PORT ANGELES – Port of Port Angeles staff spent a sobering day at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration headquarters in Seattle on Tuesday at a hearing exploring why NOAA rejected the port’s proposal for stationing the agency’s fleet in Port Angeles, port commission president John Calhoun said.
The session resulted in interim Executive Director Bill James recommending the port not appeal the decision, Calhoun said, a conclusion Calhoun had already reached and one he will recommend at the port’s regular meeting at 9 a.m. Monday at port headquarters, 338 W. First St., Port Angeles.
“I am strongly opposed to an appeal,” Calhoun said, estimating the effort would cost at least $75,000.
“An appeal is not warranted, and it would be throwing money away needlessly.”
In addition, a winning appeal would result only in reopening the proposal process, not in the selection of a new site, Calhoun said.
Also at the meeting on Tuesday were David Hagiwara, port director of trade and economic development, and Jeff Robb, port director of airports and marinas and a candidate for the executive director position.
NOAA signed a 20-year lease Aug. 8 with the Port of Newport, Ore., after rejecting proposals from Port Angeles, Bellilngham and Seattle, where the agency’s four-ship research fleet is stationed at Lake Union.
The Port of Newport had sweetened its proposal by offering $24.76 million of its own bonding capacity and $19.5 million in bonding capacity from the state of Oregon.
“We couldn’t compete,” Calhoun said.
“They had a lower lease rate and could make more money than we could.
“From what I understand of the process, it was a fair process, and Newport had a superior bid.
“There does not seem to be any fundamental basis to claiming irregularities or unfairness of any sort.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, NOAA officials explained how they scored Port Angeles’ proposal but not how it ranked or any specifics beyond what’s publicly known about Newport’s winning bid, Calhoun said.
Port Angeles’ proposal to NOAA was put together by a consultant. It cost $129,000, paid for by the port ($54,000), the city of Port Angeles ($50,000) and Clallam County ($25,000).
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Staff writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
