Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No. 8d
ACTION ITEM Date of Meeting July 8, 2025
DATE: June 26, 2025
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Keri Stephens, Director, Aviation Facilities and Capital Programs
Eileen Francisco, Director, Aviation Project Management
SUBJECT: Biffy Facility Improvements Project (CIP #C801411) - Design & Construction
Authorization
Amount of this request: $6,000,000
Total estimated project cost:
$6,300,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to 1) authorize design and
preparation of construction bid documents for the Biffy Facility Improvements project, 2)
advertise, award, and execute a major works construction contract, 3) execute related project
change orders, amendments, work authorizations, purchases, contracts, and take other actions
necessary to support and deliver the Biffy Facility Improvements project within the approved
budget, 4) authorize use of Port of Seattle crews to support the design and construction activities.
The amount of this request is $6,000,000 for a total estimated project cost of $6,300,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Biffy Facility located near the North Concourse serves as a dump station for aircraft sewage.
Lavatory waste trucks are utilized to transfer aircraft waste to the Biffy Facility which then flows
into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s (SEA) sewer system. The Biffy Facility consists of two
main elements: a structure that collects airplane lavatory sewage from lavatory vehicles and a
pump station that sends sewage into the conveyance system.
The current Biffy Facility has a porous wooden enclosure which cannot be sanitized, lacks freeze
protection, ventilation, does not comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 820
guidelines, and has received citations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). King County
has issued noncompliance notifications due to multiple backflow and sewage overflows onto
surface streets; these overflows resulted from operational failure of the Biffy Facility. The current
facility consists of only one vacuum pump system and this lack of redundancy leads to an inability
to service airplane lavatory waste trucks during failure. The project will provide significant
architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, and civil improvements to extend the useful life
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __8d__ Page 2 of 6
Meeting Date: July 8, 2025
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
and provide improved operational readiness of the Biffy Facility. The new facility will comply
with current codes, standards, FDA guidelines, and ensure permit compliance, while improving
reliability and operations of this critical facility.
JUSTIFICATION
The Biffy Facility is the only location at SEA that services airplane lavatory waste vehicles. During
the notebook and preliminary design phase of this project, a comprehensive study took place to
evaluate the scope of work, survey the existing facility deficiencies, coordinate with stakeholders,
system experts, and designers to prepare scoping narrative and preliminary design drawings.
There have been releases of sewage onto surface streets due to facility operational failures.
Following a release in October 2024, several other improvements (wet well mixing system,
alarming, level sensors, VFD pumps, etc.) were identified to be added to this project to bring
resiliency to the facility operations and avoid such incidents in the future that could lead to
citations and fines by external authorities.
The original Status 2 document was preliminary in nature and the project scope was only based
on making regulatory improvements to bring the facility up to code and providing redundancy.
Increase in the project scope of work and cost escalation have resulted in an increase to the
budget estimate of $1.6M, bringing the project from the original Status 2 estimate of $4.7M to
$6.3M. Airport leadership approved the additional scope of work and budget in Q2, 2025.
The project will replace the current infrastructure and provide 10+ years of useful life for the
associated equipment. Failure of the vacuum tank or pump system will result in loss of operation
servicing the airplane waste truck and require mobile units on-site during repair. The project will
provide sanitizable, clean-in-place enclosure that meets FDA and NFPA 820 guidelines along with
ventilation, freeze protection, lighting, space heating, redundant pump system with Variable
Frequency Drives (VFD), permanent wet well mixing system, and other electrical improvements.
Diversity in Contracting
The design services will be completed using an existing IDIQ contract (FSI Engineers – P00320721)
that was established in 2022 which has a 16% WMBE participation utilization requirement.
WMBE construction aspiration goal will be established after the completion of the design phase.
DETAILS
The tables below provide a breakdown of the requested increase in budget.
Description Original Budget
(Status 2)
New Budget Total Change
Design $ 1,100,000 $1,500,000 $400,000
Construction $ 3,600,000 $4,800,000 $1,200,000
Total Estimated Cost $4,700,000 $6,300,000 $1,600,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __8d__ Page 3 of 6
Meeting Date: July 8, 2025
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Scope of Work
The project occurs at the Biffy Facility located east of the North Satellite ramp adjacent to the Air
Cargo Road.
The key elements of the project’s scope of work include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Demolishing the existing wood enclosure, retaining the existing vacuum pump and
other associated components.
(2) Construction of a new non-combustible, intrinsically safe Class 1, Division 1, site-built
structure with interior and exterior lighting, ventilation, fire extinguisher, space heating
for freeze protection, cameras, doors to access equipment, sanitizable per NFPA 820
and FDA guidelines.
(3) Upgrade the pump system to include a duplicate back-up pump system and biffy tank
to ensure redundancy in the event of a pump failure and backflow prevention.
(4) Freeze protection to keep the structures at a minimum temperature of 40°F extending
to the existing vacuum pump exhaust to the exterior of the new enclosure.
(5) Emergency eyewash and emergency shower station with tempered water (American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) compliant).
(6) Upgrading and relocating the electrical components, sensors, Programmable Logic
Controller controls, motor controls, cameras, and emergency disconnects to a new shed
with roll up generator provision.
(7) Upgrading the channel drain and replacing the junction boxes to a new manhole for the
sewer lift station pump.
(8) Upgrading to two VFD operated submersible solid handling pumps along with new
panels and conductors.
(9) Adding a permanent mixing system in the lift system wet well.
Schedule
Design start 2025 Quarter 3
Construction start 2026 Quarter 4
In-use date 2027 Quarter 4
Cost Breakdown This Request
Total Project
Design $1,200,000
$1,500,000
Construction $4,800,000
$4,800,000
Total $6,000,000
$6,300,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __8d__ Page 4 of 6
Meeting Date: July 8, 2025
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Status Quo. Do not proceed with this project.
Cost Implications: Expenses incurred for project notebook development and 30% preliminary
design drawings - $300,000 will need to be expensed.
Pros:
(1) Further capital investment not required.
Cons:
(1) The Biffy Facility will be prone to failure resulting in overflow incidents.
(2) The operation will be impacted in case the single vacuum pump or tank fails.
(3) The facility will not meet regulatory infrastructure requirements leading to fines or
citations from external authorities.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Proceed with the original Status 2 project scope and budget.
Cost Implications: Capital investment of $4,700,000.
Pros:
(1) The Biffy Facility will meet the necessary codes and standards required by FDA and
NFPA.
(2) Redundant pumps and vacuum tank systems will increase operational efficiency.
(3) Adequate freeze protection, ventilation, and lighting will be available at the facility.
Cons:
(1) The Biffy Facility will lack resiliency which increases the risk of future overflow and
backflow incidents.
(2) Possibility of getting fines and citations from FDA, King County, City of SeaTac if overflow
issues are repeated.
(3) VFD pumps, level sensors, and permanent wet well mixing system will not be provided
causing operational inefficiency.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 3 – Proceed with the additional scope of work and budget.
Cost Implications: Capital investment of $6,300,000.
Pros:
(1) The Biffy Facility will have resiliency, reliability, code compliance, and improved
infrastructure which will extend its useful life.
(2) The additional improvements will eliminate the possibility of overflow and backflow
incidents.
(3) The additional improvements will enhance operational efficiency resulting in reduced
Operations & Maintenance costs and maintenance burden.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __8d__ Page 5 of 6
Meeting Date: July 8, 2025
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
(4) Provide uninterrupted service to airline waste trucks by reducing the risk of equipment
failure.
Cons:
(1) Increased capital cost.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost
Estimate/Authorization Summary Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate $4,700,000
$0
$4,700,000
Current change $1,600,000
0
$1,600,000
Revised estimate $6,300,000
0
$6,300,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations $300,000
0
$300,000
Current request for authorization $6,000,000
0
$6,000,000
Total authorizations, including this request $6,300,000
0
$6,300,000
Remaining amount to be authorized $0
$0
$0
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
This project #C801411 was included in the 2025-2029 capital budget and plan of finance with
budget of $4,700,000. A budget increase of $1,600,000 was transferred from the Aeronautical
Allowance
1
CIP C800753 resulting in zero net change to the Aviation capital budget. This project
will be funded by the Airport Development Fund (ADF) and revenue bonds.
Financial Analysis and Summary
Project cost for analysis $6,300,000
Business Unit (BU) Industrial Waste System (IWS)
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
NOI after depreciation will increase due to inclusion of
capital (and operating) costs in airline rate base.
IRR/NPV (if relevant) N/A
CPE Impact $0.02 in 2028
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership)
The scope of the project is to replace some of the existing equipment and also introduce
additional assets to achieve operational efficiency. The overall operating and maintenance costs
1
The Aeronautical Allowance is included in the Capital Improvement Plan to ensure funding capacity for
unspecified projects, cost increases for existing projects, new initiatives, and unforeseen needs. This ensures funding
capacity for unanticipated spending within the dollar amount of the Allowance CIP.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. __8d__ Page 6 of 6
Meeting Date: July 8, 2025
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
for the new facility will be slightly less than the current corrective and emergency maintenance
costs for the existing facility.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
This project will be coordinated with the adjacent Compactor Capacity project which will be
constructed ahead of the Biffy Facility project. The Compactor Capacity project will be providing
electrical infrastructure for the incoming power feed to the Biffy Facility.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
N/A
