Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Joseph Morris
Department: Port Everglades Division: Director’s Office
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Amendment No. 1 to State-Funded Grant Agreement (“SFGA”) between the Florida Department of Transportation (“FDOT”) and Broward County for the completion of a pilot project to install and test radiation detection sensors on a container gantry crane at Port Everglades, extending the expiration date from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2027; and authorizing the County Administrator to approve any future amendments that don’t materially increase County’s risk or financial obligations, subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the County Attorney’s Office, and to take the necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the grant.
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Why Action is Necessary
Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ approval is required for amendments to state-funded grant agreements
What Action Accomplishes
Extends the period of performance of the grant by one year to June 30, 2027, due to delays associated with the US Department of Homeland Security shutdown and delegates authority to County Administrator to approve future amendment under certain conditions.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
On May 20, 2025 (Item No. 25), the Broward County Board of County Commissioners approved a state-funded grant agreement (“SFGA”) with the Florida Department of Transportation (“FDOT”) to provide grant funding up to $1,000,000 for a pilot project to install a radiation detection device on one container spreader to be used on a single container gantry crane to test the application of the detection technology for improved safety of container terminal operations. This device is intended to reduce the risk of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high yield explosives (“CBRNE”) events and address safety/security risks with technology systems that deter illicit activity. The pilot project will utilize advancements in artificial intelligence, computing, and sensors to detect radioactive material in a container as it is being lifted on or off a ship and would send real-time alerts to CBP for further analysis and action. The SFGA required that all activities eligible for reimbursement under the grant be performed by June 30, 2026.
Safe Port Terminals LLC (“SPT”) was identified by the state as a vendor with the capability to perform the pilot testing; however, due to state funding restrictions, the funds must be provided to a public port through an SFGA. On January 21, 2026, the County Administrator executed an agreement with SPT to perform the pilot project, with a period of performance ending on September 30, 2026, at an estimated project cost not to exceed $1,000,000, with SPT being responsible for paying any cost overruns. On May 4, 2026, SPT submitted a request to Port staff to extend the period of performance for the expenditure of grant funds by one year to June 30, 2027, due to the impacts of the Federal government shutdown on their ability to complete the required project coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (see Exhibit 2).
Eligible reimbursable costs for the project remain the coordination, environmental work, design work, installation activities, including connections and cables; fabrication, system integration, and testing required to install a functioning radiation detection device at Port Everglades.
The SFGA amendment has been reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. FDOT will execute the amendment after approval by the County. Staff intent is to include an item on the Summer Recess list to authorize the County Administrator to execute an amendment to the separate agreement between Broward County and SPT to extend the period of performance in that agreement by twelve months to reflect the new expiration date in the SFGA.
Source of Additional Information
Glenn Wiltshire, Deputy Port Director, Port Everglades Department, 954-468-3504, gwiltshire@broward.org
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
None.