HOUSTON, Feb. 27, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) Commission approved several recommendations involving contract awards, bids and proposals, project change orders and contract amendments during its Feb. 27 public meeting. Chairman Jim Edmonds presided over the meeting with Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Kase Lawal, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Janiece Longoria and Commissioner Elyse Lanier.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda item G2) The commission evaluated, ranked qualifications and authorized PHA to negotiate a contract with BAE Systems for the design and implementation of the Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal security and telecommunications system integration. Adesta LLC and CDM were ranked second and third, respectively.
(Agenda item G3) The commission approved a $48,862.94 change order to a contract with Zachry Construction Corporation for the Phase 1A container yard. The cost of this project will increase to $38.16 million.
(Agenda item G5) The commission also authorized amendment of a $2.69 million contract with Klotz Associates by an additional $155,000 to pay for the design work associated with additional electrical requirements at Bayport.
(Agenda item G6) The commission renewed by an additional $6.8 million, the PHAs contract with Lockwood, Andrews and Newman Inc. for the Bayport Terminal Complex Phase I program management. The management contract costs a total of $180 million.
(Agenda item K3) The commission will consider a request to authorize the PHA to advertise and receive proposals for six diesel electric container yard cranes for Bayport, at a cost of between $7.9 and $8.9 million. The request is being made to meet the needs created by the use of an additional 50 acres of container yard scheduled to be operational by Summer 2007.
SECURITY MATTERS AND PROTECTION SERVICES
(Agenda item G7) The commission amended by an additional $2.5 million, the PHA's agreement with Battelle Memorial Institute to participate in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Radiation Portal Monitor Project at certain PHA terminals, including Barbours Cut and the Turning Basin. All expenses under the agreement are reimbursable by Battelle. The request is due largely to the addition of Bayport to the program.
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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