Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
6d
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
September 10, 2019
DATE: September 3, 2019
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Elizabeth Leavitt, Senior Director, Environment and Sustainability
Arlyn Purcell, Director, Aviation Environment and Sustainability
SUBJECT: Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to perform Surface Water
Monitoring and Permit Support
Amount of this request:
$0
Total estimated contract
cost:
$3,500,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute one indefinite delivery,
indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to perform surface water monitoring and permit support
with a total value of $3,500,000 and a contract ordering period of five years at the Seattle-
Tacoma International Airport. No funding is associated with this authorization.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Aviation Environmental Department proposes to advertise and select one qualified firm to
provide surface water monitoring and toxicity testing services. This IDIQ would be used to
meet requirements of the Airport’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permit, King County Industrial Waste Discharge Permit, and other environmental permits. The
IDIQ contract would also provide required surface water monitoring and testing support to the
Airport’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), planning and development initiatives, and other
strategic interests.
Funding for service directives under this contract will be either from projects that have already
been authorized or from authorized division operating budgets. Consequently, there is no
funding request associated with this request.
JUSTIFICATION
The Aviation Division, led by the Aviation Environmental Program, is responsible for ensuring
compliance with the Airport’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit
and other environmental permits. The Airport operates under an individual NPDES permit that
includes comprehensive monitoring and testing of stormwater runoff associated with Airport
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6d___ Page 2 of 5
Meeting Date: September 10, 2019
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
operations and construction activities. Runoff associated with these activities drains to 11
outfalls discharging to local streams that provide habitat to recovering salmon populations and
other aquatic resources. The permit also regulates runoff associated with Airport fueling and
deicing operations that discharge to Puget Sound. In addition to receiving water discharges, the
permit requires monitoring and testing of industrial wastewater discharges to local sanitary
sewer systems.
To effectively comply with these requirements, a variety of specialized environmental services
are required including those related to environmental sample collection and testing, aquatic
toxicology, stream hydrology, limnology, illicit discharge investigations, facility process analyses,
mapping, and pollution fate and transport.
Remaining in compliance and being proactive about the performance of our stormwater Best
Management Practices align with the Port’s Century Agenda of being the cleanest and greenest
Port, and specifically Objective 14 – Meet or exceed agency requirements for stormwater
leaving Port-owned or operated facilities.
Failure to comply with the conditions of the NPDES permit will result in permit violations and
potential fines. Additionally, repeat violations can lead to increased sampling requirements that
will increase the cost of the stormwater monitoring program and generate negative perception
of the Port’s environmental efforts.
This procurement would support the Port’s strategy to manage our finances responsibly by
providing a cost-efficient means to secure professional services for tasks which present variable
workload, are often time-sensitive, and require specialized expertise that cannot be effectively
provided by Port staff.
Diversity in Contracting
The Diversity in Contracting Department has been contacted regarding this procurement and an
aspirational goal of seven percent has been established for women- and minority-owned
business enterprise.
DETAILS
This contract will enable the Port to meet the surface water-related monitoring and testing
requirements of the Airport’s NPDES and other environmental permits. Failure to meet these
requirements would be a direct violation of the permits and would subject the Port to
enforcement actions. Individual service directives consisting of a scope, fee agreement, and
schedule will be negotiated and processed before any work is performed. Service directives will
span over the life of the contract, which is expected to be five years.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6d___ Page 3 of 5
Meeting Date: September 10, 2019
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Scope of Work
The surface water management contract is a crucial component of the NPDES permit
compliance efforts at the Airport. Work authorized under this contract is needed to meet field
sampling and other monitoring and reporting requirements that are conducted at various times
throughout the year on a 24/7 basis.
The Surface Water Monitoring Support Services Scope of Work consists of five principal tasks.
(1) Non-construction surface water monitoring, testing and reporting
(2) Construction surface water monitoring, testing and reporting
(3) Municipal sewer system monitoring, testing and reporting
(4) Toxicity monitoring, testing and reporting
(5) Other surface water monitoring and studies
Schedule
Commission authorization
Contract execution
Service directives issued
Cost Breakdown
This Request
Total Project
From yearly expense budgets
$0
$3,200,000
From capital project budgets
0
$300,000
Total
$0
$3,500,000
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Permit conditions must be met, so all alternatives considered consist of staffing methods that
would allow the Port to be in compliance.
Alternative 1 – Monitoring and Inspections Completed by Port Staff
All the monitoring and inspection work would be completed by Port staff. Existing staff would
be able to perform a small portion of the necessary work. There would be four additional Port
positions necessary to provide the full staffing required for monitoring storm events and
available 24-hours per day and weekends based on rain events.
Cost Implications: $600,000 - $800,000 per year plus Toxicity Contract
Pros:
(1) Contract administration needs would decline.
(2) Port would have a team of employees with flexibility to perform miscellaneous tasks.
(3) Port Environmental team would increase their technical capacity.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6d___ Page 4 of 5
Meeting Date: September 10, 2019
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Cons:
(1) A contract for toxicity testing would still be needed at a significant cost.
(2) New Port staff would not have full-time work in stormwater program due to variable
effort and timing necessary for monitoring and inspections.
(3) Extensive training would be required for telemetry/sampling equipment operations
and maintenance.
(4) Increased chance of permit violations during the training/ramp-up period.
(5) Third party sample collection provides non-biased approach.
(6) Technical expertise for sampling methodology and regulatory support lessened.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – All Monitoring and Inspections Completed Through IDIQ Contract
Cost Implications: $800,000 per year
Pros:
(1) Does not require the hiring of any additional Port staff.
(2) Provides a flexible, contracted workforce.
(3) Ability to hire sub-consultants that provide highly specific technical skills.
(4) Third party sample collection provides non-biased approach
Cons:
(1) Cost is greater than preferred alternative.
(2) Does not utilize Port staff.
(3) Reduced technical development opportunities for Port staff.
(4) Consultant based team is focused on completing task and not focused on Port’s
holistic goals and strategic long-term planning such as Port’s Century Agenda goals.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 3 – Monitoring and Inspections Completed Through IDIQ Contract and Port Staff
Existing Port staff would be used to supplement work primarily completed by outside
contractor. Set tasks would be assigned to Port staff, while variable work would be completed
by the contractor.
Cost Implications: $700,000 per year
Pros:
(1) Lowest cost alternative.
(2) Provides a highly skilled workforce for varied stormwater requirements.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6d___ Page 5 of 5
Meeting Date: September 10, 2019
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
(3) Allows Port staff to develop technical skills and stay fully utilized.
Cons:
(1) Requires coordination between contractor and Port staff to ensure Port utilization.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$300,000
$3,200,000
$3,500,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
0
0
0
Current request for authorization
0
0
0
Total authorizations, including this request
0
0
0
Remaining amount to be authorized
$0
$0
$0
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
Funding for service directives under this contract will be either from projects that have already
been authorized or from authorized division operating budgets. Consequently, there is no
funding request associated with this request.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
The Aviation Stormwater Program has used IDIQ contracts to assist with compliance of their
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit since 2004. If approved, this contract
will be the fifth such contract. All previous contracts have used the collaborative approach
proposed for this current action. This contract will replace an expiring $3 million IDIQ contract.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
None
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
None