Applus Technologies Volume 1_Technical Response_Applus.pdf

Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program Massachusetts Department of Transportation/Registry of Motor Vehicles

Bid #: BD-16-1030-0R100-0R001-00000006553 - April 7, 2016 i

Table of Contents

3.2.2.1 Commitment Letter

Executive Summary

3.2.2.3 Bidder Identification

3.2.1 Program Proposal: Technical Response Elements

3.2.1.1 Program Description

3.2.1.2 Inspection Station Network

3.2.1.3 Workstations

3.2.1.4 Network Management

3.2.1.5 Inspection Database

3.2.1.6 Violations, Investigations and Scheduling, Information and Tracking System

(VISITS)

3.2.1.7 Inspector Training and FMCSA Equivalency

3.2.1.8 Motorist and Industry Communications

3.2.1.9 Covert Auditing

3.2.1.10 Vehicle Maintenance Initiative (VMI)

3.2.1.11 Motorist Assistance Centers

3.2.1.12 Implementation Schedule – Draft

3.2.2.4 Contractor Organization: Key Personnel and Management Plan

3.2.2.5 Relevant Experience and References

3.2.2.6 Bidder Qualifications

3.2.2.7 Environmental Specifications

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection/Registry of Motor Vehicles April 7, 2016 - Bid #: BD-16-1030-0R100-0R001-00000006553 ii

Glossary

AAMVA American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators

ALARS MassDOT/RMV’s Automated Licensing and Registration System

ASE National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence

ATP Acceptance Test Procedure

BAR Bureau of Automotive Repair

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CMT Change Management Tool (Elementool)

COTS Commercial Off-the-Shelf systems

CSS Cascading Style Sheets

Dashboard MASS Management Application and/or web-based interface to Application

DLC Data Link Connector

DNS Domain Name Server

DoD Department of Defense

DRP Disaster Recovery Plan

DTC Diagnostic Trouble Code

ETL Extract, Transform and Load

FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

GCWR Gross Combined Weight Rating

GUI Graphical User Interface

GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

HD Heavy-Duty

HDDV Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle

HDGV Heavy-Duty Gasoline Vehicle

Help Desk Also known as Hotline

HTTPS Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure

I/M Inspection and Maintenance

IDS Intrusion Detection System

IP Internet Protocol

IPS Intrusion Protection System

IPT Integrated Project Teams

ISO International Standards Organization

ISP Internet Service Provider

IT Information Technology

JAD Joint Application Design

KOEO Key On, Engine Off

KOER Key On, Engine Running

KPI Key Performance Indicator

L-1 Advanced Engineer Performance Specialist Certification issued by the ASE

L-2 Electronic Diesel Engine Diagnosis Specialist Certification issued by the ASE

LDDV Light-duty Diesel Vehicle

LDGT Light-duty Gasoline Truck

LDGV Light-duty Gasoline Vehicle

MAC Motorist Assistance Center

MASS17 Hardware and software provided to operate the Program

MBSA Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer

M.G.L. Massachusetts General Law

MIL Malfunction Indicator Light

MS Project Microsoft Project

MY Model Year

OBD On-Board Diagnostics

OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer

OLTP On Line Transaction Processor

PC Personal Computer

PCM Powertrain Control Module

PID Parameter Identification

PII Personally Identifying Information

PMBOK Project Management Book of Knowledge

PMP Project Management Plan

POE Power-Over-Ethernet

PROD Production

Program Massachusetts Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program

QA Quality Assurance

QC Quality Control

QMS Quality Management System

QR Quick Response

RFR Request for Response

RPM Revolutions Per Minute

RRF Registered Repair Facility

RRT Registered Repair Technician

RWD Responsive Web Design

SAE Society of Automotive Engineers

SAN Storage Area Network

SDLC System Development Life Cycle

SLA Service Level Agreement

SOA Service-Oriented Architecture

SOAP Simple Object Access Protocol

SOP Standard Operating Procedures

SOW Scope of Work

SRS System Requirements Specification

SSH Secure Shell

SST Strategic Sourcing Team

TLS Transport Layer Security

UAT User Acceptance Test

VID Vehicle Inspection Database

VIN Vehicle Identification Number

VIR Vehicle Inspection Report

VISITS Violations, Investigations and Scheduling, Information and Tracking System

VLT Vehicle Lookup Table

VMI Vehicle Maintenance Initiative

VPAT Voluntary Product Accessibility Template

VPN Virtual Private Network

Workstation MASS17 Workstation

XML Extensible Markup Language

Executive Summary

Applus will utilize its 20 years of experience in operating decentralized safety and emissions programs to promote safer and cleaner vehicles on Massachusetts roadways and to ensure motorist convenience while fitting in with the automotive services industry. However, there are other distinguishing factors about our solution that will help ensure the Agencies achieve the goals set forth for the Massachusetts

Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program (Program). Not the least of which is our experience in managing the Program from 1999 - 2008.

At that time our CEO, Darrin Greene, with 27 years of experience in operational and project management, of which the last 20 years were in the I/M industry, was the

Program Manager. During his tenure, he led the implementation of the first contractor managed I/M Program in Massachusetts and incorporated many industry firsts into it, such as utilizing video conferencing to improve the customer service provided to Inspections Stations. Since then, Darrin has provided implementation and operational oversight of the Applus I/M programs in

California, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Washington, Utah’s Salt Lake and Weber counties, the Province of Ontario in Canada and the Republic of Ireland. He is a certified Six Sigma Green belt and is committed to assuring the complete satisfaction of the Agencies.

We also propose Walter Moran as the Assistant Program Manager, who has 31 years of experience in the I/M industry and is an ASE Master Automotive Technician. From

1999 to 2009, Walter served the Massachusetts Program in various capacities including

Assistant Program & QA/QC Manager. He was instrumental in implementing improvements, such as correcting sticker fading problems and coauthoring comprehensive sticker quality assurance (QA) standards, realigning equipment service for process efficiencies, and implementing or enhancing: kit car inspections, trailer inspections, opacity testing with acoustics, motorcycle testing, sticker sales and tracking. His proudest accomplishment was implementing MAC referrals for readiness issues. Walter genuinely cares about the success of the Program and feels he has some unfinished business to take care of, improvements he and the Agencies mutually agreed upon, but never implemented after Applus’ tenure as the Program provider.

The callout box to the right is Walter’s personal message to the

Agencies.

I have patiently waited for the opportunity to once again work with Commonwealth of Massachusetts RMV and DEP to complete what we as a team, started in 1999.

Walter Moran Applus Assistant

Program Manager

Safe Vehicles and Pollution Reduction

Safer vehicle and pollution reduction goals are best achieved by utilizing quality Workstation components, providing proper training and implementing inspection procedures that reduce the potential for fraud and improper inspections. Applus offers the following tools and methods to accomplish these goals.

Smog Daddy™ OBD Scan Tool: Applus will deploy our latest OBD technology in the Inspection

Stations which will improve the communication rate with vehicles, including Heavy-duty, beyond

99.9%, thereby identifying more vehicles that exceed emissions output standards, which will clearly improve the air quality. Applus is one (1) of three (3) vendors that engineered and manufacturers a

California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) certified OBD scan tool called Smog DADdy. Applus was the first vendor to pass stringent beta testing of the scan tool and to achieve final certification from BAR. This speaks volumes to the quality we uphold in every facet of what we do for I/M programs, and is based on our ISO 9001 Quality Management System standard that focus on a commitment to continual customer satisfaction.

OBDFlex: To optimize the vehicle fingerprint database and fraud detection features of the OBD testing software, Applus proposes its innovative OBDFlex solution for test interruptions. OBDFlex will provide the Agencies and Applus staff with the flexibility to adjust the OBD data parameter collection process by creating profiles that will target specific elements of an OBD test. When a profile is active, it will “flag for review and continue to test” or “test interrupt” any inspection that meets the adjustable severity level parameters of the profile. This will allow for incremental improvements to be made to vehicle fingerprinting and fraud prevention measures on-demand, eliminating the need for software customization and updates that often slow down these efforts. The profiles will be able to identify vehicles that may be equipped with simulators or defeat devices, OBD-tampered vehicles, clean scanning, and other attempts to defraud the system.

Dieseltune Opacity Meter: Bosch has informed Applus that they are not providing support for the

Dieseltune DX270 opacity meter in the next Massachusetts Program. In cooperation with Applus, Bosch is transferring their exclusive agreement with the DX270 manufacturer, Crypton/Continental, to Applus so that Applus can procure the smoke meters and repair parts directly from

Crypton/Continental to support the Program. We will also be given proprietary diagnostic tools and service information to support the DX270s as part of this agreement. As a result, Applus is the only vendor who can unequivocally say that we will have the ability to procure and support the DX270 directly for the full term of the Program including any extensions.

FMCSA Equivalency: To help ensure commercial Inspectors are performing inspections in compliance with 540 CMR 4.0 and fully understand the requirements set forth in 49 CFR 393, we believe our trainers should be as knowledgeable as possible. Therefore, Applus will enroll at least two

(2) of our Registered Repair Technicians (RRTs) in the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

Motor Carrier Safety Compliance training course sponsored by the Transportation Safety Institute

(TSI). The training course curriculum includes 11 CFR Parts pertaining to commercial motor vehicle regulations, one of which is Part 396 - Inspection, Repair and Maintenance. These RRTs will train other Applus RRT trainers who will conduct commercial classroom training to reinforce proper vehicle safety maintenance and ensure that Massachusetts Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspection continues to be approved by the FMCSA as equivalent to 40 CFR part 396.17.

Stickers: Applus is proposing an alternative approach to creating and printing stickers, with an aim toward simplifying sticker generation and improving the tracking of pre-printed sticker stock. Not only will the stickers we propose be tamper resistant but they will contain two (2) barcodes, one pre-printed with a unique serial number and the other created during the inspection that will contain inspection related data but not the unique serial number. After a sticker is printed during an inspection, the software will prompt the Inspector to scan the pre-printed barcode. The scanned serial number will be read to confirm that the sticker issued is the next sticker number in the series. If the scan reveals there is a gap from the previous sticker serial number, indicating missing stickers, the test interruption process will automatically occur for QA review.

VISITS: To provide cost effectiveness with the auditing and inspecting of facilities within the decentralized network, and to move them through the process of investigations and violations with minimal data entry, Applus will utilize the enforcement application we have developed for our Georgia

I/M program. This fully functioning solution, which allows for flexible scheduling, saves time by tracing and tracking each movement in the process and allows users to click on a next step in the process when viewing the latest record. Relevant data from the previous record is then pre-populated to save on data entry time and to ensure data accuracy.

Motorist Convenience

MAC Hours: MAC hours will be extended beyond the minimum requirements. Each MAC will remain open at least one extra hour per week. Applus will also allow the motorist to schedule certain

MAC appointments on the Program website (e.g., third readiness monitor fail). The website will provide an abundance of information to help the motorist navigate to information necessary to accomplish their goal, such as being able to learn more about readiness monitors and to apply for waivers and extensions online.

We propose an inspection network-wide Help Desk staff of 29 people, nine (9) of which will be well trained tier one staff backed by 20 ASE L1 RRTs located at 10 MACs (two (2) at each). This will ensure prompt responsiveness to motorists by qualified staff to further ensure customer convenience.

Fitting in with the Automotive Service Industry

Based on our experience, the automotive industry is incented to join programs when they think it is an opportunity to drive more business with little hassle. Applus will provide every avenue to incentivize emissions repairers and Stations that have an RRT on staff to be listed as Registered Repair

Facilities (RRF). In addition we are making it convenient for non-registered technicians and Stations to become registered repairers and Stations in the Program. For example we are proposing a fully integrated communications plan using a rollout/Program website that provides explicit information about the Program, enrollment tools, multi-media training, and the ability to order equipment online.

Shop owners will be ecstatic that we’ve eliminated the need for third-party equipment service for the

OBD scan tool, opacity meter, Workstation PC, printer and barcode scanner by either being the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or by being an authorized service and repair agent for OEM vendors. Not only will we provide responsive service, but we offer an overnight advanced exchange, of quality components that rarely need to be replaced.

These are just a few of the differentiators that sets Applus’ solution apart from our competitors. This strategy and our experience will not only enhance the services that are provided today, but will ensure the Massachusetts Program continually improves and surpasses the current goals set forth in its mandate.

3.2.2.3 Bidder Identification

Name, address and telephone number of responsible party for performing the services requested in this RFR:

Applus Technologies, Inc.

444 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1110 Chicago, Illinois 60611 312-644-3005

Applus is the prime contractor and single business entity responsible for this contract.

Contact Person:

Darrin Greene, CEO dgreene@applustech.com 312-752-6441

Offices: In addition to the headquarters office listed above, which has overall responsibility for performing these services, Applus will secure a Program office located in Massachusetts, in close proximity to the current offices of the Agencies. This office will be responsible for the day-to-day activities, and will be where our Program Manager, Tim Gibson, and our Assistant Program Manager, Walter Moran will lead the project. Applus will provide the exact location within 30 days of Contract execution.

Subcontractor and Vendor List

Name of Subcontractor/Vendor Services/Products

Provided Location

Percent of Contract Value

Absolute Electronics Inc. Circuit Boards, Light Assembly Menomonee Falls, WI <1%

All Data Technical Manuals Elk Grove, CA <1%

Allied Electronics Electronics Fort Worth, TX <1%

Avnet Embedded Solutions Electronics Phoenix, AZ <3%

Batteries Plus Batteries Pewaukee, WI <2%

Bertek Systems, Inc. Windshield Stickers Fairfax, VT <5%

BlueStar Topaz Signature Pads Hebron, KY <1%

BOSCH - SPX Corporation Smoke Meters Kalamazoo, MI <2%

Cables To Go Cable, Cord Moraine, OH <1%

Conover and Gould Public Relations Westborough, MA <3%

Dahua Technology USA Inc. Cameras Irvine, CA <3%

Data One VIN Decoder Software Beverly, MA <1%

DataPro International Inc. CAT5 Cable Seattle, WA <1%

Digikey Electronics Thief River Falls, MN <1%

Emkat Solutions Barcode Scanners Plymouth, MN <2%

FUJIFILM North America Corp. Cameras Edison, NJ <1%

Genco Industries Cable Assembly Waukesha, WI <1%

Global Emission Testing Products Cables Santa Rosa, CA <1%

Gross Automation Plastic Housing Brookfield, WI <1%

Name of Subcontractor/Vendor Services/Products

Provided Location

Percent of Contract Value

Ingram Micro, Inc. Electronics Santa Ana, CA <2%

Monoprice Electronics Rancho Cucamonga, CA <1%

Mouser Electronics Electronics Mansfield, TX <1%

Mustang Dynamometer Dynamometers Twinsburg, OH <1%

Newark Electronics Electronics Palatine, IL <1%

Newegg For Business Electronics City of Industry, CA <1%

Newegg.com Electronics Whittier, CA <1%

OCP Group, Inc. Cable, Cord San Diego, CA <1%

OKI Data Americas, Inc. Printers Mt. Laurel, NJ <2%

PCM-G (formerly Global Gov) Electronics Dayton, OH <2%

Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. Camera Denver, CO <2%

SHI International Corp. Electronics Austin, TX <3%

Sjoberg Tool & Mfg. Corporation Metal Fabrication Hartland, WI <2%

StarTech.com Computer peripherals Lockbourne, OH <1%

Stratcomm, Inc. Public Communications Natick, MA <1%

Topaz Systems Inc. OEM – Signature Pad Simi Valley, CA <1%

USGlobalSat, Inc. GPS Chino, CA <1%

Zebra Technologies Printers Lincolnshire, IL <3%

Major Subcontractors

Applus will not be engaging any suppliers, vendors or subcontractors whose subcontract value equals or exceeds 20% of the total Contract Value.

3.2.1 Program Proposal: Technical Response Elements

3.2.1.1 Program Description

A. Flow Diagram: The flowchart below illustrates the process that Applus will implement to conduct vehicle inspections, with the goal of reducing emissions and improving the safety of motor vehicles in the Commonwealth.

During the Agencies/Applus Joint Application Development (JAD) meetings, we will refine the process in greater detail and include business rules for each type of Inspection Station, Inspector license class and Workstation configuration type. The resulting set of specifications will be documented in a System Requirements Specification (SRS) which will be the road map for development of the software on the VID, Workstation, Dashboard and other interfaces. The Agencies and Applus will jointly develop the Workstation and Dashboard interfaces. Optionally, the Agencies may choose to allow Inspection Stations and the repair industry to contribute during the JAD sessions.

The software will be designed to follow business rules to automate the inspection process and to ensure accurate results are provided for each vehicle inspected. Examples of business rules and/or processes included:

Inspections can only be performed when the Workstation is online and successfully communicating with the VID and ALARS, unless offline is expressly permitted by the

Agencies or when ALARS is not available;

Light, Medium and Heavy-duty Inspection Stations can only test vehicles that are permitted within their license class;

Diesel opacity tests can only be performed at Inspection Stations configured with an opacity meter. If there is no opacity meter the inspection option is not displayed on the menu;

Reinspection logic will be applied to determine if the failure occurred within the past 60 days and at the same Inspection Station, and if not, the inspection will be a paid test;

Safety inspection software will guide the Inspector through the process appropriate for the vehicle type, commercial or non-commercial;

Motorcycle inspections performed by Inspection Stations without a Workstation will be done via secure Dashboard login from a computer. The software will guide the Inspector through the process following rules appropriate to this inspection type;

The Dashboard will allow Applus to document Waivers and Extensions following a process of Application, Review, Approve/Deny steps;

Using several components such as historical VID database tables, ALARS and DataOne VIN decoding, Applus will provide safety inspections to all vehicles registered in Massachusetts

(excluding tactical military vehicles), trailers over 3,000 GVWR, semi-trailers, converter dollies, 7D vehicles and motorcycles per Regulation 540 CMR 4.00;

Using several components such as historical VID data tables, ALARS, DataOne VIN decoding and OBDFlex (described in Section 3.2.1.4), Applus will provide emissions tests to all vehicles defined in Section 6.1.2 of the RFR and possible new categories of vehicles as required by the Agencies in the future;

Results of the test will not be provided until there is post-inspection communication between the Workstation, VID and with ALARS, with acknowledgment of receipt by ALARS. If the vehicle passes the inspection, the VIR and sticker will be generated with appropriate barcoded information;

Following business rules for Challenge Inspections, motorists who are unsatisfied with the process and have failed their inspection may seek to challenge the results. The VID and

Workstation will follow the Challenge Inspection process at another Inspection Station, providing a free inspection should the vehicle pass, or charging the test fee if the vehicle should fail the challenge test; and

While not primarily a VID or Workstation function, there are many processes performed by

Motorist Assistance Centers (MAC) staff who will follow documented procedures and use tools available on the Workstation such as the OBD scan tool diagnostic functions. This will include, but is not limited to, repair assistance, running drive traces to set readiness monitors and researching technical service bulletins and recall notices.

During the term of the Contract, should the Agencies implement a registration enforcement aspect to the Program, either via registration denial or suspension, Applus will work with the Agencies to implement logic on the VID and Workstation to support this function.

As described in the following sections of this proposal, Applus looks forward to working with the

Agencies to implement and manage an integrated Program that allows the Agencies to meet all their goals. It is also our goal to provide motorists a convenient network of Inspection Stations staffed with properly trained Inspectors that enables them to comply with safety and emissions inspection laws.

Following is the vehicle inspection flowchart.

3.2.1.2 Inspection Station Network

Applus will fully support the Inspection Station network including the auditing equipment used by the

Agencies. Through an outreach campaign via seminars, webinars, email and a newly designed website, Applus will recruit and supply information that allows stations to make a decision regarding participation in the Program. Facilities who have met their requirements to participate in the Program and who have been through the orientation will be able to conduct inspections.

Seminars: Applus will schedule a series of seminars throughout Massachusetts to inform shop owners of Program changes, their responsibilities per the Inspection Station Agreement (ISA) for Program participation and options for ordering equipment. Seminars will be held at various locations, such as technical training schools, libraries, etc., for the convenience of the attendees. Locations will be selected to ensure adequate geographical coverage. Applus will commence weekly seminars at the new

MAC locations across the state three (3) months prior to the Program transition.

The seminar content will include details relating to Inspection Workstation delivery, setup, service and maintenance, and the process for addressing questions and issues. We invite the Agencies to attend these seminars to answer Program related questions. Applus will also bring a prototype of the Workstation for demonstration during the seminars.

Website: To support participation in the seminars, Applus will work with the Agencies to craft and schedule periodic electronic messages to the current Program Workstations that will direct the Stations and Inspectors to a Program rollout implementation/website exclusively designed to provide relevant information to support a smooth transition. The rollout website will include key Program dates, seminar information, Help Desk support information, and how to place an order for equipment and supplies and other helpful items. The rollout website will allow for the downloading of the ISA and provide the ability to register for a seminar online.

Applus I/M Seminar in California

Users will be able to sign up for notifications when new information (such as seminar dates and locations) is posted to the rollout website. Upon Contract award, we expect the Stations and

Inspectors (prospective stations and inspectors too) to have many questions, and the rollout website will include a Frequently Asked Questions section and provide the ability to ask questions online to address this need. The rollout website will give them a level of comfort by providing an evolving source for information as the implementation develops. Eventually, the rollout website will provide a complete source of information about Program transition and include useful tools to make the changeover as simple and effortless as possible.

Webinars: For Station owners and Inspectors who are unable to attend the seminars, a series of webinars will be scheduled to provide the same information. We are planning on five (5) webinars, but will add more as necessary. We anticipate that some aspects of this plan may be updated based on information, questions or concerns learned throughout the course of the seminars. Webinars will be recorded and posted to the website for viewing on demand.

Follow-up: Approximately 90 days prior to the Program transition date, Applus will start contacting existing Stations who have not met all of their requirements for participation. We will document this activity for tracking and reporting purposes.

Equipment Orders: The rollout website will have a storefront and shopping cart where Stations can place an order using a credit card or the financing option. Applus will leverage its online storefront experience - in selling and distributing over 750 workstations and an additional 750 OBD scan tools in our California program - to take orders and to deploy new Workstations in Massachusetts.

For orders using the financing plan, a credit application will be available on the rollout/Program website. The application will be filled out by the Station and electronically signed using

DocuSign®. DocuSign® is a legal and enforceable electronic signature service that eliminates the need to print, fax or mail documents. Whether the

Workstation acquisition is made via the financing option or outright purchase, all participation documents can be executed using DocuSign® to give the Station owner the flexibility to complete the entire process online.

Site Visits: After a Workstation order is placed and the ISA is executed, an Applus team member will schedule and visit each Station. During this visit, Applus will evaluate the Station and determine the most appropriate locations for items such as the Workstation cabinet and bay cameras. The evaluator will utilize a Station checklist to be sure that all of the requirements in the ISA are in place (or will be in place) by the time of the delivery and installation. Results from the site visits, including the dates and evaluator information, will be tracked and stored in a database and tied to each individual Station so any open items can received proper follow up.

Delivery: After the Workstations have been manufactured, on-site delivery followed by installation will be scheduled. Even with a large volume of orders, Applus is prepared to meet Workstation delivery deadlines with a solid logistics plan and a staff of no less than 20 people. As the current equipment provider to Parsons for the Ontario Drive Clean program, Applus has delivered 1,900 workstations to that program within a similar timeframe. To date, all 1,900 workstations have been delivered on time.

Installation/Final QA/Training: Applus installers will visit each Station after delivery. Equipment will then be unpackaged and installed. Installers will verify component functionality and VID connectivity by conducting a nonofficial test. The installer will remind the Station owner of how they and their Inspectors can receive the required orientation training.

California Storefront for Ordering Workstations

Help Desk: The Help Desk will be available for the purpose of supporting the Workstation acquisition, delivery and installation process. Applus will staff the Help Desk with knowledgeable personnel knowledgeable to efficiently respond to inquiries and effectively support the network.

A. Network Connectivity Standards: The following standard ISA terms are proposed for the various types of Inspection Stations to connect to the network. In this case “network” refers to the infrastructure needed to connect to the VID and meet technology requirements. During JAD sessions

Applus will work with the Agencies to determine the final standards that will be included in the ISA.

To join the Program, Station owners must agree to all terms in the ISA. Within this document there will be a section detailing what provisions they must make at their Station to allow the approved

Workstation to connect to the VID. At a minimum this section will require:

Dedicated high-speed Internet with a static IP address, wireless router supporting Power over Ethernet (PoE);

A category 5 (or better) communications cable from the modem or other connection point to where the Workstation will be located (prior to equipment installation); and

120V electrical outlet, 15 amp circuit available at the Workstation location.

These requirements will be identical for all Workstation types in Light, Medium, Heavy-duty Stations.

They will also apply to Medium and Heavy-duty only Stations.

For Stations that only perform motorcycle inspections, they must agree to the following provisions for the computer they use to access the Dashboard to enter motorcycle inspection results.

The computer cannot be accessed by the general public;

The computer must maintain current virus and anti-malware software that is running in the background at all times;

The username and password to access the Dashboard will only be used by the certified

Inspector to which they are given;

They must inform Applus immediately if at any time the computer is compromised by a virus or other malicious code attack; and

Applus will ensure that all inspection stations meet minimum requirements for Program participation by performing a site evaluation and reviewing all required paperwork.

B. Alternative Workstations - Access to Network: Applus will permit alternate Workstations to connect to the network with Agencies approval. However, if non-Applus Workstations are permitted, Applus would incur an increase in operating costs due to the loss of economy of scale and as a result there would be an increase in the inspection VID fee. Supporting data to explain this cost increase is provided in narrative form in the cost response. Some of the items that will add to the cost to implement and operate the Program include but are not limited to the following:

Applus would have to participate in supporting the ATP efforts of the other vendor(s);

The rollout and Program websites would need to be modified to include information relevant to other vendor(s) and the alternate Workstation(s) offered by them;

The Help Desk staff would have to be trained on the operation of the alternate

Workstation(s) to provide proper support;

The CRM application would need to be modified to add the alternate Workstation(s) information to dropdown fields and other data elements;

Training would have to be modified to include information about these alternate

Workstations;

Service Level Agreement violations and associated Liquidated Damages that may be caused by the alternate vendor(s) would be borne by Applus;

There could be reoccurring costs and legal expenses if a software escrow account is necessary to secure their software to protect the Agencies and Applus’ interests; and

The Inspector training Program would need to be modified to include all Workstation designs so an Inspector would be proficient performing inspections regardless of what brand and model of Workstation the Station purchases.

For companies wishing to offer alternate equipment to Stations, Applus will require a mutually agreeable non-disclosure agreement to be executed. Once completed, Applus will provide the alternate equipment provider with a VID Communications specification.

Alternate Supplier Workstations ISAs: In the event that the Agencies choose to allow Inspection

Stations to obtain equipment, maintenance and consumables procured from suppliers other than

Applus, we intend to work with the Agencies and other suppliers to develop one standard ISA applicable to all Stations. This will require Applus working with any additional suppliers to reach contractual agreements that will ensure that all equipment, service and support are provided by those suppliers complies with all applicable Program rules and regulations. Although Applus recognizes that we are responsible for overall Program compliance with the terms of the Contract, the agreements with other suppliers allow a pass-through of any penalties or liquidated damages associated with failure of those suppliers to perform.

C. Draft ISA Standard Terms and Conditions: Applus’ legally binding ISA will address all standards for types of inspection stations required by the Agencies. Furthermore, Applus will accommodate any

Agency-required additions or alterations to the minimum standards and provide suggestions for changes to improve the overall quality of the inspection network.

To ensure that motorists receive reliable vehicle inspections, the ISA will stress Workstation maintenance, and adherence to applicable Program rules and regulations. Applus will work with the

Agencies during the requirements gathering phase to develop clearly understood requirements that will be included in the approved ISA and explained during Workstation orientation. The standardized

ISA will fully address all required areas as determined by the Agencies and Applus, such as equipment maintenance, installation, access to premises, insurance, payment terms, default, taxes, and other terms and conditions.

Based on the executed ISA and rules defined by the Agencies, Applus (or the Agencies, if they so choose) can lockout any Stations that do not adhere to the terms deemed “critical” by the Agencies and Applus. Although every element in the ISA is important, Applus has experience in working with jurisdictions to define and implement policies considered critical to Program success, including the following:

Requirements for installation and proper care of the workstation, including all relevant and applicable software licensing terms.

Applus’ experience in managing I/M programs has shown the need for an established procedure for equipment installation and software updates. Applus’ solution will lockout a station from testing during equipment installations, moves, and deactivations. Requirements to comply with vehicle inspection laws and regulations.

To maintain public faith and the integrity of the program, all stations must comply with relevant vehicle inspection laws and regulations. The ISA will clearly indicate that any violations will result in a station lockout and disciplinary action.

The automatic suspension or termination of the agreement if the inspection station’s vehicle inspection license has been suspended or revoked.

Applus will uphold any station suspension issued by the Agencies and will lockout from testing any station that has had its license suspended or revoked.

If a Station is found to be in violation of an ISA requirement, there will be a documented process for the Station to remedy the deficiency and remain in the Program. If the Station is unable or unwilling to correct the deficiency they will lose their license and be removed from the Program. Specifics of the resolution and suspension process will be developed jointly with the Agencies during the JAD sessions.

Additional ISA Terms and Conditions: In addition to the standard ISA conditions applicable to the Station type, the ISA will also cover requirements for equipment procurement, maintenance, installation, auditing, access to premises, insurance, payments, network and inspection fees. In addition, it will clearly define default terms, taxes, and other terms and conditions as required in RFR

Section 6.2.6.

Below are some examples of additional proposed terms and conditions:

Posted hours of operations and when inspections will be provided;

Program signage placed in a prominent location;

Program literature available at the service counter;

Sufficient parking and a waiting area for motorist convenience;

Have sufficient Inspectors to cover the posted hours of operation;

Approved locations to permanently mount the cameras that connect to the Workstation;

Sufficient lighting so camera images are clear and details can be seen;

For Medium and Heavy-duty Inspection Stations, the driveway, parking, and overhead door heights must meet requirements to safely accommodate large trucks presented for inspection; and

Meet the technical requirements for networking and VID connectivity.

Fee Collection: Applus provides a number of unique station billing solutions in our current programs, recognizing the needs of each jurisdiction. The final ISA approved by the Agencies will describe the equipment Stations will receive, detail both the Station’s and Applus’ responsibilities, and explain all fees, the billing process, methods of payment and consequences for failure to comply with the terms of the agreement (e.g., late and reconnection fees). Payment will be accepted via ACH electronic transfer. Applus will have a designated finance employee who will manage Station accounts and financial transactions, including reconciling any purchases and payments as needed. Should a

Station not agree with any portion of their statement, they will be able to contact Applus Program staff to resolve the issue.

Applus has found that the most convenient method of collecting per-test fees is by using Test

Authorizations (TAs), which are no more than sequential unique serial numbers assigned to a

Workstation. One serial number is consumed for each completed paid test. Training, aborted, and certain other tests and free reinspections do not consume a TA. A menu item on the Workstation allows authorized Station personnel to log onto the Dashboard to access the TA ordering application.

From there they can check their current balance of remaining TAs, request and download reconciliation reports and purchase additional TAs in blocks of 25. This allows the Station to purchase an appropriate number of TAs based on their forecasted inspection volume and decide how much inventory they choose to carry. If the Workstation drops to 10 (which is configurable) or fewer remaining TAs, a warning message is displayed on the main menu alerting the Station to order more.

The use of TAs to allow inspections alleviates the need for monthly billing, VID connection charges, and other methods that some jurisdictions use. The Applus Dashboard TA Ordering application will track and provide historical reporting of all TA transactions to the Station owner or manager, and will be available to the Agencies for auditing via the Dashboard.

New Station Recruiting: As participation rates of the current Stations in the new Program are assessed and shared with the Agencies, Applus may seek qualified businesses to become Inspection

Stations that meet the requirements of Section 6.2.1 of the RFR. The Program goal is to continually have sufficient numbers and geographic coverage from all Station types across the state. The goal is to create a network where Station density matches population density and ease of access is based on highways and traffic patterns. This will create a network where motorist drive time is kept to a minimum. This logic will be used for each Inspection Station type, to accommodate all motorists regardless of the type of vehicle they drive. It would not be in the interest of the Program to have multiple Light-duty Stations within one town, without having one or more Medium or Heavy-duty

Inspection Stations in the same town. Applus will work closely with the Agencies to identify any

Program areas that are underserved due to growth or demographic change. Applus will recruit new stations into the Program in these areas via seminars, targeted mailers, telephone calls and website advertising.

D. Anticipated Obstacles: The success of an I/M program starts with quality equipment. The equipment that Applus will provide to the Stations in the Program has been handpicked (and in some cases custom made) for quality and durability, ensuring smooth Program operations for the life of the

Contract (including extensions).

If alternative equipment is allowed in the Program, the equipment vendor will be contractually required to offer equipment that meets certain specifications. However, they may seek ways to cut corners to save money. This could result in additional levels of service, support and/or Station down-time. If this occurs, it could cause frustration and confusion at the Inspection Stations and among motorists as well. This can result in unnecessary negative views related to the Program. As the

Agencies have seen in the past, utilizing multiple vendors with varying levels of service can result in unnecessary finger pointing and a reduction in the quality of service, which hurts the Program and creates problems for the Agencies.

The Applus support staff will be trained and ready to handle calls from all Stations in the Program, regardless of what vendor they purchased their equipment from. Our staff will make an attempt to resolve each support inquiry that comes in. When the problem is outside Applus’ control, our staff will refer the caller to the appropriate equipment provider(s).

Applus has firsthand experience managing programs that have multiple equipment providers. In our

Georgia program there are four (4) equipment providers, which creates a very difficult set of conditions as it quadruples the efforts for software modifications, ATPs, service, and consistent test results if a vehicle visits multiple Stations using different equipment. The Help Desk is tasked with answering calls for these various scenarios and providing correct information since each of them differ in significant ways.

3.2.1.3 Workstations

A: Workstation Equipment: Applus will design, produce, install, and maintain complete MASS17

Workstations that will be utilized to perform the annual safety and emissions inspections in accordance with all requirements specified in RFR Section 6.3 and Attachment A. Our proposed solution will also comply with or exceed EPA standards, and conform to Agency rules for safety and emissions testing, per applicable Massachusetts laws and regulations.

In our design selection process for the proposed MASS17 Workstation equipment, Applus placed priority on performance, durability, ability to meet or exceed applicable requirements, and functionality over equipment cost alone, unlike many of our industry counterparts. Applus has 20 years of demonstrated engineering and operational experience in designing and building inspection workstation equipment, selecting durable equipment components that conform to approved specifications and are suitable for harsh environments common to decentralized inspection facilities.

All peripheral Workstation equipment including but not limited to, PCs, monitors, printers, and cameras will be obtained from vendors Applus has previously worked with and have demonstrated a history of reliability as a supply partner.

Emissions and Safety Equipment Solutions: The accuracy of vehicle emissions testing is only as good as the quality of the diagnostic equipment and accompanying software tools used to conduct the inspections. Applus engineers and manufactures a superior line of gas, diesel and on-board diagnostic analyzers designed in conjunction with our ISO Quality Management System (QMS) best practice guidelines. Our dependable tools are used in many vehicle emissions testing programs operated by other I/M vendors (i.e., Parsons, Opus, etc.) and are resold by equipment only vendors (i.e., Bosch, Snap-On, etc.), since they ensure a quick and accurate analysis of emissions output. The table below shows where Applus’ inspection equipment and software are utilized by competing I/M contractors.

Vendor Location Type Hardware Software Bosch California OBD X

Cartek/ Bear Engineering

Puerto Rico Guatemala

Chile Columbia Ecuador

OBD

Safety

TSI

Opacity

X X

ESP (Opus) North Carolina

Beijing Hong Kong

OBD

IM240

Opacity

X X

Parsons Louisiana Ontario

OBD

Gas Cap

TSI

Opacity

X X

Snap-On California Virginia

Pennsylvania

OBD X X

An imperative step to ensuring both long-term operation and maintainability of the MASS17

Workstation equipment, equipment quality and durability is evaluated and vetted in conjunction with environmental chamber testing. Located at our engineering and manufacturing facility in Brookfield, Wisconsin, equipment is subjected to various environmental operating conditions including heat, cold, and humidity as well as electrical interference tests. Applus also draws upon its years of experience producing and maintaining equipment used in programs, like in Ontario, Canada, where winters are longer and typically colder than those in Massachusetts, and in Utah counties Salt Lake and Weber, where summers are usually hotter than those in Massachusetts. All equipment installed will be in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. As described in further detail below, all MASS17

Workstation equipment and software will be rigorously tested utilizing a comprehensive set of

Acceptance Testing Procedures (ATPs).

With the exception of the USGlobalSat GPS, Zebra sticker printer and Logitech headset, Applus has used all of the proposed MASS17 equipment in I/M programs we currently operate. However, Applus has prior experience working with Zebra and Logitech equipment and have selected their products based on a proven track record of durability and reliability. The table below summarizes the equipment components and number of units currently deployed.

Experience with Proposed Equipment

Equipment # of Units Currently Deployed

HP Personal Computer 1900

Asus LED Monitor 1900

Honeywell Barcode Scanner 3000+

Applus OBD Scan Tool 2000

Dieseltune Opacity Meter 400

OKI Data VIR Printer 3000+

Microsoft LifeCam Inspector Camera 3000+

Ricoh Hand-held Camera 1900

Dahua IP Bay Camera 1400

MASS17 Workstation Configurations: Applus’ proposed MASS17 equipment and software includes multiple configurations to support the various types of vehicle inspections. Each Workstation will include a complete set of inspection equipment as required to support the Station’s license type and reside within an Inspection Station. Applus’ MASS17 Workstation solution will serve the primary function of implementing the inspection process to accurately identify high emitting and unsafe vehicles and verifying successful emissions and safety repairs. In addition, it will serve as a diagnostic tool to assist repair technicians in fixing excessively polluting vehicles as well as deterring fraud and minimizing improper inspections. A brief overview description of the three (3) configurations follows here, with additional equipment detail described in further detail thereafter.

Light-Duty Workstation: Used to perform all safety inspection types (non-commercial, commercial, and 7D) and OBD testing of light and medium-duty OBD vehicles up to 10,000 pounds GVWR. The

Light-Duty Workstation includes the following equipment: cabinet, computer and accessories, barcode scanner, OBD scan tool and cables to connect to light and medium-duty vehicles, printers, cameras, and GPS device.

Heavy-Duty Workstation: Used to perform all safety inspection types (non-commercial, commercial, and 7D) and all emissions test types (OBD and opacity). In addition to all of the equipment provided with the Light-Duty Workstation, Heavy-Duty Workstations will also include the following equipment: cables to connect OBD scan tool to heavy-duty vehicles, Dieseltune model DX-

270 opacity meter, and signature pad for commercial inspections.

Applus will allow Stations that currently own a Dieseltune DX-270 opacity meter to continue using their meter with Applus’ supplied MASS17 Workstation equipment. In the event an existing opacity meter is damaged beyond repair through the fault of the Station, Applus will offer for purchase a replacement opacity meter.

Motorcycle: Used to conduct motorcycle inspections utilizing Station provided equipment including their own computer, printer, and Internet connection. Applus’ web-based Dashboard inspection software, accessible using an HTML5 compliant browser, will allow Stations to conduct these inspections and will not require any software to be installed on the Stations computer.

B. Workstation Specifications

Computer: The backbone of the Applus Workstation will be a

Windows-based Hewlett Packard (HP) EliteDesk 800 G2

Personal Computer (PC) system with 104-key keyboard and optical mouse. The EliteDesk line has an efficiently crafted design and strong security features. The EliteDesk 800 G2 Small Form Factor (SSF) model is a mid-sized Workstation, able to house the required components within the case, not as discrete components external to the case. This SSF PC is equipped with a 6th generation Intel Core™ i3 processor, built in

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as Intel HD graphics.

Equipped with multiple Input/Output (I/O) ports, including 10 USB ports, of which eight (8) are

USB 3.0 ports and two are (2) USB 2.0 ports, ample connections are available for the Workstation peripherals described below.