HOUSTON, April 23, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) commission will consider several recommendations involving contract awards, bids and proposals, professional services and general administrative and operational matters during its meeting beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2004. Chairman Jim Edmonds will preside over the public meeting in the 4th floor board room at 111 East Loop North (exit 29 off Loop 610).
PuriNOx Purchase
The commission will consider a recommendation to award a $1 million contract to J.A.M. Distributing Co., for the purchase of approximately 900,000 gallons of PuriNOx diesel emulsion fuel for use in off-road, diesel-powered equipment at PHA's Barbours Cut Container Terminal. If approved, the one-year contract would begin on April 29, 2004.
PuriNOx is manufactured by the Lubrizol Corporation, which has designated J.A.M. Distributing Co. as the exclusive distributor of the product in Texas. Last year, the PHA committed to use the diesel emulsion in 28 yard trucks and 28 rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes at Barbours Cut. Five new PuriNOx-fueled cranes are expected to be added to the fleet this year. The incremental cost for PuriNOx is covered by a Texas Emission Reduction Plan (TERP) grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The use of the fuel has resulted in significant reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter with no negative impacts on operational efficiency.
Sound Wall Construction
The commission will consider a recommendation to evaluate and rank competitive sealed proposals and authorize negotiation of a contract for the construction of a sound wall for Phase 1 of the entry/exit pre-check and inspection facilities at Barbours Cut. After the project was advertised in the Houston Chronicle, on the port's website, and through the PHA's Vendor Information System, five companies submitted CSPs. PHA's Engineering Department has selected Forde Construction Co., Inc., John Reed and Company, LTD, and MB Western Industrial as the top three contenders for the contract, which is expected to range between $900,000 and $1.4 million.
Trash Disposal
The commission will consider a recommendation to evaluate and rank competitive sealed proposals and authorize negotiation of a one-year contract for trash disposal services for PHA's north and south Turning Basin, Barbours Cut and Woodhouse terminals. After the project was advertised in the Houston Chronicle, on the port's website, and through the PHA's Vendor Information System, four companies submitted CSPs. PHA's Operations Department has selected BFI Industries, Republic Waste Services, and Waste Management as the top three contenders for the estimated $324,000 contract, which is expected to include the PHA's standard 150 percent overage clause.
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 6,600 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and sixth largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com.
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