HOUSTON, Nov. 27, 2006 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Port Commission of The Port of Houston Authority approved several Bayport construction matters and high-tech security programs on Monday, November 27. Chairman Jim Edmonds presided over the meeting with Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Kase Lawal, Commissioner Jimmy Burke and Commissioner Elyse Lanier.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda item G5) Commissioners approved a $663,493 construction contract with BIO Landscaping & Maintenance Inc. for the landscaping of constructed Phase I sight and sound berms at Bayport.
(Agenda items G17, G18, G19) Commissioners approved two contract amendments totaling $115,754 in additional costs and one contract amendment resulting in a credit of $266,751 with Zachry Construction Corporation. An amendment of $94,931 was approved to fund installation of a permanent sleeve underneath the ExxonMobil pipeline corridor and Port Road right-of-way to accommodate present and future dredge pipe. An amendment of $20,823 was approved to purchase 10-inch water meters for installation at the cruise terminal.
(Agenda item G20) The commission approved a $256,205 contract amendment with Orion Construction Company to pay for removal of submerged timber and concrete debris that is obstructing dredging of the cruise terminal turning basin.
(Agenda item G21) The commission approved a $20,000 contract amendment with McCarthy Building Companies to fund the required addition of a railroad derailer on a relocated plant rail spur, to protect tracks from runaway railroad cars.
(Agenda item H2) The commission authorized an interim and long-term lease agreement with Terminal Link (Bayport) LLC at Bayport to be used for development of an empty container depot. Terminal Link (Bayport) is an affiliate company of CMA-CGM, which has signed on to be the first steamship line customer at Bayport.
SECURITY MATTERS
(Agenda item K5) Commissioners authorized solicitation and receipt of competitive sealed proposals (CSPs) to provide an access control system in the restricted areas of the North Turning Basin and East Industrial Park terminals. Cost of the system is expected to range from $4.2 million to $5.2 million.
(Agenda item K7) The commission authorized solicitation and receipt of CSPs to provide access control systems at Manchester and Care terminals and closed circuit television surveillance systems at Care and Southside terminals. The systems are expected to cost between $5.5 million and $6.3 million.
TARIFF AMENDMENTS
(Agenda item M15) Commissioners approved a staff request to amend tariffs No. 8, No. 14 and No. 15 to reflect rate increases in dockage, wharfage, container crane rental, throughput, container storage and freight handling charges. The new rates will go into effect on January 1, 2007.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
(Agenda item G9) The commission approved a two-year, $115,000 contract to David Bray Photography for professional photography services. Photos will be owned by the PHA and made available for use by the public.
(Agenda item G10) Commissioners awarded a two-year, $515,774 contract to Page International Communications for printing services.
(Agenda item G11) Commissioners awarded a two-year, $745,800 contract to Gilbreath Communications for graphics design and creative support services.
(Agenda item G22) The commission approved a $150,000, two-year extension of a contract with Datasorsconsulting LLC for personal computer hardware and software support.
INTER-AGENCY MATTERS
(Agenda item G16) Commissioners approved a $30,400 purchase order to Harris County for the second-year lease of an 800-megahertz public safety radio system and related equipment.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
(Agenda item K4) Commissioners approved the solicitation and receipt of CSPs for railroad concrete encasements to the docks landside of transit sheds No. 27 and No. 28.
SERVICE AGREEMENT RENEWALS
(Agenda items M9, M10, M11, M12, M13, M14) The commission approved renewal of annual service agreements with six area nonprofit organizations for a combined total of $125,000.Service agreements were renewed with the North Channel Area, East End, Houston Hispanic, Houston Citizens, Baytown-West Chambers County chambers of commerce and the Galveston Bay Foundation.
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
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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.