PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.       4d 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting     September 22, 2015 
DATE:    September 4, 2015 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Julie Collins, Senior Director, Public Affairs 
Clare Gallagher, State Government Relations, Manager 
SUBJECT:  State Government Advocacy contract 

Est. Total Contract Cost:   $360,000         Source of Funds:    Operating budget 
ACTION REQUESTED: 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to execute a contract for state 
government relations advocacy services for monitoring of state 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 three, one-year options for an estimated total cost of $360,000. 
SYNOPSIS: 
The Port of Seattle currently retains a state government relations advocacy firm in Olympia, WA, to 
assist the full-time Port manager in addressing the significant number of state 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 key legislators, executive branch, state agency staff and
organizations. This memorandum requests authority to execute a contract with a state government
relations advocacy consultant to monitor legislative and regulatory activity in Olympia, WA and to
provide strategic guidance on state policy and regulatory issues. The current contract for such services
was competitively bid in 2012 and expires July 17, 2016. There will be a robust competitive process for
future state advocacy services under the term of this contract. 
CONTRACT SCOPE OF WORK AND SCHEDULE: 
The proposed scope of work is to assist Port staff to support the Port of Seattle in state government 
relations activities in Olympia, WA, by monitoring state 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 state
matters. More specific duties will be to represent the Port at state legislative and executive branch
agency meetings in Olympia WA or around the state; serve as the Port's liaison with key legislators,
executive branch, state agency staff and organizations and relevant industry associations; and to provide
strategic guidance related to state executive and legislative policy and regulatory issues. The consultant
will provide regular reports on its activities in Olympia WA, on behalf of the Port, both orally and in
writing. It 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 the Legislature and Executive

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
September 4, 2015 
Page 2 of 3 
Branch; attending legislative hearings and briefings on matters of interest to the Port; drafting
correspondence to state entities and; writing draft testimony and legislation; reviewing draft comments
for the state regulatory process; providing state-oriented briefing materials as requested; and interacting
regularly with the state legislative body, committee staffs and state regulatory staff. 
While this contract may be asked to perform state advocacy work on behalf of the NWSA, the scope of
work for this contract is primarily focused on the Port of Seattle's state agenda. The NWSA will retain a
separate advocacy contract. The firm selected to represent the port will be able to compete for both
contracts. 
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 based in
Olympia and the broader Northwest provide these types of services, and we are likely to receive a
competitive response. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: 
The estimated cost of the agreement is $360,000 for four years. Services are estimated at $90,000 per
year. Charges to this contract will be from the Public Affairs department and will be included in annual
budgets. 
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS: 
Alternative 1: Do not hire an Olympia-based advocate. Although Port staff are knowledgeable in
many state 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, the ongoing relationship with
legislators and staff to interact on the issue, or do not have available capacity to perform the amount of
work required for effective representation in the state legislature and executive branch. Past experience
shows the Port typically has had to hire specialized and highly skilled consultants to perform this work
most effectively, especially during the legislative session each year. 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 Olympia, 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
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. T hese 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.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
September 4, 2015 
Page 3 of 3 
OTHER DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REQUEST: 
None. 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS: 
None.