PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      4g 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting    February 23, 2016 
DATE:    February 16, 2016 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   David Soike, Director, Aviation Facilities and Capital Program 
Wayne Grotheer, Director, Aviation Project Management Group 
SUBJECT:  Combined Communication and Command Center Power Supply System
Improvement (CIP #C800107) 
Amount of This Request:        $2,219,238   Source of Funds:   Airport Development
Fund and Revenue
Est. Total Project Cost:          $4,555,238 
Bonds 
Est. State and Local Taxes:        $254,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to advertise for bids, award
and execute a major works construction contract for the Combined Communication and
Command Center (C4) Power Supply  System Improvements  project at Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport.  This authorization is for $2,219,238 for a total authorization of
$4,555,238. 
SYNOPSIS 
This project will replace the obsolete and failing C4 Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) 
System. The existing system is no longer supported by the manufacturer and replacements parts
cannot be sourced. The C4 UPS system provides power to a variety of life-safety, security, and
operationally critical applications. These include the 911 Center, the Airport Communications
Center, and the 800MHz Radio System, which provides airport-wide communications for Port of
Seattle Police, Fire Department, Maintenance, and Airport Operations. This project will replace
end of life batteries, upsize the current UPS and batteries system by 50% to meet future demand,
and add system power feed redundancy to increase reliability and maintainability.  This project
was included in the 2016-2020 capital budget and plan of finance. 
BACKGROUND 
The 911 Center requires a UPS system to maintain certification as an Association of Public-
Safety Communication Officials (APCO) 911 Center. The existing C4 UPS power distribution
system is obsolete, near full capacity, and functionally deficient.  The system includes two
battery banks and two UPSs to provide redundancy, but we have experienced failures in both
UPSs and both battery banks due to the UPSs and batteries being beyond their useful lives. 

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
February 16, 2016 
Page 2 of 6 
Recent tests revealed one of the existing battery banks was dead; it was replaced as an expense
item (approximately $200,000) to keep the system functional until the entire system can be
replaced by this project. The existing batteries operate at a voltage that is not an industry
standard; therefore, the replacement batteries may not be able to be incorporated into the system
upgrade. The temporary replacement batteries will be surplused. The automatic power switching
system does not function properly and cannot be corrected through repair. C ritical parts are no
longer available and crucial equipment suppliers have gone out of business. The system also 
lacks redundant power paths to allow portions of the system to be de-energized for maintenance
and repair without affecting critical airport operations. This project corrects all the C4 UPS
deficiencies and provides 50% more capacity to accommodate growth.  Breakdowns for this
system are becoming increasingly frequent. 
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND DETAILS 
Project Objectives 
The project objective is to increase the reliability of the C4 UPS Power Distribution System by
replacing obsolete equipment, eliminating single points of failure, and providing redundant
power feeders. This project has been designed to be a highly reliable system to back-up critical
life-safety, security, and business critical operations including the 911 Center, Airport
Communications Center, and the 800 MHz Radio System. 
Scope of Work 
The scope of work for this project includes: 
Demolish and replace existing UPSs, paralleling cabinets, batteries, Automatic Transfer
or Static Switches 
Provide wiring, testing, commissioning and associated equipment for a fully functional
system with no single points of failure upstream of the power distribution units. 
Add Power Connection Box, Power Monitoring Equipment, Remote Monitoring, and
Power System Filters. 
Provide rack mount automatic transfer switches or replace with static transfer switches 
(varies depending on final design); and 
Upgrade fire protection system. 
Schedule 
Project Notebook Approval:                                 4th Quarter 2014 
Commission Authorization for Design:                          2nd Quarter 2015 
Design Start:                                               2nd Quarter 2015 
Design Completion:                                     1st Quarter 2016 
Commission Authorization for Construction:                       1st Quarter 2016 
Construction:                           2nd Quarter 2016 through 2nd Quarter 2017

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
February 16, 2016 
Page 3 of 6 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Budget/Authorization Summary              Capital     Expense   Total Project 
Original Budget                      $2,052,000          $0    $2,052,000 
Budget Increase (September 2014)          $2,154,471     $348,767    $2,503,238 
Revised Budget                     $4,206,471     $348,767    $4,555,238 
Previous Authorizations (Original Scope)      $1,987,233     $348,767    $2,336,000 
Current request for authorization            $2,219,238          $0    $2,219,238 
Total Authorizations, including this request     $4,206,471      $348,767    $4,555,238 
Remaining budget to be authorized                0                     0 
Total Estimated Project Cost              $4,206,471     $348,767    $4,555,238 
Project Cost Breakdown                     This Request       Total Project 
Design                                  $498,238         $1,330,238 
Construction                               $1,721,000         $2,971,000 
Sales Tax                                       $0           $254,000 
Total                                      $2,219,238         $4,555,238 
Budget Status and Source of Funds 
This project, C800107, was included in the 2016-2020 capital budget and plan of finance at an
estimated cost of $4,555,238. This project previously received project-wide authorization in
2007. The C4 UPS System was redesigned at that time, but a decision was made to delay moving
forward with construction due to budget constraints resulting from an economic downturn. It has
been determined that only 30% of the previous design work is now usable. Consequently,
$348,767 was written off to expense in 2014. The amount needed to complete the design is
estimated to be an additional $498,238. Given the amount of time that has passed since the
original authorization in 2007, staff is returning to Commission to seek authorization to proceed
with design and construction. The funding sources include the Airport Development Fund and
revenue bonds.
Staff is returning to request the construction authorization needed to complete the project.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
February 16, 2016 
Page 4 of 6 
Financial Analysis and Summary 
CIP Category             Renewal/Enhancement 
Project Type              Renewal & Replacement 
Risk adjusted discount rate     N/A 
Key risk factors             N/A 
Project cost for analysis        $4,555,238 
Business Unit (BU)          Admin (costs allocated to all cost centers) 
Effect on business performance  NOI after depreciation will decrease 
IRR/NPV             N/A 
CPE Impact             $.01 in 2017 
Lifecycle Cost and Savings 
The replacement of the existing Uninterruptable Power System will decrease the risk of
unforeseen failures of obsolete equipment that can impact critical operations at the Airport;
however, the replacement will not appreciably decrease the number of preventative maintenance
activities performed on the system. Weekly UPS testing is required for 911 certification. 
STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES 
This project supports the Port's Century Agenda Objective of meeting the region's air
transportation needs at Sea-Tac Airport for the next 25 years. Maintaining our existing assets
and infrastructure is necessary to meeting this objective. 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
1. Status Quo - Do not proceed with the project at this time. Delay replacement as long as
possible. 
Cost Estimate: $0 capital cost in 2016, but increased maintenance expense in near term 
(approximately $50k per year) and $4.5 million plus escalation to replace system in future. 
Pros: 
Defers capital cost to future. 
Cons: 
The existing system is no longer supported by the manufacturer and replacements
parts cannot be sourced. 
Port of Seattle may not meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
requirements for uninterruptable power supply to back up critical life/safety
equipment and functions. 
The current design may be expensed at a cost of approximately $800,000. 
Port could lose its 911 certification and would no longer meet inter-local
governmental agreements.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
February 16, 2016 
Page 5 of 6 
Port and surrounding communities could be left without emergency communications
services. 
This is not the recommended alternative due to the risks identified. 
2. Replace obsolete equipment in kind without upsizing or reconfiguring the system to
provide redundancy. 
Cost: $4,064,000 
Pros: 
Saves $491,000 in construction costs. 
Cons: 
The current design would be expensed at a cost of approximately $800,000. 
Contrary to previous commission direction to provided added capacity for growth and
system redundancy. 
Lacks capacity growth for future equipment additions. 
Less reliable, maintainable and does not eliminate single points of failure.
o  Failure would take a minimum of several hours and up to several months to
correct. Port and surrounding areas left without emergency communications
until corrected. 
This is not the recommended alternative. 
3. Upsize and replace equipment in kind, without reconfiguring the system to provide
redundancy. 
Cost: $4,147,000 
Pros: 
Saves $408,000 in construction costs 
Similar to Alternative 2 above, but this option upsizes the system to meet future
demands. 
Cons: 
The current design would be expensed at a cost of approximately $800,000. 
Contrary to previous Commission direction to add system redundancy. 
Less reliable, maintainable and does not eliminate single points of failure 
o  Failure would take a minimum of several hours and up to several months to
correct. Port and surrounding areas left without emergency communications
until corrected.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
February 16, 2016 
Page 6 of 6 

This is not the recommended alternative. 
4. Redesign system and increase reliability by replacing obsolete equipment, increasing
capacity by upsizing equipment, and providing redundancy. 
Cost: $4,555,238 
Pros: 
Construction bid documents are complete 
Redundant system capable of supporting emergency communications for existing and
future critical airport functions in the event of power outage or equipment failure. 
Cons: 
Originally the most expensive project alternative; however, since the design is now
complete, this is the lowest time and cost alternative that meets Port and NFPA
requirements. 
This is the recommended alternative. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
None. 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
April 1, 2015 - Commission authorized $832,000 of a total estimated project cost of
$4,555,238 (CIP #C800107). 
June 28, 2007 -  Commission authorized design, advertisement, award, and
construction of the C4 UPS system for $2,336,000.