COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          4h 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting 
September 12, 2017 
DATE:     August 30, 2017 
TO:        Dave Soike, Interim Executive Director 
FROM:    Paula Edelstein, Sr. Director, Human Resources 
SUBJECT:  Temporary Staffing for Accounting, Finance & Budget and Internal Audit 
Amount of this request:               $2,500,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to replace contracts expiring 
October 4, 2017, by executing up to three contracts for one year periods with four one-year 
options with a temporary staffing agency. This is in support of staffing needs for the Accounting
& Financial Reporting, Finance and Budget, and Internal Audit Departments. The sum of the
usage against contract(s) will not exceed $2,500,000 expiring five years from execution. 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
This temporary staffing contract will cover vacant positions typically resulting from staff
turnover and/or for special projects for Accounting & Financial Reporting, Finance & Budget,
and Internal Audit Departments. It has been extremely difficult, through the Port's normal
recruiting process, to hire for all level accounting and financial analyst positions, which has
resulted in extended vacancies for key positions. In addition, periodically the Accounting &
Financial Reporting, Finance & Budget, and Internal Audit departments have special projects
requiring additional temporary staff since existing staff are fully committed to existing
operational priorities leaving no time for these occasional and yet critical assignments. 
This contract will provide the Port with the flexibility to meet business needs as they arise by
allowing accounting, finance and internal audit to hire qualified temporary professional staffing
on an as-needed basis for a fixed period of time and at a pre-determined hourly rate. The
contract will be for one year with four 1-year options. We are looking to unbundle the contract
to provide additional opportunities for small and diverse businesses, in particular, those owned
by women and minorities, to allow their participation. CPO along with the Small bBusiness
Group will be conducting an outreach meeting through the Port of Seattle's Small Business
Generator program (PortGen) this September. 


Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. _4h_                                Page 2 of 2 
Meeting Date: September 12, 2017 
JUSTIFICATION 
The Port executed a contract three years ago for a not to exceed amount of $1,500,000 and
approximately $1,300,000 will be utilized when ending in early October. Internal Audit, Finance
& Budget and Accounting & Financial Reporting have all used the contract with heaviest usage
in the Aviation F&B division due to staffing turnover/shortages and special projects. 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Alternative 1) Use existing staff to handle all work and special projects, though they may
already be fully committed to existing operational priorities, leaving no time to cover work of
vacated  positions  and  these  occasional  and  yet  critical  assignments.  This  is  not the
recommended alternative. 
Alternative 2) Continue to post open positions with the hope that successful candidates will be
hired in the immediate future. Timely hiring is the primary focus for vacant positions, but due to
an ongoing shortage of talent in these specific disciplines, hiring qualified candidates often
takes six months or more from the date of the vacancy. This is not the recommended
alternative. 
Alternative 3) Engage in temporary staffing purchased service contract(s) for needs as they
arise. This alternative would ensure adequate staffing needs for ongoing work and/or special
projects. This is the recommended alternative. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
The total contract(s) will not exceed $2,500,000. No work is guaranteed to the staffing agency
and the Port is not obligated to pay until services are rendered. 
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary              Capital        Expense           Total 
COST ESTIMATE 
Original estimate                                          $0      $2,500,000      $2,500,000 
AUTHORIZATION 
Previous authorizations                                    0                0                0 
Current request for authorization                          0                0                0 
Total authorizations, including this request                  0      $2,500,000                0 
Remaining amount to be authorized                    $0     $2,500,000     $2,500,000 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
None 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
None 

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.