PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.       5a 
ACTION ITEM             Date of Meeting   October 23, 2012 
DATE:    October 11, 2012 
TO:      Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Patricia Akiyama, Director, Public Affairs 
Beth Osborne, Manager, Federal Government Relations 
SUBJECT:  Federal Government Advocacy contract 

Amount of This Request:  $0            Source of Funds:    Operating budget 
Est. Total Contract Cost:   $720,000 
ACTION REQUESTED: 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to execute a contract for federal
government relations advocacy services for monitoring of federal legislation and regulatory activity, and
acting on behalf of the Port at the Port's direction. The proposed contract term is a one-year contract
with two, one-year options for an estimated total cost of $720,000. 
SYNOPSIS: 
The Port of Seattle currently retains a federal government relations advocacy firm in Washington, D.C., 
to assist the full-time Port manager in addressing the significant number of federal actions that have a
direct impact on the Port's organization and business operations. This firm acts as an advocate
providing regular and consistent personal contact with the Pacific Northwest Congressional delegations,
both members and staff, as well as regulatory agencies directly affecting Port operations. This
memorandum requests authority to execute a contract with a federal government relations advocacy 
consultant to monitor legislative and regulatory activity in Washington, D.C., and to provide strategic
guidance on federal policy and regulatory issues. The current contract for such services was
competitively bid in 2008 and expires January 7, 2013. There will be a robust competitive process for
future federal advocacy services under the term of this contract. 
PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK AND SCHEDULE: 
The proposed scope of work is to assist Port staff to support the Port of Seattle in federal government
relations activities in Washington, D.C., by monitoring federal legislation and regulatory activity and
acting on behalf of the Port at the Port's direction. This work will promote and protect the Port's
interest in federal matters. More specific duties will be to represent the Port at federal legislative and
executive branch agency meetings in Washington, D.C.; serve as the Port's liaison with the
Administration, Members of Congress, other federal agencies and relevant industry associations; and to
provide strategic guidance related to federal policy and regulatory issues. The consultant will provide
regular reports on its activities in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Port, both orally and in writing. It

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
October 11, 2012 
Page 2 of 3 
will conduct other work as assigned, including but not limited to, introductory meetings for Port officials
and staff; creating strategies to advance Port issues before Congress and the Executive Branch; attending
Congressional hearings, markups and briefings on matters of interest to the Port; drafting
correspondence to federal entities and Members of Congress; writing draft testimony and legislation; 
drafting comments for the federal regulatory process; providing federal briefing materials as requested; 
and interacting regularly with the Pacific Northwest Congressional delegations, committee staffs and
federal regulatory bodies. Public Affairs will work with Office of Social Responsibility to determine
small business opportunities. 
Over the past year, two examples of our continued work at the federal level advocating for our Seaport's
and Airport's competitiveness include the release of a Federal Maritime Commission report on the
impact of price on cargo diversion from West Coast ports and the opportunity to advocate for a daily
flight between Haneda (Tokyo) and Sea-Tac with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Possible
federal issues with implications for the Port that may surface over the period of the contract include
reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act, reauthorization of the surface transportation
bill, beginning stages of reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration bill, annual
appropriations legislation, baggage screening reforms, Harbor Maintenance Tax reforms, and
regulations to implement a national freight strategy and infrastructure improvements. Airport and
Seaport security and infrastructure issues, as well as a variety of emissions and other environmental
issues, will remain areas of federal activity. 
This contract will be procured competitively and according to Port procedures. Public Affairs will work
with the Office of Social Responsibility to determine small business opportunities. To increase
competition, we will advertise the Request for Proposal broadly. Many qualified firms provide these 
types of services, and we are likely to receive a high number of applications. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: 
The estimated cost of the agreement is $720,000 for three years. Services are estimated at $240,000 per
year. Charges to this contract will be from the Public Affairs department and will be included in annual
budgets. Consequently, there is no funding request associated with this authorization.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS: 
Alternative 1: Do not hire a D.C.-based advocate. Although Port staff are well-versed in most federal
issues and are able to effectively direct the work of the contractor, they do not always have the specific
knowledge necessary to represent the Port on an issue or do not have available capacity to perform the
amount of work required for effective representation in Congress and the executive branch. Past
experience shows the Port typically has had to hire specialized and highly skilled consultants resident in
Washington, D.C., to perform this work most effectively. This is not the preferred alternative. 
Alternative 2: Through a broadly advertised competitive process, hire a consultant to perform
specialized and highly skilled advocacy services. Maintaining a regular presence in Washington, D.C., 
with a consultant firm assists the Port not only in monitoring ongoing activity, but also in identifying
opportunities such as funding for Port initiatives, and influencing the development of legislation and
regulations. As both federal and state funding is affected by a downturn in revenues, it will be of

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
October 11, 2012 
Page 3 of 3 
increasing strategic benefit to have an informed, regular presence in Washington, D.C., to advocate for
Port interests and to uniquely represent our needs in transportation funding, environmental regulation,
trade regulation, maritime and aviation industry issues, and Port security. These advocacy efforts are
essential to support of our mission to create jobs, stimulate economic development, promote industrial 
growth and advance trade and commerce in King County, the Puget Sound region and Washington
state. This is the preferred alternative. 
OTHER DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REQUEST: 
None. 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS: 
None.