HOUSTON, Dec. 19, 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, December 19, 2005 at the Lou Lawler International Seafarers Center. 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 G2) The commission authorized the PHA to award an estimated $1.9 million professional services contract to Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation for Bayport Phase 1 wharf and dredging design. Dannenbaum is expected to design approximately 1,000 feet of additional wharf, including associated dredging and material disposal on the site.
(Agenda item G6) The commission evaluated, ranked qualifications and authorized the PHA to negotiate a potential professional services contract with HFP Acoustical Consultants, Inc for acoustical consulting related to the sound monitoring system for Bayport at the Bayport terminal construction project at an estimated cost range of $140,000 to $180,000.
(Agenda item G7) The commission authorized the PHA to execute a $48,000 credit change order to Zachry Construction Corporation for the Bayport Phase 1A container yard. Zachry will receive the credit to its $37.9 million container yard contract because the PHA has determined that 1,600 linear feet of water line for the temporary gate facilities are no longer needed.
(Agenda item G8) The commission also authorized the PHA to execute an estimated $1.5 million credit change order to Zachry for Bayport Phase 1A wharf and dredging.
INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT
(Agenda item M1) The commission authorized the PHA to enter into an inter-governmental agreement with the city of LaPorte to provide ambulance services at Barbours Cut Terminal. The city is expected to provide the services for a nine-month period beginning January 1, 2006, at a total cost of $19,575, payable in monthly installments of $2,175.
PARTNERSHIP AND SERVICE AGREEMENTS
(Agenda item M5) The commission approved a contribution of $100,000 to the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) Working Capital Fund to support GBF's efforts to foster and protect the aquatic resources of Galveston Bay.
(Agenda item M6) The commission also renewed its one-year subscription service agreement with the Houston International Seafarers Center at a total cost of $100,000 for the following services on a non-discriminatory basis to seafarers from all commercial vessels that call at Houston's public and private port terminals: operation of two seafarers centers, transportation services, safety instructions, communications, banking, emergency accommodations, recreational facilities, commissary facilities, restaurant facilities, mail and courier services, counseling services and other necessary services.
(Agenda item M7) The commission authorized the PHA to enter into a $150,000 contract with the Greater Houston Port Bureau for assistance with new business development, operational efficiency, educational outreach, and regulatory and security compliance.
MEDIA CAMPAIGN
(Agenda item M10) The commission approved a total not to exceed $1.12 million to cover the costs included in 14 media advertising partnership contracts to continue "The Port Delivers the Goods" branding and public awareness campaign in 2006. The PHA will execute contracts in excess of $25,000 each with the following media companies:
-- T&F Informa UK Ltd. -- Clear Channel Radio Houston (KPRC-AM and KTRH-AM) -- Houston Chronicle -- Journal of Commerce Shipper Group -- KHOU Channel 11 (CBS) -- KRIV Fox 26 (FOX) -- KTMD Channel 47 (Telemundo) -- KTRK Channel 13 (ABC) -- Metro Networks -- Semana Newspaper (Newspan Media Corporation) -- PrimeZone Media Network -- KMJQ-FM Majic 102 (Radio One) -- Time Warner Cable -- KLAT-AM (Univision Radio)
The campaign also is expected to include partnerships with several other diverse media companies whose contracts will total less than $25,000 each. The total 2006 budget for the campaign is more than $1.7 million. "The Port Delivers the Goods" campaign is aimed at building local and national awareness of the port's maritime shipping capabilities and connection to consumer needs.
INSURANCE MATTERS
(Agenda item L1) The commission authorized the PHA to advertise for and receive proposals to provide property and casualty insurance coverage for three years at an estimated annual cost of $4.8 million. The PHA will seek proposals from qualified vendors that are interested in and capable of providing primary and excess insurance coverage for workers' compensation, general liability, automobile liability, marine property and equipment, legal liability, real and personal property, public official liability, and electronic equipment protection beginning March 1, 2006.
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.
The Port of Houston Authority logo can be found at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=720