COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          8e 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting     November 9, 2021 
DATE:     October 6, 2021 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Randy Hansen, Sr. Manager Emergency Preparedness 
SUBJECT:  Airport Emergency Preparedness Exercise Support Contract 
Amount of this request:                 $750,000 
Total contract cost:                       $750,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a 5-year contract for
emergency preparedness exercise support, at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, not to
exceed $750,000. 
SUMMARY 
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Airport) is required per FAR Part 139 to develop and
implement an Airport Emergency Plan (AEP). The AEP addresses essential emergency related
and deliberate actions planned to ensure the safety of and emergency services for the airport
populace and the community in which the airport is located. Actions recommended in the AEP
to enhance emergency response capabilities includes training, drills, and exercises. An example
is the comprehensive full-scale preparedness exercise conducted every 3 years, known as the 
Triennial Full-Scale Exercise (FSE), that focuses on Airport Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting 
response. 
A multi-year contracted provider  will  assist with these critical  exercises  and  significantly
improve the Airport's emergency preparedness and resilience. Several equivalent airports
conduct exercises annually to maximize their preparedness and resiliency (e.g.,  Chicago,
Atlanta, JFK, Houston, Tampa, Reagan, Dulles, John Wayne, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Orlando, SFO,
LAWA, San Diego, Ft. Lauderdale). Approval of this action supports the Port of Seattle Century
Agenda Goals, Objectives, and Executive Director's Priorities, and will broaden the current
scope to include such things as active shooter, mass evacuation, natural disasters, hazmat,
power outage, etc. 
As defined in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  Advisory Circular, 150-5200-13,
exercises are "activities designed to promote emergency preparedness; test or evaluate

Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. 8e                                  Page 2 of 2 
Meeting Date: November 9, 2021 
emergency operations, policies, plans, procedures or facilities; train personnel in emergency
management duties; and demonstrate operational capability." 
By conducting FSEs annually the Airport can accomplish the following: 
a)  Validate emergency plans that provide a response based upon need and emergency
location. 
b)  Ensure readiness in the procedures and coordination needed to accomplish an effective
emergency response in minimum time. 
c)  Confirm the functionality and effectiveness of their plans and procedures under
controlled conditions and make changes as needed. 
d)  Improve emergency responder confidence in the plan, as well as becoming more
familiar with the facility, and resources. 
Maintaining the current triennial schedule versus the requested annual FSE program reduces
two-thirds of the ability to maintain proficiencies in emergency response and recovery. Last
year's (2020) Triennial was conducted successfully under a one-year proof-of-concept contract.
This 5-year request scales a repeatable, less labor-intensive, and more efficient and effective
exercise planning, conduct, and evaluation process. This is not possible with current staffing in
Emergency Preparedness, nor would it provide the long-term tangible benefits to the Airport.
There is no funding request with this authorization. The annual budget amount, estimated at
$150,000, will be included in the Aviation Division's operating budget each year. 
There are no attachments to this memo. 









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