REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR RAIL OPERATIONS
AT THE TULSA PORT OF CATOOSA FOR
THE CITY OF TULSA — ROGERS COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY
Tulsa Ports with Bluejay Advisors hereby invite your company to submit a proposal to operate all rail switching services within the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. In this request, you will find an overview of the Port, historical data, operational requirements, and what is required to submit a proposal for rail switching services.
All proposals are due on April 11, 2022 by 4 PM CST to Tulsa Ports Deputy Director Daniel Grisham at daniel@tulsaports.com.
CITY OF TULSA — ROGERS COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY OVERVIEW
DESCRIPTION
The City of Tulsa – Rogers County Port Authority manages a 2,500-acre inland river port and industrial park complex, known as the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, providing year-round barge and rail cargo handling and transportation services to industries in Oklahoma and surrounding states.
Located in Rogers County, approximately 12 miles from downtown Tulsa, the Port serves as “Head of Navigation” for the 445 river-mile long McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. From Tulsa, barges are pushed by towboats through 18 locks and dams to reach the Mississippi River for delivery to various inland ports or to the Port of New Orleans for direct transfer to ocean-going ships. The Port’s rail switching operations provide service to 22 different customers for the BNSF and the SKOL, which has connections with the UP and KCS, respectively. The Port’s switching service operates on approximately 20 miles of rail that is maintained by the rail operator which utilizes three Port owned locomotives. The Port Authority also has undeveloped property that could be used to attract more rail opportunities for business development.
TIMELINES AND MILESTONES
FOR SELECTION OF THE NEW RAIL OPERATOR
The following is the timeline and milestones for the selection of the new rail operator.
To help develop your proposal for rail operations, the information on this website is being provided to help understand what attributes and assets the Tulsa Port of Catoosa has and what services are currently being perform by the existing operator.
RAIL SERVED COMPANIES, COMMODITIES HANDLED, AND HISTORICAL VOLUME DATA
GROSS REVENUES AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSES
Gross Revenues over the Past Five Years
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Maintenance Expenses over the Past Five Years
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Gross revenues are reflecting the old and new rail rates. The new rates with the railroads became effective July 2021.
Maintenance expenses include all costs for locomotive, rail, and signaling.
CURRENT OPERATIONS AND CONTRACTS
AT THE TULSA PORT OF CATOOSA
CURRENT RAILROAD CONTRACTS
The Port Authority recently executed new contracts with the BNSF and SKOL railroads. The selected operator for switching services will be required to adhere to all requirements by the railroad contracts as an agent of the Port Authority.
Please click the images for a copy of the current contracts.
BNSF
SKOL
CURRENT SWITCHING OPERATIONS
Currently the rail switching operations are performed by Gavilon Fertilizer. Their operations follow an established rail operations policy and operational circular. The operational documents are linked here:
THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED SHOULD INCLUDE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT RAIL OPERATIONS AT THE PORT MAY CHANGE.
The selected operator for switching services will work with the Port Authority to amend and change all the proposed policies and tariffs as necessary before the new rail operator begins operations.
Items that will be required from the new operator are as follows:
Formation of a new Operational Policy and/or Tariff Schedule, as needed, to be issued by the Port Authority.
Digital reporting as required to the Port Authority for billing the BNSF and SKOL.
AEI and/or handheld data to provide to the railroads and Port customers.
Tonnage/Commodity data reporting to the Port Authority by shipper.
Assets that will be provided to the new rail operator are as follows:
A locomotive storage facility that has pits for inspections and maintenance
The Port provides three locomotives for the operator. One 1500 horsepower and two 1200 horsepower locomotives with a dedicated locomotive storage facility. This will transfer to the new operator for use of switching operations. The locomotives are currently “Blue Carded” and will be maintained to that standard by the operator.
The operator will be required to provide its own office for operations. Space will be allocated for this requirement.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT CAPABILITIES
The new rail operator must demonstrate the ability to market, grow, and attract new rail volumes and customers to the Port. The Port Authority has approximately 800 acres of undeveloped land that could be jointly marketed for industries who would use rail as a mode of transportation. It is recommended that you provide specific examples of previous successful projects for rail enhancement and service as part of your bid. Additionally, the ability for capital investment into projects for rail growth by the operator is favorable. Terms and conditions for Port Authority Capital Project participation will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis as needed. The proposal must indicate if capital investment is possible by the rail operator.
