Container Terminal Gate Operating System (GOS)

Issuing Authority: Seaboard Marine LLC (“SML”)
Project Title: Implementation of a State-of-the-Art Container Terminal Gate Operating System

  1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Seaboard Marine LLC (SML) invites qualified and experienced vendors to submit proposals for the design, supply, installation, integration, testing, commissioning, and ongoing support of a modern, high-performance Container Terminal Gate Operating System (GOS).

The objective of this initiative is to deploy a secure, highly automated, and scalable gate solution that improves operational efficiency, reduces truck turn times, enhances data accuracy, and supports 24/7 terminal operations.

The proposed GOS shall leverage advanced technologies, including but not limited to:

  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) portals
  • License Plate Recognition (LPR)
  • Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) scales
  • Automated container damage and condition inspection
  • Seamless integration with the Terminal Operating System (TOS) and external stakeholders

The solution shall support import, export, empty, reefer, and special cargo flows, reduce truck turn times, improve data accuracy, enhance security and provide a foundation for future expansion and emerging technologies.

  1. PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The proposed solution shall enable SML to:

  1. Automate gate processing for trucks, containers, and chassis
  2. Reduce manual intervention and gate congestion
  3. Improve data accuracy for container IDs, license plates, ISO codes, seals, and weights
  4. Enable real-time validation against the TOS, customs, and the ability to handle a truck appointment systems
  5. Capture certified weights using Weigh-In-Motion technology and support VGM processes
  6. Enhance safety, security, and regulatory compliance
  7. Provide actionable analytics, reporting, and auditability
  8. Support continuous 24/7 operations with high availability and resiliency
  1. SCOPE OF WORK

The selected vendor shall be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of the GOS solution, including:

  • Overall system design and architecture
  • Supply of all required hardware, software, and licenses
  • Installation, configuration, and commissioning
  • Integration with existing and external systems
  • System testing and acceptance support
  • Training, documentation, and knowledge transfer
  • Warranty, maintenance, and long-term support services
  • Third-Party Engineering Coordination

3.1 Third-Party Engineering Coordination and Interface Management

  • Seaboard Marine LLC (SML) will appoint a third-party engineering company to perform and/or oversee civil, structural, electrical, network, and other infrastructure-related design and construction activities associated with this project (“Owner’s Engineer”).
  • The selected GOS vendor shall be required to fully cooperate, coordinate, and interface with SML’s designated Owner’s Engineer throughout all phases of the project, including but not limited to:
    Conceptual and detailed design
    • Infrastructure and utilities requirements definition
    • Equipment foundations and mounting requirements
    • Power, communications, and network connectivity
    • Construction sequencing and site access coordination
    • Testing, commissioning, and acceptance activities
  • The GOS vendor shall be responsible for providing all technical specifications, drawings, load requirements, interface definitions, and installation requirements necessary to support the infrastructure design and construction performed by the Owner’s Engineer.
  • The GOS vendor shall not perform independent infrastructure design or construction activities unless explicitly authorized in writing by SML.
  1. FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Gate Operations

The GOS shall support:

  • Inbound and outbound truck processing
  • Import, export, empty, and reefer container transactions
  • Chassis, gensets, and bare truck moves
  • Single and twin (dual) container handling
  • Multi-lane and multi-gate configurations
  • Exception handling and authorized manual overrides

4.2 OCR Portal System

The OCR portal solution shall provide:

  • Automatic recognition of container numbers
  • Recognition of:
    • Containers, chassis, and gensets
    • ISO size/type codes
    • Hazardous placards
    • Container door direction
    • Tires and undercarriage (if applicable)
  • Support for automated damage and condition inspection (see Section 4.5)
  • Minimum recognition accuracy of ≥ 99.5% under normal operating conditions
  • Reliable operation in day/night and adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind
  • High-resolution image capture with transaction-linked storage

4.3 License Plate Recognition (LPR)

The LPR system shall:

  • Capture tractor and chassis license plates
  • Support multiple plate formats and jurisdictions
  • Achieve ≥ 99% recognition accuracy
  • Provide real-time validation against appointments, blacklists, and security rules

4.4 Weigh-In-Motion (WIM)

The WIM system shall:

  • Capture gross vehicle weight and axle weights without requiring a full stop
  • Comply with applicable national and international standards
  • Integrate seamlessly with the OCR and GOS software
  • Automatically associate weight data with each gate transaction
  • Support VGM (Verified Gross Mass) compliance workflows

4.5 Automated Damage and Condition Inspection (Preferred)

The proposed solution should include:

  • AI-assisted automated container damage detection
  • High-resolution image capture of container sides, roof, and doors
  • Damage flagging, severity classification, and exception workflows
  • Image review and audit tools for operators

4.6 Security and Access Control

The GOS shall support:

  • Driver authentication mechanisms (e.g., RFID, PIN, biometric, mobile app – vendor to specify)
  • Blacklist and whitelist management
  • Integration with port and terminal security systems
  • Full audit trails for all gate transactions and overrides
  1. SYSTEM INTEGRATION REQUIREMENTS

The GOS must integrate with the following systems, as applicable:

  • Terminal Operating System (TOS) [vendor to be specified if known]
  • Truck Appointment System (TAS)
  • Customs and regulatory systems
  • Port Community System (PCS)
  • Billing and invoicing systems
  • CCTV, access control, and security platforms

Integration shall be supported via industry-standard mechanisms, including REST/SOAP APIs, EDI, and/or message queues.

  1. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

6.1 Architecture

  • Modular, scalable, and service-oriented architecture
  • Support for on-premise, cloud, or hybrid deployment models
  • High availability, redundancy, and failover capabilities

6.2 Performance

  • Near real-time transaction processing (preferred latency < 1 second)
  • Overall system availability of ≥ 99.9%

6.3 Cybersecurity

  • Role-based access control
  • Encryption of data in transit and at rest
  • Compliance with ISO 27001 or equivalent security standards
  • Regular security updates and patch management
  1. DESIGN AND PROCESS REQUIREMENTS

Vendors shall provide a comprehensive description of the proposed gate design, operational processes, and transaction workflows, ensuring high throughput, safety, scalability, and minimal truck dwell time.

7.1 Gate Lane Design and Physical Layout

Vendors shall propose a complete physical gate layout, including:

  • Inbound and outbound lane configuration
  • OCR portal placement and coverage
  • WIM scale positioning
  • Safety zones, buffers, and traffic control
  • Driver interaction points (kiosks, signals, signage)
  • Exception and secondary inspection areas
  • Redundancy for critical components

Deliverables shall include:

  • Conceptual layout drawings
  • Equipment placement diagrams
  • Lane throughput assumptions

While vendors shall propose conceptual gate layouts and equipment placement to support throughput and operational requirements, all final civil, structural, electrical, and infrastructure designs shall be developed and approved by SML’s Owner’s Engineer. The GOS vendor shall ensure that proposed equipment, systems, and layouts are compatible with the infrastructure designs and shall promptly identify any conflicts or constraints.

7.2 Gate Transaction Process Flows

Vendors shall document end-to-end workflows for:

  • Import and export full container transactions
  • Empty container moves
  • Chassis-only and bare truck moves
  • Dual/twin container transactions
  • Reefer and hazardous cargo handling

Process diagrams (e.g., swim lanes or flowcharts) are strongly preferred.

7.3 Exception and Manual Processing

The system shall include robust exception handling for:

  • OCR/LPR misreads
  • Weight discrepancies
  • Damage alerts
  • Missing or invalid appointments
  • Security or compliance flags

Manual override processes must be role-based, auditable, and configurable.

7.4 Automation and Decision Logic

Vendors shall describe:

  • Automated validation rules and decision logic
  • Configurable tolerances (weight, damage severity, OCR confidence)
  • Interactions between GOS, TOS, TAS, and customs systems

Support for unattended and semi-automated gate operations is required.

7.5 Data, Image Management, and Retention

Vendors shall describe:

  • Image capture sequencing and standards
  • Data and image storage architecture
  • Transaction-linked retrieval for audits and disputes
  • Configurable retention policies

7.6 Safety, Traffic Control, and Driver Experience

The solution shall include:

  • Traffic lights and lane status indicators
  • Variable message signage and driver guidance
  • Speed control and enforcement mechanisms
  • Multilingual or icon-based messaging

7.7 Scalability and Future Enhancements

The solution must support future growth, including:

  • Additional gate lanes or terminals
  • New OCR or AI capabilities
  • Integration with autonomous or semi-autonomous trucks
  • Mobile driver applications
  • Regulatory and compliance changes

7.8 Design Deliverables

Proposals shall include:

  • Gate design and layout concepts
  • Process flow diagrams
  • System interaction diagrams
  • Key assumptions and constraints
  • Optional enhancements or alternatives
  1. USER INTERFACE AND REPORTING

The GOS shall provide:

  • Intuitive operator dashboards
  • Real-time lane, queue, and throughput monitoring
  • Configurable alerts and notifications
  • Standard and ad-hoc reports, including:
    • Truck turn times
    • Gate throughput
    • OCR accuracy
    • Exception and rejection rates
  1. IMPLEMENTATION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Vendors shall provide:

  • A detailed implementation plan and schedule
  • Project governance and communication structure
  • Risk identification and mitigation approach
  • Testing, acceptance, and commissioning procedures
  • Cutover and go-live strategy
  • Align schedules, dependencies, and milestones related to infrastructure readiness, equipment installation, and system commissioning with SML and Owner’s Engineer.
  • The GOS vendor shall be responsible for managing all interfaces between its solution and the infrastructure delivered by the Owner’s Engineer.
  1. TRAINING AND DOCUMENTATION

The proposal shall include:

  • Operator and administrator training programs
  • Training materials and user manuals
  • Technical documentation and system diagrams
  1. MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT

Vendors shall provide details on:

  • Warranty period (minimum 5 years)
  • Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
  • Preventive maintenance approach
  • Software support, updates, and upgrades
  1. VENDOR QUALIFICATIONS

Vendors must demonstrate:

  • Proven experience delivering container terminal gate systems
  • At least 5 comparable installations globally
  • Financial stability and long-term viability
  • References from similar ports or terminal operators
  1. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Proposals shall include the following sections:

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Technical Solution Description
  3. Compliance Matrix
  4. Implementation and Project Plan
  5. Commercial Proposal (separate section or envelope)
  6. Company Profile and References
  1. RFP SCHEDULE
  • RFP Issue Date: January 29, 2026
  • Questions Deadline: February 13, 2026
  • Final Bid Deadline: March 2, 2026
  1. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This solicitation is issued solely for the purpose of evaluating potential suppliers and does not constitute a commitment by SML to award a contract, procure any goods or services, or pay any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of a proposal. All costs and expenses associated with responding to this solicitation are the sole responsibility of the respondent.

All information provided by SML in connection with this solicitation, including but not limited to technical, commercial, financial, and strategic information, shall be considered confidential (“Confidential Information”). Respondents shall use such Confidential Information solely for the purpose of preparing a proposal and shall not disclose it to any third party without the prior written consent of SML, except as required by law. Respondents agree to protect Confidential Information using at least a reasonable standard of care and, upon request or upon completion of the procurement process, shall promptly return or destroy all Confidential Information.

Submission of a proposal does not create any obligation on the part of SML to enter into a contract. Any contract resulting from this solicitation shall be subject to the successful negotiation and execution of a definitive written agreement and governed by SML’s standard terms and conditions, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.

SML reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to reject any or all proposals, in whole or in part, to waive any informalities or irregularities, to request clarifications or additional information from any respondent, and to discontinue the procurement process at any time, with or without cause, and without incurring any liability. The lowest-priced or any proposal will not necessarily be accepted, and no award is guaranteed.

All communications should be directed to:

 

Paul Hydock

Director of Terminal Optimization

Paul.hydock@seaboardmarine.com

305-458-7761