Many people ask, "How can I do business with the Port?"

First, it is helpful to learn about the Port's purchasing guidelines. By better understanding our procurement process, businesses will be able to take advantage of the appropriate opportunities.

$0-$5,000 No quotes are required. Staff may select the company based on price, past performance, etc. The Port encourages businesses to develop dialogue in order to find out about these opportunities.

$5,000- $25,000 Three quotes are required and the best qualified is selected. This includes construction or repair of port facilities and purchases of equipment. Computers and copy machines may be purchased from the state bid list. No formal commission approval is required except on vehicles and other mobile equipment (tractors, forklifts, sweepers, man lifts, etc.) Due to the limited number of companies involved in marine construction, there is an exemption from the 3-quote requirement.

Over $25,000 By law, the Port is required to take sealed bids or proposals for purchases and construction projects in excess of $25,000. These projects are advertised in the newspaper, as well as posted on www.portofcorpuschristi.com, and shared with the Chambers, Contractor's Associations, etc. These contracts are generally awarded to the firm with the lowest and best bid.

The Port breaks down its expenditures into 4 basic categories:

Capital Projects
Maintenance Projects
Professional Services

Capital Proejects include items such as construction of new facilities, major modifications and upgrades to infrastructure and major equipment purchases.

Maintenance Projects include items such as repairs to dock structures, buildings, utilities, etc and normal maintenance of roads, railroads, dredging of public docks.

Professional Services are sought out in order to fulfill the mission of the Port. Port staff uses consultants when outside assistance can provide specialized expertise not available in-house or to enhance a project team. Professional Services allow the Port to glean new ideas and ways of doing business that is beneficial to the Port and its mission. In doing so, the Port strives to:

• Obtain the highest quality professional service at a competitive cost;
• Complete projects in a timely and cost-effective manner that will best serve the PCCA;
• Minimize design errors/omissions and construction claims;
• Utilize local professional service providers whenever feasible;
• Utilize a fair and competitive process for the selection of a professional service provider for a specific job or project;
• Provide an incentive among professional service providers to provide the best level of service possible through consideration of past performance; and
• Award professional service contracts to as many qualified providers as is practical for and beneficial to the PCCA.
  

All professional service agreements less than $25,000 are considered a minor professional services contract and the Executive Director has the right to approve these agreements; however, a report on these agreements is provided to the Port Commission on monthly basis.

An informal selection process is used for professional services under $100,000, Port staff may select firms or individuals already known to have expertise and the availability to complete tasks. Once selected, port staff further develops scope of work and discusses fees and terms of assignment. A request for Professional Services agreement is prepared and must be approved by the Port Commission if it is in excess of $25,000.

A formal selection process is used for services in excess of $100,000. In these situations, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is prepared that details the services needed, the selection process, deadline for submittal, and any other materials to be included. Since this is an RFQ no price information is required until after a selection is made. The RFQ is generally issued 2 weeks before submittal deadline. Thereafter, a selection committee reviews the statements and participates in all aspects of selection.

The Port purchases other supplies such as office supplies, furniture, computer software, etc. each year. Each department manager or his/her designee generally purchases these items using the standard Purchase Order System. Depending on the price of these items, they may or may not require a bid.