HOUSTON, March 28, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) commission approved several recommendations involving contract awards, bids and proposals, professional services and general administrative and operational matters during its public meeting on Monday, March 28, 2005. Chairman Jim Edmonds presided over the meeting with Vice Chairman Kase Lawal, Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Cheryl Thompson-Draper, and Commissioner Janiece Longoria.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda item K7) The commission approved a recommendation to authorize the PHA to advertise and receive proposals for two dockside electric container cranes for the Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal. Currently, four such cranes have been ordered and are scheduled to be operational for the Bayport terminal's opening on June 1, 2006. To keep up with projected growth, however, the PHA plans to extend the wharf to provide docking space for two vessels. The PHA will seek proposals for two additional cranes in order to provide three dockside cranes per ship in accordance with the Bayport master plan (estimated cost range: $12 million to $20 million).
(Agenda item K5) The commission evaluated and ranked CSPs for a potential construction contract award ranging from $800,000 to $1 million for the Phase 1A amenities building at Bayport. Momentum Contractors, Inc. received the commission's top ranking followed by Meridian Commercial, L.P., and SpawGlass Civil Construction, Inc., respectively.
(Agenda item G15) The commission approved a recommendation to amend the contract with DMJM Harris/AECOM by an estimated $474,000 for Phase 1A wharf extension at Bayport. DMJM Harris/AECOM will modify the original 1,660-ft. wharf design by adding 330 feet to accommodate the projected cargo volumes at Bayport. DMJM Harris/AECOM also will modify the design of crane tie-downs to accommodate the specific dimensions and loads for the ZPMC cranes now on order.
(Agenda item G14) The commission approved a recommendation to amend the contract with CH2M Hill, Inc. for Phase 1A management at Bayport. CH2M Hill will manage the design of a 330-ft. wharf extension by DMJM Harris/AECOM at an estimated cost of $61,000. CH2M Hill is currently performing construction management for numerous Bayport projects.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT MATTERS
(Agenda item G2) The commission awarded a design/build contract to BEI Engineers. BEI will relocate the PHA's main gate, install an additional lane for inspection, and install fencing, lighting, access control, and closed-circuit TV systems with connectivity to the Port Coordination Center at a cost not to exceed $2.041 million. The project is targeted for completion by no later than March 31, 2006. Federal funds totaling $1.5 million for this project will expire in August 2006.
(Agenda item K3) The commission evaluated and ranked CSPs for a potential contract award ranging from $750,000 to $950,000 for maintenance dredging of berthing areas at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal. Mike Hooks, Inc. received the commission's top ranking followed by T.W. LaQuay Dredging, Inc. and King Fisher Marine Service, L.P., respectively.
(Agenda item K4) The commission evaluated and ranked CSPs for a potential construction contract award ranging from $800,000 to $1.1 million for pavement replacement at Barbours Cut. AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc. received the commission's top ranking followed by USA Environment, L.P.
MAINTENANCE MATTERS
(Agenda item K6) The commission evaluated and ranked one CSP for a potential two-year contract award ranging from $1.2 million to $1.8 million for the purchase of diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline. Petroleum Traders Corporation received the commission's top ranking.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
(Agenda item G7) The commission awarded a contract to J.A.M. Distributing Co., for the purchase of Purinox diesel emulsion fuel for Barbours Cut Terminal. The PHA is expected to use approximately 1.2 million gallons of Purinox over the next year at a cost not to exceed $1.8 million. Purinox is a proprietary technology of the Lubrizol Corporation that is used in most off-road diesel-powered equipment at Barbours Cut. The product has helped the PHA reduce its nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter emissions by 25 percent and 30 percent, respectively. In 2004, the PHA committed to use the fuel in 28 yard trucks and 33 rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes at the facility. J.A.M. has been designated by Lubrizol as the exclusive distributor of Purinox in Texas.
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
The PHA has a website photo gallery featuring images of port commissioners, executives, facilities, business activities, community outreach events and activities, environmental projects, and logos. Users can download the gallery's high-resolution images at no charge after registering as a member. The port website's simple online member registration procedure requires users to submit their name, company, telephone number, and e-mail address, personal password, and description of the intended use of the downloaded images.
To access the photo gallery, please visit http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the link for PHA Photo Gallery.
The Port of Houston Authority logo can be found at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=720