Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Joseph Morris
Department: Port Everglades Division: Finance
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE Grant Agreement No. 693JF72344014 between Broward County (“County”) and the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (“MARAD"), with MARAD agreeing to grant up to $19,280,625 for the Port Everglades Berths Improvement and Modernization Project for Berths 16-18, and County agreeing to match up to that amount in non-federal funds, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1; to authorize the County Administrator to approve and execute the final grant agreement and any subsequent change order(s), supplemental(s), amendment(s), or certifications requested by MARAD in connection with the grant agreement, provided there is no material increase in risk or cost to County, subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the County Attorney’s Office; and to authorize the County Administrator to take the necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement and administer the Grant Agreement.
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Why Action is Necessary
Pursuant to Section 20.31(b)(3) of the Broward County Administrative Code, grant agreements to be executed by Broward County must be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for approval.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval of the substantial form of this Grant Agreement and delegation of the execution authority to the County Administrator enables the County to accept this grant funding from MARAD once the grant is finalized by MARAD.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
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Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
This action supports the Broward County Board of County Commissioner’s (“Board”) Value of “Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives,” and the Goals of ”Ensuring economic opportunities and a sustainable economy, with an emphasis on Broward's lower and middle class,” and ”Ensuring accessible, seamlessly integrated investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices, manufacturing, resilient infrastructure, and environmental protection.”
On May 13, 2022, Broward County submitted an application for grant funding to the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (“MARAD”) for the Fiscal Year 2022 Port Infrastructure Development Program (“PIDP”). On November 14, 2022, Broward County was notified of the grant award totaling $19,280,265 of Federal funds to Port Everglades, requiring a 50% non-Federal match up to the same amount. On May 9, 2024, MARAD approved pre-award costs up to $3,635,000 to be incurred in advance of the grant execution that would be eligible to apply as part of the non-Federal matching funds. This pre-award cost approval allowed for commencement of project management activities, engineering activities for pre-construction engineering, design development (up to 90% of total design), and environmental reviews and activities necessary to obtain the required National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) approvals.
This grant will be used for the Port Everglades Berths Improvement and Modernization Project at Berths 16-18 (“Project”) (see Exhibit 2). The funding for the Grant Agreement comes from Federal dollars appropriated for the 2022 PIDP.
The Project will replace approximately 1,650 linear feet of bulkheads seaward of the existing Berths 16, 17, and 18 at Port Everglades. The Project will include new combi-wall (steel sheet and pipe pile) bulkheads with concrete caps, cathodic protection, mooring hardware and fendering systems, dockside utility extensions, berth apron pavement, and drainage system improvements. Project construction is expected to begin in 2029 to allow for coordination with cruise ship deployment schedules.
All of the bulkhead replacements are planned and designed to meet modern standards for vessel size and depth. The modernization of these berths will result in greater operational efficiencies at the Port. While the bulkhead height will be the same as the existing bulkheads, the design will allow for the height of the bulkhead to be increased to account for future sea level rise.
The primary goal of the Project is to provide bulkhead replacements that will allow the berths to operate safely and more efficiently for the next 75 years of service. The Project will enable the Port to continue to handle the larger vessels in service today and in the future, to efficiently manage the diverse cargoes needed throughout the region, and to address the elevation increases that may be needed due to future sea level rise. The Project will also ensure that Port Everglades provides modern state-of-the-industry infrastructure to handle container, break bulk, Ro-Ro, and cruise ships.
The proposed Grant Agreement requires acceptance of MARAD’s General Terms and Conditions, which have been reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. These General Terms and Conditions impose various obligations, including reporting requirements, as a condition of funding. MARAD is finalizing their review of the required Environmental Assessment and other non-substantive terms, and approval of the substantial form of the Grant Agreement and delegation of authority to the County Administrator will allow the Agreement to be executed when received.
Source of Additional Information
David Anderton, AICP, PPM, Assistant Director, Port Everglades Department (954) 468-0144.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
This grant is funded by MARAD under the Fiscal Year 2022 PIDP and will offset up to $19,280,625 of the cost of design, permitting, and construction of the Port Everglades Berths Improvement and Modernization Project for Berths 16-18. The 50/50 matching funds ($19,280,625) were included in the approved Port Everglades Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvement Program. The estimated total cost for the project is $102,837,278.