HOUSTON, Dec. 13, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) commission approved several recommendations involving contract awards, bids and proposals, professional services and general administrative and operational matters during its public meeting on Monday, December 13, 2004 at the Lou Lawler International Seafarers Center, 1700 Barbours Cut Blvd., LaPorte, Texas. Chairman Jim Edmonds presided over the meeting with Vice Chairman Kase Lawal, Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Cheryl Thompson-Draper, and Commissioner Janiece Longoria.
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda items K5 and K6) The commission approved recommendations to authorize the PHA to issue two requests for qualifications (RFQ) for professional engineering services for Bayport Phase 1 container yard design as well as design services for an additional container wharf. Qualified and interested consultants will be invited to submit their qualifications for consideration of a potential contract award involving the design and preparation of plans and specifications for the construction of the Phase 1 container yard areas as well as an additional container wharf in 2005-2006.
(Agenda item L1) The commission also evaluated and ranked competitive sealed proposals (CSPs) that had been submitted for consideration of a potential contract award for the installation of a sound monitoring system for the Bayport project in adherence to the requirements of the permit granted to the PHA earlier this year by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. HFP Acoustical Consultants received the commission's top ranking followed by SDRG Controls, Inc. The PHA is expected to negotiate a contract award with an estimated cost ranging between $250,000 and $300,000.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT MATTERS
(Agenda item K4) The commission approved a recommendation to authorize the PHA to advertise and receive CSPs for consideration of a potential contract award for water system improvements at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal. The City of Morgan's Point has requested the PHA to replace the existing turbo water meters with compound water meters in order to help the city better account for water usage. Accordingly, the PHA staff has prepared plans and specifications to replace six meters and install two new meters. Some additional piping modifications also are included to separate cruise terminal water usage from tenant usage at Terminal No. 6. The estimated cost of the potential contract award is expected to range between $140,000 and $170,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
(Agenda item L3) The commission evaluated and ranked the qualifications for professional environmental consulting services pertaining to port operations and the maritime industry. Gresham, Smith & Partners received the commission's top ranking followed by Ecology & Environment. The estimated cost range of the two-year contract award is expected to range between $250,000 and $300,000.
PROTECTION SERVICE MATTERS
(Agenda item M1) The commission approved a recommendation to execute an inter-governmental agreement with the City of LaPorte for ambulance services at the Barbours Cut Terminal. The one-year agreement takes effect January 1, 2005 at a cost of $27,996 payable in monthly installments of $2,333.
(Agenda item M2) The commission also approved a recommendation to execute an inter-governmental agreement with the City of LaPorte for fire suppression services at Barbours Cut Terminal. The one-year agreement takes effect January 1, 2005 at a cost of $32,699 payable in monthly installments of $2,724.
GREATER HOUSTON PORT BUREAU
(Agenda item M3) The commission approved a recommendation to enter into a one-year, $165,000 service agreement contract with the Greater Houston Port Bureau, Inc. The Port Bureau is expected to provide services related to new business development, operational efficiency refinement, educational outreach, and regulatory and security requirement assistance.
CULTURAL RESOURCE MATTERS
(Agenda item L2) The commission evaluated and ranked qualifications for professional services to assist in complying with the cultural resource regulations at the Beltway 8 Dredge Placement Area. Specifically, the PHA sought professional archaeological services to assist PHA in conducting a complete phased investigation involving an on-site cemetery, coordinating permits, authorizations, and approvals with the Texas Historical Commission, preparing a report of technical findings, and overseeing grave relocation. PBS&J received the commission's top ranking followed by Ecological Communications Corporation. The PHA will negotiate a contract with a cost ranging between $100,000 and $150,000.
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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