COMMISSION AGENDA MEMORANDUM Item No. ACTION ITEM Date of Meeting 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 8d July 8, 2025 SUBJECT: Biffy Facility Improvements Project (CIP #C801411) - Design & Construction Authorization Amount of this request: Total estimated project cost: $6,000,000 $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 Template revised January 10, 2019. COMMISSION AGENDA - Action Item No. __8d__ Meeting Date: July 8, 2025 Page 2 of 6 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 New Budget Total Change (Status 2) 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 Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting). $6,300,000 $1,600,000 COMMISSION AGENDA - Action Item No. __8d__ Meeting Date: July 8, 2025 Page 3 of 6 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 Construction start In-use date 2025 Quarter 3 2026 Quarter 4 2027 Quarter 4 Cost Breakdown This Request Total Project Design Construction Total $1,200,000 $4,800,000 $6,000,000 $1,500,000 $4,800,000 $6,300,000 Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting). COMMISSION AGENDA - Action Item No. __8d__ Meeting Date: July 8, 2025 Page 4 of 6 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) Cons: (1) (2) (3) Further capital investment not required. The Biffy Facility will be prone to failure resulting in overflow incidents. The operation will be impacted in case the single vacuum pump or tank fails. 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) (2) (3) Cons: (1) (2) (3) The Biffy Facility will meet the necessary codes and standards required by FDA and NFPA. Redundant pumps and vacuum tank systems will increase operational efficiency. Adequate freeze protection, ventilation, and lighting will be available at the facility. The Biffy Facility will lack resiliency which increases the risk of future overflow and backflow incidents. Possibility of getting fines and citations from FDA, King County, City of SeaTac if overflow issues are repeated. 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) (2) (3) The Biffy Facility will have resiliency, reliability, code compliance, and improved infrastructure which will extend its useful life. The additional improvements will eliminate the possibility of overflow and backflow incidents. The additional improvements will enhance operational efficiency resulting in reduced Operations & Maintenance costs and maintenance burden. Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting). COMMISSION AGENDA - Action Item No. __8d__ Meeting Date: July 8, 2025 (4) Cons: (1) Page 5 of 6 Provide uninterrupted service to airline waste trucks by reducing the risk of equipment failure. Increased capital cost. This is the recommended alternative. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary Capital Expense Total COST ESTIMATE Original estimate Current change Revised estimate $4,700,000 $1,600,000 $6,300,000 $0 0 0 $4,700,000 $1,600,000 $6,300,000 AUTHORIZATION Previous authorizations Current request for authorization Total authorizations, including this request Remaining amount to be authorized $300,000 $6,000,000 $6,300,000 $0 0 0 0 $0 $300,000 $6,000,000 $6,300,000 $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 Allowance1 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 Business Unit (BU) Effect on business performance (NOI after depreciation) IRR/NPV (if relevant) CPE Impact $6,300,000 Industrial Waste System (IWS) NOI after depreciation will increase due to inclusion of capital (and operating) costs in airline rate base. N/A $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. Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting). COMMISSION AGENDA - Action Item No. __8d__ Meeting Date: July 8, 2025 Page 6 of 6 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 Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).