COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          10d 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting       June 28, 2022 

DATE:     June 21, 2022 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Sandra Kilroy, Sr. Director Environment, Sustainability and Engineering 
Sarah Cox, Interim Director, Aviation Environment and Sustainability 
Josh Feigin, Senior Environmental Specialist 
SUBJECT:  Aviation Salmon-Safe recertification contracting and competition waiver 
Total estimated project cost:        $200,000 NTE 

ACTION REQUESTED 
Request commission authorization for (1) the commission determine a competitive process is not
appropriate or cost effective and exempt this contract from a competitive process consistent
with RCW 53.19.020; and (2) the Executive Director to execute contract(s) with Salmon-Safe, a
non-profit organization, for a not to exceed amount of $200,000, for the Port’s Salmon-safe
certification. 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has been Salmon-Safe certified since 2016. This
is a voluntary environmental certification program, conducted exclusively by the non-profit
Salmon-Safe organization for the West Coast. Salmon-Safe certifies that SEA’s operations and
stormwater/habitat management programs are protective of local streams and Puget Sound and
their salmon populations.  This certification is a significant validation of SEA’s efforts towards
environmental sustainability and is a complimentary guideline to the SEA’s stated objectives
under the Century Agenda. SEA’s excellent reputation as a well-known environmental steward 
also  helps  the  Salmon  Safe program  promote  and  encourage participation  from  other 
organizations which makes SEA’s participation even more valuable to the program’s mission. The
certification cycle is five years. The current cycle was extended a year into 2022 due to Covid 
impacting the recertification process originally scheduled to occur in 2021. The requested
contract(s) authorization covers the cost to continue the Salmon Safe certification for the next
four cycles (20 years). When each cycle nears completion, SEA will verify that Salmon-Safe is the
sole organization offering this certification. Following this validation an amendment will be
executed to exercise the next option period of 5 (five) years and Aviation Environment and

Template revised January 10, 2019.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10d                                 Page 2 of 5 
Meeting Date: June 28, 2022 
Sustainability will budget for the updated recertification fee in the annual budget process. If SEA
chooses not to continue participation the certification will lapse, and no further action is
required. 
JUSTIFICATION 
Staff conducted research and have determined that a competitive solicitation is not appropriate
or cost effective considering the Salmon-Safe organization has the exclusive, peer-reviewed
accreditation program in Washington, Oregon, California, and British Columbia. 
The Salmon-Safe non-profit organization exclusively certifies infrastructure projects under the
Salmon-Safe certification program, recognizing practices that protect water quality, maintain
watershed health and restore habitat. It is consistent with the Century Agenda to be the greenest
Port in North America. SEA has participated in this program since 2016, and recertification
assessments are due every five years. To keep the Salmon-Safe certification, SEA will perform the
required objectives/conditions identified by Salmon-Safe during their assessment process. Since
Salmon-Safe is the only organization offering this certification/accreditation, a competition
waiver is requested to allow the Port to participate in the Salmon-Safe program. 
Diversity in Contracting 
Diversity in Contracting is not applicable to this request. 
DETAILS 
Scope of Work 
Salmon-Safe will conduct an assessment for site-wide certification of SEA, including review of
restoration master planning and activity to date, landscape management, and stormwater
systems to ensure alignment with Salmon-Safe standards into the future. Policy and field-level
evaluations will be conducted using Salmon-Safe’s peer-reviewed infrastructure standards to
evaluate whether SEA planning, operations and restoration activities are consistent with Salmon-
Safe principles of net-positive watershed impact. 
The actions for each 5-year certification cycle will include the following (if SEA continues
participation in future certification cycles): 
(1)   Recertification site visit and document review – Salmon-Safe staff will review pertinent
documents regarding environmental projects and operations and will tour the site to
evaluate impacts of infrastructure changes. 
(2)   Recertification report with conditions – Salmon-Safe staff will provide SEA with a report
of findings and recommendations/conditions to adhere to during the new 5-year
certification cycle. 
(3)   Salmon-Safe support – The Salmon-Safe organization will provide support for SEA public
and media outreach as desired. 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10d                                 Page 3 of 5 
Meeting Date: June 28, 2022 
(4)   Certification verification – SEA will submit annual progress reports and Salmon-Safe will
assess progress towards meeting conditions. 
Schedule 
The Salmon-Safe evaluations would occur every five years. The 2022-2027 cycle will be addressed
in mid-2022, and the next three five-year cycles would occur in 2027, 2032 and 2037. Condition 
verification reporting would occur annually. 
Activity 
2022-2027 recertification assessment            2022 Quarter 3 
2022-2027 annual verification                   2023-2027 Quarter 2 
2027-2032 recertification assessment            2027 Quarter 3 
2027-2032 annual verifications                  2028-2032 Quarter 2 
2032-2037 recertification assessment            2032 Quarter 3 
2032-2037 annual verifications                  2033-2037 Quarter 2 
2037-2042 recertification assessment            2037 Quarter 3 
2037-2042 annual verifications                  2038-2042 Quarter 2 
Cost Breakdown                                   Estimated Cost           Total Project 
2022-2027 Recertification fee                               $35,000*                $35,000 
2027-2032 Recertification fee                                $40,000                $75,000 
2032-2037 Recertification fee                                $45,000               $120,000 
2037-2042 Recertification fee                                $50,000               $170,000 
*This cycle cost is determined. Payment for this cycle only will be split into two parts, with
$17,000 budgeted for 2022 and $18,000 to be requested in 2023. A $5,000 increase per cycle is
included here as an assumption for cost of inflation over the duration of the contract timeframe.
Future cycles will have budget requests for amounts to be determined at that time as part of the
annual budget approval process. 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Two alternatives are presented. An alternative to contract some other organization to conduct
the Salmon-Safe assessments and verifications is not feasible since Salmon-Safe is the only
organization that can certify and verify the program that they have developed. 
Alternative 1 – No continuation of Salmon-Safe certification for SEA 
Cost Implications: No contract costs ($0) 
Pros: 
(1)   No further effort expended by staff to retain certification 
(2)   No budget needed for recertification, so money is saved 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10d                                 Page 4 of 5 
Meeting Date: June 28, 2022 
Cons: 
(1)   Discontinuation of Salmon-Safe certification at SEA 
(2)   Reduce focus on and community recognition of conducting voluntary and pro-active 
program that supports salmon protection 
(3)   Reduced efforts supporting Century Agenda 
This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 2 – Grant waiver and authorize a maximum of four recertification cycles 
Cost Implications: Initial cycle is $35,000. Each additional cycle will have a fee with an estimated
total amount of $200,000. 
Pros: 
(1)   The SEA Salmon-Safe certification would continue as long as desired 
(2)   Recertification  will  support  the  SEA  Century  Agenda  goals  through  Salmon-Safe
recommended elements 
(3)   Community recognition for being a salmon friendly organization 
Cons: 
(1)   Each recertification cycle has additional costs 
(2)   Continued certification will require SEA staff effort for recertification contracting and
annual reporting 
This is the recommended alternative. 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary              Capital        Expense           Total 
COST ESTIMATE 
Original estimate                                          $0        $200,000        $200,000 
AUTHORIZATION 
Current request for authorization                          0        $200,000        $200,000 
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds 
Each recertification cycle that SEA decides to pursue will be funded through the annual expense
budget request process. The current recertification cycle is being paid in two parts and has
$17,000 approved for 2022. The remaining $18,000 will be requested as part of the 2023 budget
request process. 


Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10d                                 Page 5 of 5 
Meeting Date: June 28, 2022 
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership) 
Beyond the known recertification fee for the current cycle there are no known expenses.
Estimated fees for future certification cycles have been included in this memo. Future cycles may
have conditions of certification that require major expenditures to meet. These conditions will
be approved by commission prior to entering into the recertification agreement and funded
accordingly through the expense or capital budget process. 
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND 
The current certification conditions were both one-time and ongoing. SEA has met the one-time
conditions and continues to work on the ongoing conditions such as water conservation and
clean construction practices. Future recertification cycles will likely continue the ongoing
conditions and add measures for continual improvement of SEA’s operations related to
environment and sustainability. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS 
(1)   Presentation slides 
(2)   2016 Salmon-Safe Certification Report 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
June 28, 2016– The Commission approved SEA Salmon-Safe certification 









Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).