
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _8b___ Page 2 of 7
Meeting Date: July 10, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
Today the Main Terminal Low Voltage project team requests Commission approval of funding
to complete the project design and to advertise and execute a contract with a GC/CM. During
design, the Port will negotiate a maximum allowable construction cost (MACC) with the GC/CM.
The MACC determination with the GCCM will occur in 2021.
JUSTIFICATION
The Airport's medium voltage electrical distribution system and power centers (primary
operating voltage levels of 5,000 to 15,000 volts) have all been renewed and replaced within
the last decade. The next phase of the Airport's renewal and replacement program for the
electrical system is the low-voltage system (operating voltage distribution levels of 120 to 600
volts). This infrastructure is critical to airport operations.
Large portions of the existing low-voltage electrical distribution system have reached the end of
their useful operating life, raising concerns over their continued reliability. The useful operating
life of electrical equipment primarily depends on age, with 30 years being a reasonable lifespan.
Some of the equipment included in this project is well over 40 years old. Equipment
maintainability and availability of spare parts are increasing concerns with aging equipment.
Much of the existing equipment is not compliant with the current National Electrical Code
(NEC). There are areas in the low-voltage electrical system where the available fault current
exceeds the current ratings for the existing equipment, thus creating operating and working
condition safety issues. Other safety-related NEC issues exist for these older installations
including dedicated equipment space, working clearances, illumination, identification, and the
need for Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listing of all equipment. The MTLV project will correct all
the issues in this area and bring the installation up to current standards and compliance with
current codes. Having adequate and reliable capacity in the low voltage distribution system is
also critical in supporting deployment of new technologies that can maximize facility
throughput.
The project team explored multiple project delivery methods, strategies, and impact
mitigations. Delivery methods investigated included design-bid-build, design-build, progressive
design-build, and the selected GC/CM. Impact mitigation investigated included tenant
relocation, both in and outside of airport facilities, structured zone wide outages, and use of
Port construction crews to complete the work. The current plan of action helps minimize, as
much as feasible, the risks to operational impacts in construction.
Since authorization in 2014, the project team has completed both 15% and 30% design which
included a full physical inventory and condition assessment of all electrical equipment in the
main terminal. The condition assessment has driven the necessary renewals and project
scoping. The need for these major work elements is detailed below.