PHA Commission Considers Bayport, Capital Improvement, Transportation Matters

July 25 Public Meeting Will Begin at 2 p.m.


HOUSTON, July 22, 2005 (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 public meeting at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 25, 2005 at the PHA Executive Office Building, located at 111 East Loop North (Exit 29 off Loop 610). Chairman Jim Edmonds will preside 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 G3) The commission will consider a recommendation to award a construction contract in the estimated amount of $1.795 million to BRH-Garver Construction, L.P. If approved, BRH-Garver would be expected to build a lift station and force main for Phase 1A of the Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal.

(Agenda item G11) The commission also will consider a recommendation to issue a purchase order to Fire Apparatus Specialty for the purchase of one HAZMAT emergency response truck for the Bayport terminal. If approved, the $273,682 purchase order would be issued based on the pricing guidelines of the Houston-Galveston Area Council's Cooperative Purchasing Program, which enables governmental entities to obtain purchasing services that offer expedited procurement, volume purchasing discounts, contract administration and research services.

(Agenda item G13) The commission will consider a recommendation to execute a change order in an estimated amount of $2.2 million to Zachry Construction Corporation for wharf and dredging at Bayport. If approved, Zachry would be expected to build additional storm water drainage structures to ensure that areas designated for dredged material placement, fill management, and other construction are free of excessive ponding and are usable for the duration of the company's wharf and dredging contract.

(Agenda item G14) The commission also will consider a recommendation to execute a change order in the estimated amount of $12.96 million to Zachry also for Bayport wharf construction and dredging. Zachry's initial contract provides for a 1,660-foot wharf. However, projected increases in demand for containerized cargo will require two 1,000-foot berths when the terminal opens. If this change order is approved, Zachry would be expected to extend the wharf 332 feet to ensure the required berths are available when the terminal opens as scheduled in mid-2006.

(Agenda item K7) The commission also will consider a recommendation to authorize the PHA to advertise and receive competitive sealed proposals (CSPs) for the potential purchase of one 45,000-lb. capacity forklift machine for Bayport. If approved, the PHA will seek CSPs from qualified vendors that are interested in and capable of providing a forklift machine capable of lifting heavy components such as spreader bars, tires, motors, and gearboxes. The unit also would be used during vessel operations when a spreader bar needs to be replaced and for other facility needs such as moving barricades for traffic control purposes. The estimated cost is expected to total $255,000.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT MATTERS

(Agenda item G4) The commission will consider a recommendation to award a contract to Forklift Systems of Texas (dba Mustang Industrial Equipment Co.) for the purchase of five yard tractors for the Barbours Cut terminal. If approved, the estimated cost is expected to total $331,580.

TRANSPORTATION MATTERS

(Agenda item M1) The commission will consider a recommendation to authorize the PHA to pass a new resolution to increase the local sponsor's share for the Fairmont Parkway Overpass Project in an amount not to exceed $6.31 million. If approved, the increase would cover the PHA's portion of the costs for construction and pipeline relocation as well as the Texas Department of Transportation's recalculated engineering and contingency costs.

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

To access the port's website photo gallery, please visit http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the link for PHA Photo Gallery.

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