used, all
modeling runs, meeting discussions, thresholds recommended, and final
approval acquired by USDOT and USEPA.

IDOT will form a Technical Review Panel (TRP) to help lead and steer the research
project. At a minimum, the TRP will consist of staff members from IDOT, the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA), and FHWA. The researcher will work
closely, meet with, and/or have conference calls with the TRP throughout the project.
The TRP will recommend the appropriate PM2.5 and PM10 background concentrations
and the proper MOVES2010 emission factor inputs to use within Illinois' Nonattainment

-2-
and Maintenance Areas. Prior to commencement of modeling, the researcher will
participate in Inter Agency Consultation meetings at the offices of the Chicago
Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and the East-West Gateway Council of
Governments (EWGCOG) to brief committee members and agency staff on the purpose
of the project, modeling protocols to be used, and outcomes of the proposed research.
Recommendations of these committees will be incorporated into the research, upon
approval of the TRP. Once the background information and MOVES2010 emission
factor inputs are agreed upon by IDOT and Illinois EPA staff, and CMAP and EWGCOG
committees briefed, the researcher will model highway projects to identify “Projects of
Air Quality Concern".

The researcher will be required to model various traffic volumes and diesel truck
percentages, different roadway classifications (e.g. urban and rural), and model different
months and speeds on the different roadway facility types, as outlined in the
MOVES2010 emissions model. Modeling will be needed for the Illinois' PM2.5 and PM10
Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas, using the specific PM background data and
associated emission factors for the area, to predict the total traffic volumes and the
percent diesel truck (threshold(s)) that would exceed the Annual and Daily PM2.5 and
PM10 NAAQS. These threshold(s), developed as a result of the modeling, will help
IDOT determine when a quantitative PM Hot-Spot analysis would be required to be
performed for their proposed highway projects in Illinois' PM 2.5 and PM10 Nonattainment
and Maintenance Areas.

Once the air quality modeling is complete, the researcher will present his/her modeling
results and the proposed threshold(s) to the TRP for review. After TRP review and
approval, the modeling results and proposed threshold results will be presented at Inter
Agency Consultation meetings at CMAP and EWGCOG for approval by both USDOT
and USEPA as outlined in 40 CFR 93.123(b)(3).

The researcher will be required to develop a graphical user interface computer program
(similar to IDOT’s COSIM pre-screen carbon monoxide model), which will have the
appropriate approved modeling data tables incorporated. It is anticipated that the
following minimum inputs will be required for this program: County, ADT, percent diesel
trucks, and year of evaluation. Based on the data inputs, the program will then
generate a short report outlining if the project is a project of air quality concern.

Once approved by USDOT and USEPA, IDOT will implement the thresholds in their
proposed highway projects in Illinois' PM2.5 and PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance
Areas.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL
The proposal shall be prepared in accordance with the guidelines presented in
Appendix A. The contact name/email and due date are presented on the first page. All
potential Principal Investigators (PIs) should read and understand the responsibilities of
ICT Principal Investigators, which are presented in Appendix B.

-3-
Technical questions regarding the research project or questions regarding the RFP
procedures should be submitted to Dave King, ICT, via email at DaveKing@illinois.edu.
Technical questions received by ICT and answers will be posted on the ICT website as
they are received.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR REVIEWING PROPOSALS AND
AWARDING ICT FUNDS
Please note that the following three conditions will be applied in reviewing all proposals
received and in awarding ICT funds:

1) In reviewing and evaluating the proposals received from this solicitation, preference
will be given to Illinois universities (both public and private) over others.

2) Researcher experience in air quality modeling: use or knowledge of USEPA’s
MOVES2010 emissions model, as well as the use of USEPA’s dispersion models
CAL3QHCR or AERMOD.

3) The award of this project is contingent upon the availability of funds at the time of
award.

-4-
APPENDIX A:
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING PROPOSALS FOR THE ILLINOIS
CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION (ICT)
Please use the following format for submitting ICT proposals for consideration. Please
limit your total proposal to 15 pages in length (not including the Cover/Summary Page
or optional Appendices) and use a font size no smaller than 10. We suggest Arial font
with 1.5 spacing between lines.

1. Cover/Summary Page

Use the cover page included in Appendix C.

2. Research Plan

The research plan should describe in a specific and straightforward manner the
proposed approach for solving the problem described in the problem statement.
The research plan should be subdivided into the following sections:

(a) Introduction, including Research Idea Statement

Provide an introduction to the proposal and a concise overview of the research
approach. Outline the objectives of the research project and explain the
questions that will be answered by the research.

(b) Research Approach/Work Plan

Include the details of how the investigator will carry out the project and
accomplish the project objectives. Itemize the tasks to be completed, explaining
each in sufficient detail so the reviewers understand what will be done for each
task and what will be produced or completed with each task.

Specifically state the anticipated research results.

(d) Applicability of Results to IDOT Practice

Describe how the anticipated research results can be used to improve IDOT
practices.

3. Qualifications and Accomplishments of the Research Team

Identify who will perform the research and provide a brief explanation of each
researcher’s qualifications to perform the research. Please provide examples of
similar research that the proposed individuals have conducted.

-5-
4. Other Commitments of the Research Team

Briefly outline the other commitments of the proposed principal and co-principal
investigators to demonstrate that both will be able to fulfill the commitments of
the proposal.

5. Equipment and Facilities

Describe the facilities and equipment available to undertake the research
proposal.

6. Time Requirements

Describe the time that will be required to complete the research proposal. Include
a timeline for each task.

7. Itemized Budget

Provide an itemized budget for the entire project, including the cost of personnel,
consultants, subcontracts, equipment, materials, travel, overhead and cost
share. This budget should clearly show the portion of the total project cost that is
requested from IDOT/ICT and the 25% matching funds/cost share required from
the proposing agency. If you anticipate having a sub-award for extra support from
outside your agency, please be aware that the sub-award cannot exceed 50% of
the total project budget without prior approval.

8. Cooperative Features (if appropriate)

If assistance or cooperation is required from other agencies, public or private, to
complete this proposed research, describe the plans for securing this assistance.

9. Appendices (if appropriate)

You may include such things as statements regarding previous work on the
problem or related problems, abstracts of related projects, a bibliography or list of
references, or materials describing the submitting organization.

-6-
APPENDIX B:
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ILLINOIS CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION
(ICT) PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
1. Prepare and submit a project proposal/work plan and multi-year line-item budget,
consistent with the “ICT Research Idea”/problem statement or RFP (if applicable)
for the newly-approved research project.

2. Meet with the Technical Review Panel (TRP) and revise the project
proposal/work plan and multi-year budget, as agreed with the TRP. E-mail the
approved work plan and budget to ICT (attention DaveKing@illinois.edu).
Update budget annually and e-mail to ICT (attention DaveKing@illinois.edu).

3. Enter the project description, approved work plan (tasks), PI personal
information, TRP members, etc., on the ICT website. Update project information
quarterly.

4. Carry out the project as agreed with the TRP, or notify the TRP if any problem
develops regarding the project.

5. Provide online quarterly progress reports to the TRP chair for review and
approval.

6. Attend regular (typically quarterly or semi-annually) meetings of the TRP to
provide project updates and answer TRP members’ questions about the project.

7. Complete brief semi-annual Administrative Performance Evaluations of the TRP.
(You may download this form from the ICT website – http://ict.illinois.edu/.)

8. At the completion of the research project, draft a final research report in
accordance with the ICT report format. Submit it to the ICT Technical Editor
(attention Leslie Sweet Myrick at lsweet@illinois.edu) for editing prior to
submission to the TRP.

9. Submit the ICT-edited draft final report to the TRP chair and work with the TRP
chair to finalize the content of the report.

10. Re-submit the “final” report to the ICT Technical Editor (attention Leslie Sweet
Myrick at lsweet@illinois.edu) for final editing and publication. ICT will post the
final edited report to the ICT website and will arrange to publish the final report.

11. Prior to finalizing and posting the final research report on the ICT website, any
publication or release of interim reports, results, etc., must be submitted to IDOT
for review and comment at least 45 days prior to the planned release/
presentation. In the event of non-concurrence by IDOT or the FHWA, the
release/publication shall set forth the non-concurrence.

-7-
12. When the scheduled time for presentation of a paper releasing project
information does not permit formal review of a complete report, notify IDOT of the
scheduled presentation and provide an abstract of the presentation. Such
presentations shall include a statement that the paper/presentation has not been
reviewed by either IDOT or the FHWA.

13. Include the IDOT/ICT acknowledgement statement and disclaimer statement
(available on the ICT website) in all publications and presentations regarding
research sponsored partially or fully by ICT.

14. Comply with the terms of the current ICT Intergovernmental Agreement with
IDOT. The current agreement can be found at
http://ict.illinois.edu/research/IDOT-IGA_DOH-ICT06.pdf.

15. Comply with the current ICT Operational Guidelines. The current guidelines can
be found at http://ict.illinois.edu/research/ICT_GUIDELINES_FINAL_05-09.pdf.

-8-
APPENDIX C:
PROPOSAL COVER SHEET FOR
SOLICITATION #10-1

TRANSPORTATION CONFORMITY PARTICULATE MATTER
HOT-SPOT AIR QUALITY MODELING

DUE AUGUST 16, 2010
TO DaveKing@illinois.edu

Submitted by:
(Include Name and Address of
Organization)

Proposed Investigator(s):
Corresponding Investigator
Name:
Corresponding Investigator
Phone:
Corresponding Investigator
Fax:
Corresponding Investigator
Email:
Submission Date:

-9-