Port of Seattle Awards Unique Custodial Contracts to Increase Performance and Small Business Opportunities at Sea-Tac Airport

Small and disadvantaged businesses will gain new opportunities under janitorial contracts awarded by the Port of Seattle for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The Port broke up its large exclusive contract for janitorial services into more opportunities that will improve customer service, accountability and provide revenue opportunities for more small and disadvantaged businesses. The four new contracts cover different parts of the facility, but each will increase performance standards, project an increase in labor hours and number of jobs and include employee retention and labor harmony provisions to protect workers.

“We see this as a win-win-win for passengers, workers and small businesses,” said Lance Lyttle, managing director at Sea-Tac Airport. “This contract will improve quality and performance to provide world-class service to our travelers, reward the companies with the best performance, increase the opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses and build in protections for valued workers.”

Under the new contracts, small businesses will perform services equal to approximately 45 percent of the four contracts combined. In addition, each new contract is required toprovide employee retention by extending an offer to existing employees for a minimum of 180 days as well a written labor peace guarantee with the current custodial labor union, SEIU Local 6.

The winning bidders include:

• C&W Services, a national company based out of Massachusetts, partnering with Whayne Enterprises, a small, minority-owned business based out of Denver, won bids to operate in South Satellite, Concourse A, Concourse B, public pre-security areas such as the ticketing and baggage claim areas. 
• PRIDE Industries, a non-profit social enterprise based in Roseville, California that creates jobs for people with disabilities and veterans, partnering with Evergreen Building Services, LLC, a small, woman-owned business based in Mill Creek, Washington, won a bid to operate in Central Terminal, Concourse C, Concourse D, and North Satellite. 
• Whayne Enterprises won a bid to operate independently in non-public areas such as the bagwell, Airport Office Building, Police/Security areas, and remote facilities.

For the first time, the contract will be structured to set consistent cleanliness targets that will be monitored and regularly audited, providing a goal for contractors and incentives for exceptional performance to drive accountability. If a contractor fails to perform to standard, the airport has the option to terminate the contract and re-bid the work.

“C&W Services is pleased to be part of the new janitorial contract for Sea-Tac Airport and is committed to partnering with the Port of Seattle on their mission to provide world-class service to travelers,” said Paul Bedborough, Chief Executive of C&W Services. “We are excited to add Sea-Tac to our portfolio of major airports we support in the U.S.”

“Whayne Enterprises is very excited to be able to work with Sea-Tac Airport,” said Richard M. Whayne, Jr. President of Whayne Enterprises. “The addition of this new Airport Contract gives us the opportunity to increase our experience in the Aviation market and also provides us with the opportunity to work in the Seattle Metropolitan area. We are grateful to the Port of Seattle for their commitment to small business development.”

The new contracts are for a guaranteed 2-year term with up to three (3) one-year renewals based on performance. The first two years are projected to cost $16.4 million and $17 million. The most recent contract with ABM is projected to cost $14.5 million for 2017.