HOUSTON, May 19, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- As Phase 1A of the Bayport Container Terminal project nears completion, the Port Commission of The Port of Houston Authority will consider several professional services contracts and contract amendments associated with the project at its public meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 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 ISSUES
(Agenda item G1) The commission will consider a recommendation to award a $388,900 professional services contract to BEI Engineers for design of access control devices for the North Turning Basin restricted area truck entrance/exit areas.
(Agenda item G2) The commission is being asked to approve a contract not to exceed $747,000 to Service Applications International Corporation for the design of a comprehensive security system comprised of guard houses, gates, access control, cameras, communications, constant power supply, lights and fencing for the Manchester, Care and Southside terminals.
(Agenda item K9) Commission approval is being sought for the advertising and receipt of proposals for an intelligent video surveillance system for an estimated $1.52 million to $1.75 million. If approved, the system will provide perimeter intrusion detection, directional trip-wire; tailgating and detection of objects left behind or removed from a specific area.
All three items are a part of the PHA's federal security grant initiatives. To date, the PHA has received $31.5 million in security grants from the federal government.
BAYPORT ITEMS
(Agenda item G13) The commission is being asked to approve a lease agreement not to exceed $502,926 with M Space Holdings LLC for the use of temporary buildings for operations while the permanent Bayport administration and maintenance buildings are under construction. Costs include design of port-directed floor plans, transportation of the buildings to and from Bayport, as well as the installation and securing of the buildings to the concrete pavement.
(Agenda items G14, G15, G17, G18, and G19) The staff is seeking commission approval to amend the contracts for five engineering companies to extend the term of their construction phase support through completion of the initial projects, for a total of $1,685,464, with up to 70 percent of those fees reimbursable by the federal government and existing contracts. Services will include materials testing, construction management, and engineering services during construction.
(Agenda items G23, G24, G26, and G27) The staff is seeking commission approval on this month's agenda for $1,108,781 in construction contract change orders for the Port Road, container yard, and two wharf contracts. Up to $900,000 of those costs may be reimbursable.
Since June 2004, PHA has awarded $248.5 million in Bayport Phase 1A wharf and dredging construction contracts. Should the commission approve amendments on this agenda, the total net dollar amount of contract amendments for construction field changes at Bayport over the two-year period will be about 0.5 percent of total construction costs.
(Agenda item K4) The commission is being asked to authorize solicitation and receipt of competitive bid proposals for construction of the Phase 1 container yard, at an estimated cost of $27.1 million to $35 million. The project includes 50 acres of roller-compacted concrete, extensive construction of underground utilities, and high mast lighting.
(Agenda item K11) Commissioners are being asked to authorize a request for qualifications to provide professional engineering services for the verification testing of construction materials for proposed construction projects at Bayport and Barbours Cut Terminal.
(Agenda item M4) The commissioners will consider a recommendation to authorize the PHA to spend up to $150,000 on computer network communications equipment for the Bayport Container Terminal. The staff is seeking authorization to use state of Texas contract prices.
ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
(Agenda item M6) The commission will consider a recommendation to authorize the PHA to enter into an 18-month subscription service agreement with the Bay Area Economic Partnership for $37,500. The agreement, if approved, will help promote the development and enhancement of port facilities and activities in the Clear Lake area. PHA staff is seeking commission approval for 18 months so that the contract period ends during the same time as similar PHA economic development contracts.
To view the complete agenda, please visit: http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html
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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