COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          8d 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting     November 8, 2022 

DATE :    September 9, 2022 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Brendalynn Taulelei, Senior Maintenance Manager, Asset Management and Logistics 
Rob Lane, Maintenance Manager, Logistics 
SUBJECT:  Purchase of Liquid and Solid Pavement Deicers for the Airport and Seaport 

Amount of this request:               $5,000,000 
Total estimated project cost:          $5,000,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute contracts or amend
existing contracts, for the purchase of liquid and solid pavement deicing agents, for use at Seattle-
Tacoma International Airport and waterfront locations. The estimated value of all contracts is
$5,000,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Aviation Maintenance uses a combination of snow removal equipment and deicing agents during
snow and ice conditions, to maintain surfaces for arriving and departing aircraft and vehicle
traffic that uses the airport roadways.  The de-icing chemicals used have a low impact on the
environment and the Port has a competition waiver in place for these products, which are the
only product approved by Department of Ecology. In a typical snow season at the airport, it is
necessary to execute multiple short-notice, high dollar-value purchases of liquid or solid deicer
to prevent impacts to Airport operations on the runways and roadways. Executing procurement
for liquid and solid deicer will allow the Aviation Division to be well prepared for winter weather
operations. Additionally, any contracts created can be utilized by the Maritime Division for use
on waterfront properties. 
JUSTIFICATION
This contract authorization will allow us to keep Sea-Tac Airport open for public travel and
regional commerce by providing the chemicals needed for deicing operations during a winter
weather event. The Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 150/5200-30D requires as
follows: “If the runway pavement temperature is warm enough for snow to compact and bond,

Template revised January 10, 2019.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8d                                  Page 2 of 5
Meeting Date: November 8, 2022 
or if freezing rain is forecasted, approved anti-icing chemicals and/or heated sand should be
applied prior to the start of precipitation or as soon as precipitation starts.” Heated sand is not
utilized at Sea-Tac Airport since it is less effective than deicer products, the sediment runoff
impacts the performance of stormwater best management practices and requires a storage and
warming facility. Deicer availability is critical during a winter weather event; therefore, the ability
of contracted suppliers to provide timely delivery of deicer products when requested either
before or during an active snow event prevents significant negative impacts to airport operations.
If deicer is not available, snow and ice accumulation will lead to unsafe runway and roadway
conditions due to accumulation, and an airport closure is likely .
Diversity in Contracting 
Since only products manufactured by Cryotech are authorized for use on the airfield according
to the environmental permit issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology there is no
opportunity for sourcing this product from small and woman and minority business enterprise
(WMBE) businesses.
Cryotech understands our commitment to supporting WMBE businesses and is committed to
utilizing small and WMBE businesses for shipping when practicable. 
DETAILS 
For almost 30 years, the Port of Seattle at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has used liquid
and solid runway and roadway deicing products manufactured by Cryotech Deicing Technologies
when snow and ice control efforts are required. We currently have an approved contract (S-
00319560) that has been in effect for four years and has one year remaining on an optional 5th 
year that has been executed.  The original authorization was granted by the Commission on
September 11, 2018 for $2.2 million and additional funds were added on November 12th, 2019
for $1,020,000 because of the contracting capacity used during 2018-2019 snow season. About
$700,000 contracting capacity remains on that authorization, which would not be enough to
cover costs of deicer if this season sees 2 or more snow responses. 
To provide safe operating surfaces, control chemicals must be applied to prevent snow and ice
from bonding to our pavement surfaces, or to melt and break the bond of ice that has adhered
to the surfaces. To accomplish these requirements, Aviation Maintenance stocks both liquid
potassium acetate and solid sodium acetate snow and ice control chemicals at the airport.
Deicing chemicals have the potential to impact water quality as they degrade and wash off with
stormwater runoff. To address this concern, the Port uses acetate-based deicing products which
have a lower biochemical oxygen demand as it degrades in the environment than glycol-based
fluids. In addition, over the past twenty years, Port Environmental has completed many studies
demonstrating that Cryotech potassium acetate and sodium acetate products do not impact
water quality. The study results have been reviewed and approved by the Department of
Ecology.

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

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8d                                  Page 3 of 5
Meeting Date: November 8, 2022 

The provider of the deicing chemicals must have a proven track record and is expected to remain
or be in business for the foreseeable future. In addition, the provider must have the required
infrastructure, have demonstrated their local production and storage capabilities, and have the
capacities to meet delivery requirements of these mission-critical chemicals even during
significant regional snow and ice events.
For the above environmental and operational reasons, we received a competition waiver for the
procurement of the Cryotech deicer products E-36® liquid potassium acetate and NAAC® solid
sodium acetate. 
Scope of Work
T his contract is for the purchase of liquid potassium acetate and granular deicer sodium acetate
to support runway and roadway deicing operations located at Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport. Liquid product shall be Potassium Acetate and must meet requirements of the Society
for Automotive and Aerospace Engineers (SAE) Aerospace Material Specifications (AMS)
1435. Solid product shall be Sodium Acetate and must meet requirements of SAE AMS 1431.
Schedule
The current contract expires in November 2023, however since there is not enough contracting
capacity to cover more than one snow response, we intend to add capacity to the current
contract to cover the 2022-2023 snow season. Then, we intend to execute a new contract in
November 2023. 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Alternative 1 – Do not execute a new long-term contract for deicer but purchase deicer as
needed from multiple suppliers during a snow event. 
Cost Implications: Pricing consistent with Alternative 2 below. Estimated contract amount $5
million over six years. 
Pros:
(1)   Flexibility to go with any company who has product available and best current price.
Cons:
(2)   Product quantity needed for a single event would exceed direct-buy purchase limits of
$50,000. A purchase of between $50,000 and $150,000 would require three quotes
before issuing a purchase order. A purchase of over $150,000 would require a formal
bid, which would take longer.  These processes take too long for such a critical
operation.

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

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8d                                  Page 4 of 5
Meeting Date: November 8, 2022 
(3)   Liquid deicing products outside of those already tested and approved from different
companies may have different environmental impacts that are unknown to port staff. If
we went with another product, we would have to update our NPDES (National Pollutant
Discharge  Elimination  System)  Permit  and  get  approval  from  the  Washington
Department of Ecology.  This process could take a year and a half, cost over $300,000
for testing, and may result in other corrective actions having to be implemented, or
possibly, our request may be denied outright.
(4)   Product quantity needed for a single snow event may exceed purchasing limits as
outlined in the General Delegation of Authority. The Executive Director purchasing limit
is not to exceed $300,000.
(5)   Liquid deicing products from different companies may react unpredictably when mixed 
in the same storage tanks. It is possible to create a transition plan to switch from one
product to another, but it would be dangerous to frequently add different products to
the same tanks.
(6)   Vendors may not store sufficient quantities of product locally unless obligated by
contract requirements. Needed quantity may not be available during an event, which
is a great risk to airport operations.
(7)   Vendors would fill orders for customers who they have contracted obligations for
before filling requisitions from the port.
(8)   The port would likely have to pay a premium for delivery charges.
(9)   Procuring deicer without a contract leads to variable and unpredictable cost per gallon.
Alternative 2 – Authori zation to execute contracts or amend existing contracts, for the purchase
of liquid and solid pavement deicing agents, for use at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and
waterfront locations. 
Cost Implications: The contract to purchase liquid and solid deicer products for the airport is
estimated to cost $5 million in total over a six-year period. Over the past four seasons we have
spent $2.5M for deicer, but each year is highly variable, ranging from $300,00 to over $1M in a
single season. Additionally, contract escalations based on commodities indices have resulted in
a price increase of product of 25%, and it is likely when we negotiate a new contract in 2023 the
price will go up again since the vendor may look to recoup their costs for shipping and other
factors which were not allowable based on the escalation language in our current contract.
Pros:
(1)   This approach will allow us to take advantage of the favorable terms of our current
contract and then negotiate a in 2023 once the current extension expires. The 2023
contract would have language to allow us to execute extensions or negotiate new
contracts every year, whichever is more favorable to the Port at the time. 
(2)   T he contract may be able to specify the vendor’s use of small businesses in their supply
chain.


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

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8d                                  Page 5 of 5
Meeting Date: November 8, 2022 
Cons:
(1) Executing annual contracts would limit our ability to re-negotiate mid-year and take
advantage of price drops due to market conditions. 
(2) Locking into a price at the beginning of each season could subject us to disadvantageous
timing related to price volatility. 

This is the recommended alternative. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds 
Annual expenditures under this contract for the airport will be charged to the Aviation
Maintenance operating budget. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
None 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
September 11, 2018 Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a
contract for the purchase of liquid and solid pavement deicing agents for use at Seattle -
Tacoma International Airport. Estimated value $2,200,000.
November 12, 2019 Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a
contract revision for the purchase of liquid and solid pavement deicing agents for use at
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Revision added $1,020,000. 







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