Port of Houston rejects Bayport construction bids

Port of Houston rejects Bayport construction bids    The Port of Houston Authority commission Monday rejected all the competitive sealed proposals for the construction of phase 1A of the Bayport container and cruise terminal, saying the contract will be re-advertised.
   The port authority commissioners determined that obtaining new bids would provide the best value for the port. The decision to re-advertise the contract followed the Jan. 5 signing of a federal permit by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allowing the port to begin work on the $1.2 billion Bayport terminal project.
   The Port of Houston Authority commission also approved expenditure of up to $385,000 for the purchase of security equipment. This includes radio system equipment, voice recorder equipment, and telephone lines that will be installed in the port authority’s emergency command center. Orders to purchase security communications equipment were awarded to Motorola Inc., Dictaphone Corp. and SBC.
   “(The) Port of Houston Authority continues an aggressive pursuit of federal port security grants,” the port said, commenting on security costs.
   The commission also authorized an interlocal agreement between the port authority and the Harris County central technology regional radio center to install equipment and provide personnel training for the radio system at the port’s new emergency command center. The system will link the port authority and other governmental and law enforcement agencies throughout Harris and the surrounding counties. The estimated cost of the interlocal agreement is not expected to exceed $30,000.