Airport Authority Chooses Three Construction Manager Finalists

In another clear step forward, the Airport Authority held a Special Board Meeting on March 21, to allow the six firms bidding to be the program manager / construction manager for the airport relocation project to make presentations and answer questions.

After hearing from all six firms, the Board chose to narrow the field to three firms. The finalists are DMJM Aviation of Tampa, ZHA Inc., of Orlando, and KBR Inc. of Houston.

Each of these firms has been given a list of 19 questions they must answer by March 26. The Board will be having further discussion on this issue at its regularly scheduled meeting on March 27. It is my understanding that the Board plans to rank the firms and then negotiate a contract with the most qualified firm.

This is actually a very important decision for the Board, since the firm that is selected will serve as the Airport’s development staff and will have responsibility for managing the engineers and consultants working on the project.

Randy Curtis said the Board was very pleased with the quality of the finalists. Each of the firms under consideration has the expertise necessary to manage the construction of the new airport. The firm selected to be program manager / construction manager will work with PBS&J, the firm chosen as design manager in January.

The Airport Authority is now working very methodically toward the start of construction. There are a number of details to be worked out, including receipt of the Section 404 permit form the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, sale of the existing airport property, and working with the FAA and others to finalize the finance plan for the project.

Assuming all goes well (underline assuming), site work could begin in late spring or early summer. See related post here.