Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
6e
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
November 12, 2019
DATE: October 10, 2019
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Stuart Mathews, Director, Aviation Maintenance
Allen Tygesen, Satellite Transit System and Utility Systems Manager, Aviation
Maintenance
SUBJECT: Contract for Personal Services of On-Site Technical Services Support for Satellite
Transit System
Amount of this request:
$2,500,000
Total estimated project cost:
$2,500,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a Sole Source Personal
Service Contract with Bombardier Transportation for on-site technical services support for the
Satellite Transit System (STS) at the Seattle-Tacoma International (Sea-Tac) Airport, for a five-
year, seven-month period with a total estimated cost of $2,500,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The on-site technical services support provides a full-time system expert from Bombardier
Transportation that has full knowledge of the transit system, equipment, and access to the
proprietary operating program codes developed by Bombardier for the transit system at Sea-Tac
Airport. The Bombardier system expert will provide required program updates and be available
to provide technical details to STS maintenance teams during system outage and recoveries.
This is continuing technical support by the manufacturer to replace an expiring contract. This
type of service is common for automated computer driven underground transit systems to assure
smooth operations and provide immediate access to proprietary operating software and
knowledge. Sea-Tac Airport has used this service since 1976 to assure safety and customer
service.
JUSTIFICATION
In an effort to remain a world-class operating airport, the on-site Bombardier system expert is
instrumental in supporting the Aviation Maintenance team who are responsible for the 24/7/365
train operations that deliver reliable train service, carrying our passengers and business partners
to and from the North and South Satellites on a daily basis. The proprietary code and operating
program that controls the STS is only accessible through Bombardier’s technical experts for
COMMISSION AGENDA Action Item No. __6e__ Page 2 of 5
Meeting Date: November 12, 2019
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
updates that are required to be performed on site. The STS maintenance team does not have
direct access to the proprietary operating program at any time. As such, a Sole Source Personal
Service Contract is necessary to support this system.
Diversity in Contracting
This is a sole source contract through Bombardier Transportation for a single technical expert
that will reside full-time in the STS Maintenance team. There will be no option for Bombardier to
subcontract outside businesses to perform this work due to the technical knowledge required
along with proprietary operating program information for the Satellite Transit System, that would
not be shared with any outside entity.
DETAILS
The cost for each year of the contract is budgeted within the annual Aviation Division operating
budget. The estimated value of this contract is $2,500,000 over a five-year, seven-month
period.
Aviation Maintenance is proposing a five-year, seven-month contract to adjust the renewal
period from the current date of December 1
to a new renewal date of July 1 for the term of the
contract. The new date of July 1
relieves CPO of additional contract work near year-end for the
term of this contract.
Scope of Work
The scope of work for this procurement is for Bombardier, as the original manufacture, to provide
an on-site Technical Support Representative to provide services which enable the Port to
operate, perform inspections, and complete preventive maintenance and repairs on the Satellite
Transit System (STS). Bombardier will also provide urgent and necessary services to assist the
Port, so that it may restore the STS system to operational status during significant system failures,
regardless of the time of day. The essence of this service provided by Bombardier under this
agreement is vendor support to aid the Port in minimizing operational cost, improving
performance and efficiency, and maintaining safety of the STS.
The following services provided will be dependent upon the Port's direction and the immediate
goals of the overall operations and maintenance program. These services should include but are
not limited to:
Vendor Support/Technical Assistance:
(1) Provide technical assistance for the Port's operation and preventive maintenance
program for the STS system. This program will include monitoring results, reviewing
processes, and updating of the program documentation.
(2) Provide technical assistance for service restoration after a failure and the repair,
adjustment and/or recalibration of defective equipment which is not in service or was
removed from service as a result of a failure.
COMMISSION AGENDA Action Item No. __6e__ Page 3 of 5
Meeting Date: November 12, 2019
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
(3) Provide technical assistance for the Failure Monitoring System (FMS). This service
includes data correlation, analysis, and reporting. Review data analysis for any
indication of unsafe operating conditions and provide the necessary feedback to keep
the operating and preventive maintenance program current. This feedback will result in
updates of the formalized preventive maintenance routines and recommended changes
in operating procedures.
(4) Facilitate and interface with the Bombardier system engineers on any recommended
changes because of safety implications or anticipated significant improvements in
reliability.
(5) Provide the Port with monthly and yearly maintenance and operating reports, with the
format to be determined by the Port.
(6) Present cost and time estimates for projects outside of the agreement.
Vendor Support with Manufacture/Bombardier:
(1) Interface with Bombardier's Engineering and Technical Support Services at the company
headquarters to advise the Port of changes in operation and maintenance procedures,
parts issues, primary and subsystem enhancements, and upgrade opportunities.
(2) Facilitate and interface with the Bombardier system engineers for the design,
fabrication, testing, and application of special test equipment for the long-term
maintenance of the system.
(3) Facilitate and provide interfacing between the Bombardier system engineers and the
Port. Through this communication link, the Port can access Bombardier's system
engineers, technical compliance department, and configuration control group. This link
will provide current improvements and problems which have been disclosed on other
Bombardier-operated automated people mover systems. Technical assistance services
are also provided to adapt these improvements to the Port system.
(4) Facilitate and interface between the Bombardier system engineers and the Port for the
review and approval of STS-defined safety and reliability improvements. Bombardier
will review all documentation pertaining to improvements that have been generated by
the Port and maintain documentation of those improvements.
Employee Training and Spare Parts Inventory Tracking:
(1) Bombardier will provide the Port with regular inputs on the level of proficiency of the
Port's existing maintenance and operations groups. Recommendations will be made to
the Port, with Bombardier to provide assistance with on-the-job training to upgrade
competencies where required.
(2) Assist the Port in screening, selection, and training of new personnel and support on-
the-job training programs for all present and future maintenance and operations staff.
(3) Maintain a library of inventory requirements for the STS. Liaison with Bombardier and
other sites utilizing Bombardier systems for cost reduction on parts.
COMMISSION AGENDA Action Item No. __6e__ Page 4 of 5
Meeting Date: November 12, 2019
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
This Personal Service Contract will provide Sea-Tac Airport with technical vendor support services
that will provide continued and reliable direct access to an on-site Bombardier system expert for
solutions to STS service issues when they arise.
Schedule
The goal of this procurement will be to enter into a new Personal Services Contract for on-site
Technical Services Contract by November 30, 2019.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 Do not execute a service contract.
Cost Implications: $0.00 contract value.
Potential incident response costs unknown. If the STS were to encounter a failure related to
Bombardier’s operating program and proprietary codes, our in-house maintenance team does
not have authority to access, troubleshoot, and re-program the proprietary operating program.
If an extended outage related to the proprietary operating program were to occur, the cost
implications to our airlines for delayed and canceled flights could reach into the millions per day
in addition to a loss of customer confidence and service.
Pros:
(1) The annual cost of this contract is avoided.
Cons:
(1) The Satellite Transit System is critical to the safe and efficient operation of the airport.
Unavailability of the system due to a lack of technical service availability presents a
significant risk.
(2) There would be no way for our in-house maintenance team to be trained on the
proprietary operating program and provide updates as needed.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 Execute a Sole Source Personal Services Contract with Bombardier Transportation
for an on-site Technical System Expert at Sea-Tac Airport over a five-year period.
Cost Implications: Estimated $2,500,000 over five years, seven-months.
Pros:
(1) This allows Aviation Maintenance staff to continue to have a Bombardier Technical
System Expert on-site to provide system expertise, direct access to the proprietary
operating program, and appropriate updates to the operating program in support of
our in-house Maintenance team.
Cons:
(1) This process requires executing a Sole Source Personal Services for an on-site Technical
System Expert from Bombardier. This does not allow for a competitive process.
This is the recommended alternative.
COMMISSION AGENDA Action Item No. __6e__ Page 5 of 5
Meeting Date: November 12, 2019
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
The cost for this Personal Service Contract will be included the annual Aviation Maintenance
expense budget.
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership)
The expected annual costs are $447,000 per year of the contract. Approximately 77% of the costs
are recovered from airlines through terminal rents.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
None
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
October 14, 2014 Commission authorized the execution of a five-year contract with
Bombardier Transportation Inc. for technical services.