24AQP010 Assessing Feasibility and Cost of Zero-Emission Taxiing at Commercial Airports

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 24AQP010 for a comprehensive 18-month study assessing the feasibility and cost of zero-emission (ZE) taxiing technologies at commercial airports. The project seeks to analyze emerging ZE technologies for aircraft ground movement, with specific objectives including evaluating available technologies, examining real-world applications, selecting representative California airports for assessment, conducting a safety and risk management panel, and performing operational and infrastructure impact analyses. Proposers must demonstrate minimum qualifications, including two years of airport layout/design experience, one year of computer modeling for airport design, one year of government research studies, and two years of regulatory agency interface experience. The proposal evaluation will be based on technical approach, experience, work plan, and cost, with a maximum of 100 points available for scoring. Critical dates include a proposal due date of June 10, 2025, for the initial $500,000 contract, with proposals exceeding this budget potentially deemed non-responsive. The comprehensive study will require detailed modeling, cost-benefit analyses, and a thorough examination of zero-emission taxiing technologies' potential implementation.

The RFP includes provisions for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) and small business participation incentives, suggesting potential set-aside opportunities for qualifying businesses. CARB reserves the right to renew the contract for an additional six months with up to $250,000 in supplemental funding, providing potential additional opportunities for the selected contractor. The total project budget is set at $500,000, with potential expansion to $750,000 if the contract extension is exercised. While no incumbent vendors are specifically mentioned, the project requires expertise in airport design, regulatory compliance, and advanced technological assessment of zero-emission technologies. Proposers will need to demonstrate significant technical capabilities in analyzing airport infrastructure, modeling technological implementations, and conducting comprehensive research studies related to zero-emission aircraft ground movement technologies. The contract appears targeted at research organizations, engineering firms, and consultancies with specialized expertise in aviation technology, environmental engineering, and regulatory compliance.