HOUSTON, Aug. 20, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) commission will consider several recommendations involving contract awards, bids and proposals, professional services and general administrative and operational matters during its public meeting at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2004 in the 4th floor board room at 111 East Loop North (exit 29 off Loop 610). Chairman Jim Edmonds will preside over the meeting to be attended by 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 G10) The commission's agenda includes a recommendation to award a contract in the estimated amount of $1.882 million to Arcadis G&M, Inc. for the Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal Mitigation Project - Memorial Tract. If approved, Arcadis G&M would be expected to prepare a wetland mitigation plan and provide planting, monitoring, and documentation of wetland performance for a term not to exceed six years.
(Agenda item G11) The commission will also consider a recommendation to award an estimated $3.402 million contract to Dashiell Corporation for construction of the electrical substation at Bayport Phase 1A. If approved, Dashiell is also expected to provide an additional circuit breaker during initial construction to minimize power outages associated with transmission line faults and to reduce the need for future substation expansion.
(Agenda item G18) The commission will consider a recommendation to amend the contract with Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. by an estimated amount of $433,300 for the design of the container yard and associated infrastructure at Bayport Phase 1A. If approved, LAN would be expected to redesign conduits and storm drain elements because of changes to the required electrical service to the amenities building and additional drainage features for that structure. Additionally, LAN would provide additional administration for such new requirements as Texas Accessibility Standards and PHA-directed permit applications. LAN would also be required to complete other design features necessitated by changes in code, revised PHA criteria, and revised right-of-way to accommodate an additional rail line along Port Road.
(Agenda item K11) The commission will consider a recommendation to authorize PHA to advertise and receive qualifications from vendors interested in and capable of providing professional services to monitor and maintain particulate samplers at the Bayport construction site. The services are required as a condition of the permit granted earlier this year by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. If approved, vendors are expected to submit their qualifications for consideration of a one-year contract award that is expected to range between $50,000 and $70,000.
SECURITY MATTERS
(Agenda item G13) The commission will consider a recommendation to evaluate and rank qualifications and authorize negotiations for a $3 million design/build contract for the second phase of PHA security infrastructure enhancements. The request for qualifications for the project was advertised in the Houston Chronicle and on the port's website. Additionally, 165 companies were notified directly through PHA's Vendor Information System. PHA's Engineering Department received, reviewed, and evaluated nine RFQ responses and identified three companies - Adesta, LLC, BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions, Inc., and Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp. - as the most qualified for consideration to provide the required services.
(Agenda item M2) The commission will also consider a recommendation to authorize a one-year inter-local agreement between PHA and the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves (Port of Galveston) for patrol security services and interchange gate security services at PHA's East End Container Terminal in Galveston. If approved, the Port of Galveston would be expected to fulfill its agreement to continue providing security services from September 1, 2004 through August 31, 2005 at an estimated cost of $56,970, payable in monthly installments.
(Agenda item K10) The commission's agenda also includes a recommendation to authorize PHA to advertise and receive proposals from vendors interested in and capable of providing a mobile security unit. The PHA has been awarded a $1.1 million grant from the Transportation Security Administration's Office of Domestic Preparedness for the purchase of a vehicle to enhance security at PHA facilities. TRC-Econ, L.P. is preparing the technical plans and specifications for the electronic equipment to be installed in the unit. If approved, vendors will be expected to submit proposals with estimated total costs ranging from $900,000 to $1.2 million for the equipment, the trailer unit to house and transport the equipment, and a truck for towing the unit.
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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