TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-6719 for the installation of the Interim Explosive Detection System (EDS) Baggage Screening System at the Long Beach Airport; authorize City Manager to execute a contract with Quatrotec, Inc., the lowest responsible bidder, in an estimated amount of $1,212,834, plus a 25 percent contingency amount of $303,209, if necessary; and increase appropriation to $1,500,000 in the Airport Enterprise Fund (320) and the Department of Public Works (PW). (District 5)
DISCUSSION
When the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began checked bag screening at Long Beach Airport in December 2002, they installed a baggage screening system using 16 Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) machines. These machines are labor intensive and have resulted in a high TSA employee injury rate and difficulty processing bags during peak hours. These problems have been compounded since the limitation on liquids was imposed last August 2006. At Long Beach Airport this has resulted in an increase in checked bags of over 30 percent, further exacerbating peak hour processing shortfalls, and TSA and airline employee work injury issues.
The TSA has approached the City indicating that they will assign up to four EDS units to the Long Beach Airport. These units would increase the baggage screening processing rates to address current peak hour needs and would also address employee injury issues by reducing the amount of baggage handling required. Installation of EDS equipment would require the City to provide support infrastructure including concrete pads, conditioned air, baggage conveyors, rollers and additional coverings. Much of this infrastructure can be relocated and reused as needed.
This project would also relocate the existing exterior baggage screening from the south canopy area, which currently has drainage issues, to the north canopy area where drainage is less of an issue.
City Council adoption of the plans and specifications ...
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