RFP 25RD005 Measurement and Characterization of Brake-Wear Emissions from Zero-Emission Vehicles

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is issuing Request for Proposal 25RD005 to solource qualified contractors to measure particulate matter and gaseous brake-wear emissions from light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, with specific focus on characterizing emission reductions from Zero-Emission Vehicles compared to conventional technology counterparts. The primary deliverables include identification of fleet representative vehicles, development and refinement of laboratory brake-dynamometer test procedures, collection of vehicle and braking activity data, creation of a comprehensive testing matrix and data analysis plan, execution of brake-dynamometer tests on a minimum of ten light-duty vehicles (six ZEVs) and six heavy-duty vehicles (four ZEVs), analysis of brake-wear emissions including chemical composition and toxicological effects, and development of a brake-wear emissions simulation model. Key objectives center on updating California's emissions inventories and enabling CARB to assess the impact of clean transportation programs on brake-wear emissions reduction in vulnerable communities near roadways. Minimum qualifications require proposers to demonstrate prior experience as a principal investigator or project manager on field projects involving vehicle and braking activity measurements, participation in at least one laboratory brake-dynamometer sampling campaign with proposed equipment, access to required instruments and testing facilities, and published research findings in peer-reviewed journals. The proposal submission deadline is April 13, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST, with written questions due by March 16, 2026, and work anticipated to commence June 1, 2026, for a thirty-six-month contract term. Evaluation criteria include administrative responsiveness verification, technical evaluation based on clarity and organization, management plan, methodology, work plan and schedule, personnel experience, and cost analysis, with a minimum combined score of seventy points required for award eligibility.

Optional socio-economic preference programs are available, including a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise incentive of up to five percent and Small Business or Microbusiness preferences, though no specific set-aside designations are mandated for this procurement. All proposers must submit a cultural competency statement as part of their application requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the RFP documentation, nor are there references to required integration with existing infrastructure or technology systems. The total contract budget is $850,000, and any proposals exceeding this amount are subject to automatic rejection. Cost proposals will be evaluated using a methodology wherein the lowest cost proposal receives the maximum thirty points, with all other technically qualified proposals receiving proportional points based on the ratio of the lowest proposed cost to their own cost submissions.