For Immediate Release
November 7, 2003

Oakland, Calif. (November 7, 2003) - The Port of Oakland today announced the release of a Request For Proposal to develop and operate an Import Cargo Distribution Center on a 37-acre parcel in the heart of the Port Area. “Importers are looking for alternatives” said Jerry Bridges, Director of Maritime, “and Oakland is prepared to offer them the opportunity for a brand new and build-to-suit facility in a premium location. Located within one mile of all of the Port’s marine container facilities and the intermodal railyards of both western railroads, this site has extraordinary connectivity between the ocean carriers and the national land transportation infrastructure. We are soliciting a Developer/Tenant to work with the Port to realize that potential through a highly efficient and state-of-the-art facility.”

The proposed facility could perform a number of functions related to import cargoes including cross-dock and transloading operations, consolidation and deconsolidation, Full Trailer Load (FTL) and Full Container Load (FCL) sort and segregate, intermodal transportation, postponement, replenishment and fulfillment, local and national drayage, and air cargo segregation. The facility will also serve both over-the-road regional distribution of import cargoes and national distribution via Oakland’s two intermodal railyards.

The Port will consider various alternatives for the development of the facility, including Port-funded and constructed alternatives, Port funded and Developer/Tenant constructed alternatives, Developer/Tenant funded and constructed alternatives, or other financing proposals.

The Port will accept Responses to the RFP until 4:00 PM on January 30, 2004. Based on the information contained in the response to the RFP, individual interviews, and other pertinent factors, Port staff intends to select between three and five candidates for interviews. Following the interview and investigation process, a recommendation will be made to the Board of Port Commissioners by March 2004. If a Respondent is identified and accepted by the Board of Port Commissioners, the Port will enter into a Negotiating Agreement with the selected candidate for a period of up to 90 days to conclude negotiations.

“Because of the tremendous demand for import distribution facilities, we are moving quickly to identify a Developer/Tenant and to conclude negotiations. It is our intention to be able to initiate operations in time for the Christmas rush starting in mid-2004,” concluded Mr. Bridges.

Copies of the RFP can be downloaded from the Port of Oakland’s website at www.portofoakland.com. Additional information or hard-copies of the RFP can be obtained by contacting Dan Westerlin, Special Assistant to the Executive Director, Port of Oakland at (510) 627-1353 or via email at dwesterl@portoakland.com.

Contact:
Marilyn Sandifur
Media/Public Relations Manager
(510) 627-1193
msandifur@portoakland.com