HOUSTON, April 21, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) Commission will consider several recommendations, including the installation of radiation portal monitors and negotiations for entry/exit pre-check and inspection facilities at its public meeting, 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 24, 2006, in the board room at the PHA Executive Building, 111 East Loop North (Exit 29 off Loop 610) in Houston. Chairman Jim Edmonds will preside over the meeting with Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Kase Lawal, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Janiece Longoria and Commissioner Elyse Lanier.
SECURITY MATTERS
(Agenda item G2) The commission will consider a recommendation to award an estimated $189,000 construction contract to Four Seasons Development Co. Inc. for the installation of U.S. Customs and Border Protection radiation portal monitors at Ramp Point at Barbours Cut. Four Seasons submitted a competitive proposal for the project, which is part of a proposed $4 million to $6.5 million portwide radiation portal monitoring system.
(Agenda item G6) The commission will consider the qualifications of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., Morganti Texas Inc. and Satterfield and Pontikes Construction Inc. for entry/exit pre-check and inspection facilities at Barbours Cut Terminal, Phase 2. The commissioners are being asked to rank the three firms and authorize the port authority to negotiate a contract in the range of $20 million to $27 million with the top-ranked company.
PROPOSED PURCHASE AGREEMENT
(Agenda item M2) The commission is being asked to approve a proposed interlocal agreement between PHA and Harris County for reciprocal procurement contracts. If approved, the agreement would allow the port authority and the county to use each other's purchase agreements whenever such usage would result in cost and time savings. Purchases exceeded $25,000 would still require port commission approval.
STEP PROJECTS
(Agenda items M3, M4, M5) Commissioners will consider authorizing PHA to apply for State Transportation Enhancement Program (STEP) funds of $396,000 for the Turning Basin Beautification Project; $440,000 for the Barbours Cut Boulevard Beautification Project and support the application of the city of Morgan's Point for $152,000 to fund the Morgan's Point Pedestrian Pathway Project. Those totals amount to 80 percent of eligible project costs that can be reimbursed through federal funds. The program is administered and the funds distributed by the Texas Department of Transportation.
FUEL PURCHASES
(Agenda item No. G4) The commission will consider a request to authorize negotiations with and award a contract to J.A.M. Distributing Company for the purchase of unleaded gasoline and Texas Low Emission Diesel Fuels (TxLED) for Barbours Cut Terminal, Bayport Container Terminal and Turning Basin Terminal and the purchase of two fuel storage tanks for Bayport Container Terminal at a cost of $7.5 million or less. J.A.M. submitted the only qualifying proposal that came from the top three respondents.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda items G9, G10, G11, G12) The commission will consider:
-- A contract amendment resulting in a reduction of $577,966 in
the $27.4 million contract to McCarthy Building Companies
related to the Bayport Phase 1 Marine Terminal Gate
-- A contract amendment resulting in an increase of $202,000 to
McCarthy Building Companies for the construction of a temporary
road connection to move Port Road traffic onto the new Port Road
pavement about 45 days earlier than scheduled. The change order is
associated with a $14.8 million contract awarded McCarthy for the
Port Road construction project
-- A credit of $250,000, amending the $62.5 million contract awarded
Zachry Construction Corporation for the Bayport Terminal Complex
Phase 1A wharf and dredging project
-- A credit of $550,000, amending the $37.9 million contract awarded
Zachry for the Bayport Terminal Complex Phase 1A Container Yard.
The amendment is being proposed in an effort to avoid redundancy
in the installation of security cameras at Bayport. If approved,
the $550,000 would be removed from the Zachry contract and the
security camera installations rolled into the Phase I gate and
cruise terminal contracts. The combined funds would then be
awarded to one security contractor to ensure uniformity of
equipment and design.
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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