PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      4c 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting     January 6, 2015 
DATE:    December 17, 2014 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Ralph Graves, Managing Director, Capital Development Division 
SUBJECT:  Additional funding request for a contract with Mercator International 
Amount of This Request:         $125,000   Source of Funds:         Corporate 
Est. Total Project Cost:           $400,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission ratification of a $125,000 amendment entered into with Mercator
International LLC for critical work associated with consulting support required with the Seaport
Alliance. 
BACKGROUND 
In early 2014, the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma entered into an agreement with Mercator
International LLC valued up to $199,000 to analyze the current international container situation,
the competitive landscape, and consider ways in which the Puget Sound ports can position
themselves to retain and grow their market share of the international container business. 
As the work progressed, the ports required more support from Mercator to support due diligence
decision making and planning. The agreement was amended an additional $76,000 beyond its
upper limit, for a new total of $275,000, to accommodate this work. The Commission was
notified of that competition waiver on August 28, 2014. 
The ports continue to need more support from Mercator in order to stay on schedule for a Federal
Maritime Commission submittal in March 2015. To support this critical and immediate need, 
CEO Ted Fick authorized an additional $125,000 under the Critical Work provisions of
Resolution No. 3605 Section 4.2.3.7. This memo requests Commission ratification of CEO
Fick's action. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
December 12, 2014, Competition Waiver and Notification (which includes the August
28, 2014, Competition Waiver and Notification) 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
None 

Template revised May 30, 2013.