HOUSTON, May 16, 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, May 16, 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 G7) The commission awarded a nearly $1.86 million construction contract to CB&I Constructors, Inc. for an elevated water storage tank at Bayport Terminal Complex Phase 1A.
(Agenda item K6) The commission authorized the PHA to advertise and receive competitive sealed proposals (CSPs) for the potential purchase of a radio data terminal (RDT) computer system for Bayport. The PHA will seek CSPs from qualified vendors that are interested in being considered to provide the hardware required to implement the RDTs as part of the gate operation for processing trucks in and out of the Bayport facility. The estimated cost is not expected to exceed $250,000.
SECURITY MATTERS
(Agenda item K11) The commission authorized the PHA to advertise and receive CSPs for the installation of fencing and lighting at the Woodhouse Terminal. The PHA will seek CSPs from qualified vendors that are interested in providing the installation of approximately 1,000 feet of fencing and approximately two light poles. The estimated cost is expected to range between $570,000 and $690,000.
(Agenda item K12) The commission authorized the PHA to advertise and receive CSPs for CCTV system support services for the cruise terminal at Barbours Cut. The PHA will seek CSPs from qualified vendors that are interested in providing server hardware troubleshooting, problem diagnosis and repairs, and replacement of parts for cameras, switches, transmitters, receivers and data video recorders. The estimated cost is not expected to exceed $35,000.
(Agenda item M3) The commission authorized the PHA to enter into an inter-governmental agreement with the City of Morgan's Point for security services at the Barbours Cut Terminal. The city will provide security services at the terminal for one year beginning on June 1 at an annual cost of $24,000 payable in monthly installments of $2,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
(Agenda item G10) The commission awarded a $33,745 professional services contract to DNV Certifications, Inc. to perform an ISO 14001:2004 audit of the PHA's environmental management system (EMS). DNV is expected to conduct certification and periodic re-surveillance audits for three years, evaluate ISO 14001 conformance of additional EMS facilities, and document audit findings.
FACILITY EXPANSION AND MAINTENANCE MATTERS
(Agenda item G6) The commission awarded a $112,054 construction contract to Four Seasons Development Company, Inc. for the expansion of the cruise ship terminal at Barbours Cut.
(Agenda item L1) The commission evaluated qualifications and authorized the PHA to negotiate a professional services contract with TSC Engineering Company for a secured truck entrance at the Turning Basin Terminal. Pate Engineers, Inc. and Turner Collie & Braden, Inc. were ranked second and third, respectively.
TRANSPORTATION MATTERS
(Agenda item M2) The commission approved a new resolution to increase the PHA's share of funding for the Fairmont Parkway Overpass Project. The PHA's share for the project will increase to an estimated amount not to exceed $4.6 million from the original $3.3 million that was approved in 2003.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT MATTERS
(Agenda item M1) The approved a resolution in recognition of former port commissioner Robert Gillette's 89th birthday.
(Agenda item M7) The commission approved a recommendation to enter into a memorandum agreement with Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc. to help purchase a trash skimmer boat to remove debris from the Houston Ship Channel. The PHA will contribute $150,000 toward the total $300,000 cost of purchasing the vessel.
RESOLUTION IN REMEMBRANCE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE MORENO
The commission adopted a resolution honoring the memory of State Representative Joe Moreno for his outstanding service contributions to the Port of Houston and the entire Houston community. Moreno died on May 6, 2005.
As the Houston port area's legislative representative in Austin, Moreno co-authored Proposition 3 for a state constitutional amendment to provide an ad valorem tax exemption for all imported green coffee and raw cocoa stored in Harris County. After Texas voters approved the proposition, the PHA successfully gained the New York Board of Trade's designation as the only green coffee exchange port west of the Mississippi River. Moreno also was instrumental in the passage of design-build legislation that greatly enhanced the PHA's process for awarding engineering design and construction contracts.
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