HOUSTON, Jan. 23, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port of Houston Authority commission approved several contract awards, bids and proposals, professional services and general administrative and operational matters during its public meeting held Monday, January 23, 2006 at the PHA Executive Building, 111 East Loop North. Chairman Jim Edmonds presided over the meeting with Commissioner Kase Lawal, Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Cheryl Thompson-Draper, and Commissioner Janiece Longoria.
RECORD PERFORMANCE IN 2005
PHA Executive Director H. Thomas Kornegay delivered a presentation highlighting PHA's 2005 record results in operating revenue, container volume and tonnage. "These results are in excellent shape and our employees remain committed to outstanding customer service," stated Kornegay.
To view the complete presentation, please visit http:www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/newsroom.html
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda item G2) The commission authorized the PHA to award an estimated $590,000 professional services contract to Kirksey Architects for the administration/gate building at the Bayport Container Terminal. Kirksey will provide the facility design for a building of approximately 30,000 square feet for operations personnel, and adjoining parking, service roads and utilities.
(Agenda item G3) The commission awarded an $835,970 contract to Hermes Architects, Inc. to design the maintenance and repair building for the Bayport terminal. Hermes will design a building of about 50,000 square feet for maintenance personnel as well as the adjoining parking, service roads and utilities.
(Agenda item G4) Port Commissioners awarded a $587,250 contract to L.A. King Company for a gate control system at Bayport. The company will install a Navis Express computer software communications system for processing cargo.
(Agenda item G5) The commission also awarded a $1.85 million contract to FMT Aircraft Gate Support Systems AB for a passenger access gangway system at the Bayport Cruise Terminal Complex. FMT will provide a gangway equipped with standardized passenger walkway, and the contract includes spare parts for repairs. Funding for inspection trips to monitor the progress and condition of the work are also included in the contract.
(Agenda item G8) The commission awarded a two-year contract for about $175,000 to TRC Environmental Corporation for air quality consulting at Bayport. TRC will monitor and maintain particulate samplers for fugitive dust, in compliance with the requirements of the PHA's federal emissions permit for Bayport.
(Agenda item K12) The commission authorized qualifications bid requests for the design and building of the Bayport terminal's security and telecommunication systems integration. Vendors are invited to submit their qualifications to prepare plans and specifications for integrating closed-circuit TV, gate access control, computer head-end equipment, WASIN connectivity equipment and communication/control fiber and wiring for Bayport's security, telecommunications, and operational systems at an estimated cost of $3.465 million.
(Agenda item K9) Commissioners also authorized the PHA to advertise and receive proposals for installing a telecommunications link between Bayport, Barbours Cut Container Terminal, and the PHA's Executive Building. The links are expected to provide a redundant network path on infrastructure for reliable voice, data and security communications among the three locations.
SECURITY MATTERS AND PROTECTION SERVICES
(Agenda item G7) Smith Protective Services, Inc. was awarded a three-year contract for unarmed, uniformed security gate officer services. The officers will be stationed at the PHA terminal gates and the cruise terminal parking lot from March 1, 2006 through February 28, 2009 at a total estimated cost not to exceed $7.087 million.
(Agenda item M1) The commission also authorized the PHA to enter into an inter-governmental agreement with the city of La Porte for fire suppression services at Barbours Cut Terminal. The city will provide the services for eight months at a total cost of $20,704, payable in monthly installments of $2,588.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
(Agenda item K6) Commissioners authorized the advertising and receipt of competitive sealed proposals (CSPs) for construction of entry/exit pre-check and inspection facilities at Barbours Cut Terminal. Qualified vendors are invited to submit CSPs to build a two-stage entry gate and a two-stage exit gate designed for pre-check and inspection of trucks entering and exiting the terminal. The project is expected to include about 20 acres of new concrete pavement, gate building, utilities, communication and camera pedestals, truck canopies, sign/camera bridges, truck scales, fencing, and landscaping. The project is expected to cost between $20 million and $27.5 million.
PARTNERSHIP SERVICE AGREEMENT
(Agenda item M3) The commission renewed its one-year service agreement with the Houston Area Urban League. The League will provide the PHA with an electronic database list of its members and volunteers for distribution of PHA's promotional materials and provide a major sponsorship level table at two events all for an estimated cost of $25,000 for the period from March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007.
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
To access the port's website photo gallery, please visit http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the link for PHA Photo Gallery.
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