HOUSTON, Dec. 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) will consider more than $3 million in environmental projects, including a $2.9 million contract to Republic Waste Services, Inc. to provide trash disposal and recycling services and a $220,000 contract with CES Environmental Services that includes hazardous waste removal, at its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 18, 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 Kase Lawal, Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Janiece Longoria and Commissioner Elyse Lanier.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
(Agenda G5) Commissioners are being asked to authorize awarding a contract to Republic Waste Services, Inc., to provide trash disposal and recycling services for the Turning Basin Terminal, Barbours Cut Terminal, Woodhouse Terminal and Fireboat Barracks for a two-year term beginning in January 1, 2008, for $2.9 million. The competitive sealed proposals include, in addition to the trash disposal services component, a pilot recycling program component that provide for the recycling of dunnage and other materials collected from Turning Basin Terminal wharves that may be economically and efficiently segregated off-site and recycled. Republic Waste Services, Inc. was determined to offer the best value for the PHA based on its specified selection criteria, including small business participation.
(Agenda G7) Commissioners are being asked to authorize awarding a contract to CES Environmental Services for the removal, transportation and recycling or disposal of industrial and hazardous waste at Port of Houston Authority facilities for a two-year contract term for $220,000. An environmental company is needed to properly remove, transport and recycle or dispose of industrial and hazardous waste from port authority facilities, assist with identification of waste streams and disposition options, maintain a waste tracking system, prepare profiles and execute proper regulatory paperwork and sample unknown waste streams. CES Environmental Services was determined to offer the best value for the PHA based on selection criteria including small business participation
SECURITY MATTERS
(Agenda K5) The commission is being asked to approve a staff recommendation to advertise and receive proposals for service from unarmed, uniformed security gate officer services at all port authority-operated facilities.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda G10) Commissioners are being asked to approve a contract to LXE Inc. for the expansion of the radio data terminal computer system into the new Phase 1 container yard at Bayport Container Terminal. The contract amount is not to exceed $250,970. If approved, the contract will allow for expansion of the Bayport current computer system to coincide with further development of the terminal.
GENERAL MATTERS
(Agenda K3)
Commissioners are being asked to authorize advertising and receipt of competitive sealed proposals for Bayport North Shore landscaping for $250,000 to $350,000. The Planning and Environmental Division has requested additional landscaping be provided as a benefit to the communities north of the Bayport Channel. The consultant, Clark Condon Associates, is completing the plans and specifications for the work. The PHA Engineering Department and the Phase 1 Program Manager, Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc., will review the final design documents to ensure they meet port authority requirements.
(Agenda M6) Commissioners are being asked to approve renewal of a contract with the Greater Houston Port Bureau Inc in the annual amount of $160,000. If approved, the contract will extend from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008 and funds will be used for new business development, education and community outreach programs, and assistance with regulatory, safety and security requirements.
(Agenda M7) Commissioners are being asked to authorize renewal of a one- year subscription service agreement with the Houston International Seafarers Center to provide humanitarian services to all seafarers calling at the Port of Houston, effective February 1, 2008 in the annual amount of $100,000. The Seafarers Center is internationally recognized for its outstanding services and facilities provided to visiting seafarers. In these times of heightened security, the center is the only organization that has been allowed access to both public and private facilities to pick up and deliver seafarers to and from their vessels. By entering into this agreement, the Center will be able to continue to provide services to seafarers from all commercial vessels that call at the Port of Houston, including operation of two Seafarers Centers, transportation services, safety instruction, communications, banking, emergency accommodations, recreational, commissary and restaurant facilities, mail and courier services and counseling services.
MEDIA MATTERS
(Agenda M10) Commissioners will consider media advertising campaign contracts, in excess of $25,000 each, with 18 Houston area broadcast and print media outlets for the 2008 media campaign year. Those outlets account for about $1,044,000 of the $1,506,000 allocated for the port authority's total media campaign. The media campaign is designed to provide local, regional, national and international distribution of PHA public awareness and economic development messages across a broad and diverse market.
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
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
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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