HOUSTON, Feb. 15, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Port Commission of The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) will consider the extension of a Bayport Terminal Complex management agreement and authorization for sealed proposals on security monitoring devices on Tuesday, February 19, beginning at 9 a.m. in the board room of 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.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda G17) Commissioners will consider a PHA staff recommendation to authorize amendment/extension of a contract with Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. for program management services to the Bayport Terminal Complex, Phase I program. The contract has been amended, annually, for the past six years to provide for specific tasks scheduled for the upcoming year. This year's contract -- proposed not to exceed $4.8 million -- includes design management of the gate expansion, Marine Emergency Building and design support to future empty container yards, as well as container freight station development, environmental planning and technical services. Additionally, the plan calls for construction management and inspection for the Phase I wharf, advance dredging and fill placement and four building contracts.
SECURITY MATTERS
(Agenda K3) Commissioners are being asked to authorize the advertising and receipt of competitive sealed proposals for access control, closed-circuit television and fiber optics network controls at PHA's Executive Office Building and the Port Coordination Center. If approved, the project -- partially funded through federal security grants -- is estimated to cost between $615,000 and $715,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
(Agenda M4) Commissioners are being asked to approve monthly lease agreements with VPSI Inc. to lease vans under the METROVan program for up to six months, beginning on March 1, 2008. This action will fully implement PHA employee vanpools under a program co-sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Harris County (METRO) and the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC). Current lease payments total about $5,000 per month, with PHA employees being responsible for all fuel and toll costs. Five vanpools currently operate under the program.
GENERAL MATTERS
(Agenda K5) The Commission is being asked to authorize advertising and receipt of proposals for disaster recovery "hot-site" services for PHA over a three-year coverage period beginning May 1, 2008. The service provides PHA with business continuity services, allowing for computer hardware and facilities to re-establish business services in the event of a disaster. Most recently, those services were provided in preparation for Hurricane Rita.
Members of the public who wish to speak at a Port Commission meeting will be asked to sign in at the 4th floor lobby area. They may speak when the Chair calls on them during the appearances portion of the agenda and their comments will be limited to three minutes. The public comment protocol is available on the PHA Web site, at: http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html
This news release is not a substitute for the official PHA agenda. 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 7,000 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and 10th 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 web site photo gallery, please visit http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the link for PHA Photo Gallery.
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