TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any subsequent amendments, with Aclima, Inc., a Delaware corporation with offices in San Francisco, CA, for air quality monitoring, at no cost to the City, for a maximum six-month pilot period. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into a contract with Aclima, Inc. (Aclima), to conduct an air quality monitoring pilot project to advance the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), and use civic technology to benefit Long Beach residents. The CAAP includes a City Leadership Action to identify opportunities to expand or improve existing air quality monitoring networks and data. This effort is designed to help further that action, and the six-month pilot period will be at no cost to the City.
As described in the CAAP and associated technical studies, Long Beach is anticipated to experience rising temperatures due to climate change. Rising temperatures worsen air pollution and will most impact people sensitive to poor air quality and communities near emissions sources. Air quality is especially relevant as a secondary climate stressor to extreme heat in Long Beach, as there are several sources that impact local air quality, including the I-710 and I-405 freeways, the Port of Long Beach, nearby refineries, and other major industrial sources. To inform efforts toward access to clean air for all, the City seeks to pilot an air quality monitoring program through a solution that collects reliable air quality data, reports data to the City, and provides data in a community-friendly platform that is publicly accessible.
This pilot opportunity is part of the City’s 2021 Smart City Challenge, which follows the principles of a challenge-based procurement, where City staff articulate their challenge without prescribing how they want it solved. It was powered by the Startup in Residence (STIR) program (<https://www.cityinnovate.com/stir/start>), which enables City departments to collaborate with technology companies to address civic problems. The pilot projects are intended to provide City staff with the opportunity to quickly understand how we might adopt technology and leverage partnerships to drive innovative service delivery to benefit residents. Interested submitters were requested to provide summarized information about their proposed solution, with the full scope and details of the solution finalized through subsequent rounds of interviews and scoping conversations.
The pilot opportunity was advertised through a variety of methods using the STIR platform and our City platform, with 185 potential proposers specializing in air quality monitoring and geographic information systems notified of the pilot opportunity. Information about the pilot opportunity was additionally made available through the Technology and Innovation Department’s Smart City Program, located on the seventh floor of City Hall, and on the program’s website at www.longbeach.gov/smartcity <http://www.longbeach.gov/smartcity>, and the Purchasing Division, located on the sixth floor of City Hall, and on the Division’s website at www.longbeach.gov/purchasing <http://www.longbeach.gov/purchasing>. An announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division’s weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 37 local, minority-owned, and women-owned business groups. Nine responses were received; however, no responses were local, minority-owned, or women-owned business groups. It was determined that Aclima was the most qualified firm to participate in the pilot program.
Aclima is an established leader in hyperlocal air quality and greenhouse gas measurement and analysis. Aclima has worked with several communities throughout California and the U.S. to monitor emissions, support efforts to reduce emissions, protect public health, and advance environmental justice. By strengthening standards of transparency and accountability, the Smart City Initiative works to ensure that all residents, regardless of technical ability, can trust the tools that are tested and deployed by the City. This includes investing in digital literacy, codifying robust privacy and data security standards, and partnering with communities to develop a collaborative approach to deploying civic technology. Aclima will develop a solution to collect reliable air quality data, report data to the City, and provide data in a community-friendly platform that is publicly accessible, which is consistent with the goals of the Smart City Initiative.
City Charter Section 1807 permits the City to authorize and award negotiated contracts based on competitive proposals for electronic data processing and telecommunication equipment systems, subsystems and related materials, goods and services, when authorized by a Resolution adopted by the City Council. In this case, a competitive process was provided and facilitated through the STIR platform.
Local Business Outreach
To align with the City’s outreach goal, Long Beach businesses are encouraged to submit proposals for City contracts. The Purchasing Division also assists businesses with registering on the PlanetBids database to download RFP specifications, and in this case, also provided assistance, as needed, regarding the STIR platform. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the bidder pool.
This matter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Michael J. Mais on October 19, 2021, Business Services Bureau Manager Tara Mortensen on August 23, 2021, and by Budget Operations and Development Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on August 25, 2021.
SUSTAINABILITY
This action supports California state and local policy to reduce air pollution in environmental justice communities.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council approval is requested on November 9, 2021, to ensure the contract is in place in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT
The contract for pilot services will be provided at no cost to the City. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the budgeted scope of duties. The program operation is consistent with City Council priorities of successful implementation of the CAAP and Smart City Initiative. There is no anticipated direct impact on local jobs; however, this project promotes place-based growth by supporting Long Beach entrepreneurs and businesses, improving workforce job readiness, and strengthening networks.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
OSCAR ORCI
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
LEA D. ERIKSEN
DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER