Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
10a
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
July 28, 2026
DATE: June 5, 2026
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Mike Tasker, Director, Aviation Maintenance
Jinah Kim, Assistant Director, Aviation Maintenance
Valentine Smith, Facilities Services Manager, Aviation Maintenance
SUBJECT: Airport Custodial Services Zones 1-5 – Funding and Contracting Authority (2027–
2031)
Amount of this request:
$150,000,000
Total estimated project cost:
$150,000,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to:
1. Fund $150M to all five airport zones’ custodial services contracts through 2031.
2. Advertise, award, and execute new custodial service contracts in Zones 1-5 through 2026-2029
procurement cycle.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The requested Commission Authorization of $150M ensures uninterrupted custodial services at
SEA through 2031. The request will support the following:
1. With two zone contracts (Zones 1 & 5) expiring within a similar timeframe, consolidating
them into a single contract to improve financial efficiency and operational effectiveness.
2. Leveraging the strengths and characteristics of both zones (1 & 5) to maximize resources,
enhance gate hold room and restroom cleanliness, and enhance the overall customer
experience.
3. Provides authority to competitively procure new contracts for all Zones 1-5 during 2026-
2029 procurement cycle.
4. Ensures essential service coverage for all Zones 1-5 through 2031.
The service will maintain the current performance-based contracting model that supports the
Port’s goals by delivering competitive, and industry-leading services while maintaining safe,
healthy, and sustainable Green Cleaning practices. It also preserves labor harmony, Women- and
Minority- Business Enterprise (WMBE) participation, and promotes strong financial stewardship.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 2 of 6
Meeting Date: July 28, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Custodial contracts include expenditure on labor, equipment, consumable supplies, chemicals,
materials, and employee benefits.
They also account for cost escalations, including equipment and supplies, as well as annual cost-
of-living adjustments. Key cost pressures include:
• Minimum wage increases exceeding 18% since 2022
• Inflation and rising supply costs
• Increased facility square footage (e.g., Concourse C Expansion)
New procurement of the service contracts will continue to follow the current performance-based
contracting model used, while adjusting the contracting authority to better align with actual costs
experienced and Washington State’s prevailing wage structure.
This approach will aid the Airport in meeting service standards amid increasing passenger
demands, while advancing the Port’s Century Agenda Objectives and carefully evaluating the
costs and negotiating for competitive pricing.
JUSTIFICATION
Maintaining clean and well-managed facilities is essential to meeting the Port’s customer
experience standards and advancing its Century Agenda goal of being a leading tourism and
business gateway on the West Coast. Cleanliness is also critical to the health and safety of
employees and the traveling public.
Approval of this request will allow the Port to:
1. Procure custodial service contracts at market value through competitive processes
2. Continue providing essential services and operations in all five airport zones
Without this approval, custodial services will begin to lapse as early as 2027, resulting in degraded
cleanliness. This would negatively impact on customer experience, public health, and the
airport’s reputation.
This request represents a continuity-of-operation need for essential services, not an expansion
of scope.
DIVERSITY IN CONTRACTING
Aviation Maintenance Custodial Services staff is working with the Diversity in Contracting
Department regarding setting the Women- and Minority- Business Enterprise (WMBE)
aspirational goals for contracted work. A 20% WMBE aspirational goal has been set by the
Diversity in Contracting Department for custodial service contracts, based on that determination
we anticipate achieving a similar aspirational goal in the new procurement of the service RFPs.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 3 of 6
Meeting Date: July 28, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
DETAILS
Beginning in January 2018, the Airport transitioned to the performance-based zone model of four
contracts covering the then identified four zones at the Airport. The original procurement
established a two-year base term for each contract, with the option to renew annually for up to
three additional years.
Following the initial four-zone procurement, a fifth zone was created to incorporate the facilities
generated by the building of the International Arrivals Facility (IAF). The zone concept will remain
unchanged, except for combining Zones 1 and 5 under a single contract. The two zones are
adjacent, both require CBP seals for operations, and are highly visible to international passengers,
making consolidation operationally advantageous.
The tables below show the contract terms and highlight (green) which portions of the contracts
will be covered by the new funding.
Schedule
The following schedule represents the key areas and dates for each of the existing zone contracts:
(1) 1
st
RFP - Q3 2026, Zone 1 &5
New Contract May 1, 2027 - April 30, 2032
(2) 2
nd
RFP – Q3-4 2026, Zone 2
New Contract July 1, 2027 - June 30, 2032
(3) 3
rd
RFP - Q3 2027, Zone 4
New Contract February 1, 2028 - January 31, 2033
(4) 4
th
RFP - Q3 2028, Zone 3
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 4 of 6
Meeting Date: July 28, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
New Contract March 1, 2029 - February 28, 2034
Activity
2026 Quarter 3
2026 Quarter 3
2026 Quarter 3
2026 Quarter 3
2027 Quarter 2
Cost Breakdown
This Request
New Funding for the Next 5 Years
$150,000,000
Total
$150,000,000
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Postpone Commission Contracting Authority Request until the existing custodial
funding is exhausted.
Cost Implications: $0.00
Pros:
(1) This is the lowest funding request option.
Cons:
(1) This alternative would not provide Contracting Authority or Funds to procure new
service contracts.
(2) Inability to provide service, procure, contract and support operations upon the
expiration of the contracts.
(3) This alternative would result in no custodial service.
(4) This alternative would result in degraded cleanliness impacting customer experience,
public health, and airport reputation.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Receive additional Commission funds of $30 Million only to cover one year in
Zones 1, 2 and 5.
Cost Implications: $30,000,000.00 to re-compete Zone 1, 2 and 5 and cover service for one year.
Pros:
(1) This is a less impactful funding request option.
Cons:
(1) This alternative would not result in competitive costs or attract RFP participants.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 5 of 6
Meeting Date: July 28, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
(2) This alternative would result in less RFP participants, less competition, and drive up the
costs.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 3 – Commission authorization for funds and contracting to Executive Director to
advertise, award and execute new 5-year contracts for three zones by end of Q1 2027, and 2
other zones by end of 2028.
Cost Implications: $150,000,000.
Pros:
(1) This alternative allows the Port to explore and pay a fair market price determined
through a competitive process for all upcoming RFPs.
(2) This alternative provides opportunities to revise the current contract terms with
enforcement and incentives to hold the contractor more accountable to meet the
Airport standards.
(3) This alternative drives cost efficiencies and improves operational effectiveness.
Cons:
(1) This alternative brings the complexities of Contracting Authority requests.
(2) This alternative brings complexities of transitioning new service to the two large zones
at the same time.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$0
$150,000,000
$150,000,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
0
0
0
Current request for authorization
0
$150,000,000
$150,000,000
Total authorizations, including this request
0
$150,000,000
$150,000,000
Remaining amount to be authorized
$0
$0
$0
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
Custodial Service costs are included in Aviation Maintenance’s annual operating budget. The
funding source will be the Airport Development Fund.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 6 of 6
Meeting Date: July 28, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Graphic of the SEA Zones 1 through 5 – Simplified Zones Map
(2) Presentation
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
April 28, 2026 – The Commission authorized the Executive Director to add additional funds for
the existing Airport Custodial Services Contracts Zone 1 through 4.
June 1, 2023 – The Commission authorized the Executive Director to add additional funds for
Airport Custodial Services Zone 1 through 4, and Commission Initiative Implementation and
execute Waste Removal Services for Airport Dining and Retail tenants.
March 24, 2020 – The Commission authorized the Executive Director to execute up to 4 contracts
for Zone 1-4 for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
June 25, 2019 – Commission authorized the Executive Director to execute a contract for janitorial
services for Zone 5, consisting of the IAF new construction facilities for Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport.
September 27, 2016 – Commission authorized the Chief Executive Officer to execute up to four
contracts for janitorial services for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
August 23, 2016 – Commission Briefing “Contract for Janitorial Services at Sea-Tac Airport.”