REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: HENRY THOMPSON, Director of Aviation
Airports Department
BILLY ALCORN, Fire Chief
Fire Department
BY: FRANCISCO PARTIDA, Assistant Director
Airports Department
CRISTAL DE LA TORRE, Project Administrator
Airports Department
SUBJECT
Title
Affirm the City Manager’s finding that Group Delta Inc. is uniquely qualified and Approve the Consultant Services Agreement with Group Delta Inc. for F3 Transition ARFF Vehicle Treatment Services at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) for an amount not to exceed $441,482 (Council District 4).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the approval of a Consultant Service Agreement with Group Delta Consultants, Inc., to conduct Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle treatment services for the removal of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)in an amount not-to-exceed $441,482 and affirm the City Manager’s determination that Group Delta Inc. is uniquely qualified.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fresno Airports Department is advancing its transition from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to environmentally safer fluorine-free foam (F3) in compliance with federal mandates and the Airport’s AFFF to F3 Transition Plan. As part of this effort, Group Delta, Inc. has proposed to perform specialized PFAS decontamination and treatment services on three Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) units at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT).
The proposed work utilizing the proprietary PerfluorAd™ process to remove PFAS from ARFF vehicle systems and treat the resulting rinsate on-site. The comprehensive scope of work includes system clean-out, waste sampling and analysis, coordination with the City’s Wastewater Division, and final reporting.
The total proposed not-to-exceed cost is $441,482, which includes mobilization, treatment, testing, reporting, and contingency. The treatment is expected to take 4-5 weeks and will be scheduled to ensure that only one ARFF unit is out of service at a time to maintain emergency readiness.
Approval of this Agreement will allow the department to proceed with this critical environmental compliance step and further the safe transition to F3 foam systems at FAT.
BACKGROUND
On November 27, 2023 a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was advertised seeking Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from Environmental Engineering and related firms to provide consulting services including, but not limited to, environmental site assessment, hazardous materials surveying, identification of hazardous substances and solid wastes, reports, technical studies, permits, testing, analysis, mitigation plan preparation and monitoring at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) and Fresno Chandler Executive Airport (FCH) on an individual project or on call basis over the next five (5) years. The Airports Department received three (3) SOQs by the 3:00 PM January 5, 2024 deadline.
The SOQs were evaluated by the committee using the six criteria listed in Section C of the RFQ. The committee determined that two firms, Group Delta, Inc. and BSK Associates were qualified to provide consultant services for the Airports Department. On September 30, 2024 Airports Department entered into an on-call consultant agreement with Group Delta Inc. not to exceed $50,000 through February 26, 2029.
Through the on-call task order process, Group Delta Inc. provided a proposal for and was tasked with providing a comprehensive F3 Transition Plan Analysis executed on October 9th 2024.
The Airports Department is currently transitioning from AFFF to fluorine-free firefighting foam (F3) per FAA requirements and FAT’s AFFF to F3 Transition Plan (dated December 4, 2024). This treatment is a necessary step to ensure environmental compliance and safe disposal of legacy PFAS materials in accordance with regulatory standards.
In response to a request for proposal issued on December 13, 2024, Group Delta Consultants submitted a comprehensive scope of work for treatment and decontamination of three ARFF units:
2016 Oshkosh Striker (420-gallon tank)
2016 Rosenbauer Panther (400-gallon tank)
AFFF Trailer (570-gallon tank)
Group Delta will subcontract with TRS Group, Inc., who hold the exclusive North American licensee for the PerfluorAd™ PFAS treatment process.
This ARFF treatment project is a critical environmental and safety initiative supporting FAT’s transition to fluorine-free foam systems and compliance with state and federal regulatory mandates.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purpose of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable to this Project pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code 4-109(b)
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this project will be provided through Airport funded revenues.
Attachment:
Consultant Services Agreement
Uniquely Qualified Memo- Executed