Statement of Issue
The City continues to set a strategic focus on completing the International Passenger Processing Facility (IPPF) at the Tallahassee International Airport by 2024, as outlined in the City's Five-Year Strategic Plan (Priority Area: Economic Development, Objective 1-A-5). Once established, the IPPF will be a major driver of economic growth for the Big Bend region. The IPPF project will provide for a terminal expansion to house a United States Customs and Border Protection approved international passenger port-of-entry and a federal inspection station that will serve both commercial air service and general aviation needs at the Tallahassee International Airport. When established, Tallahassee will become the region’s connection to global markets, positioning itself as a competitive, innovative, and sustainable economic hub. To date, the City has completed the design of the new processing facility, and is seeking to commence construction by March 21, 2022.
This item requests the City Commission to award a construction contract for the International Passenger Processing Facility (IPPF) Project ($23,476,000) and an additional 5% project contingency ($1,173,800) to Whitesell-Green, Inc. in the amount of $24,649,800.
Additionally, $2,010,000 will be used to contract AVCON, Inc. for Resident Project Representative services and $1,514,305 to contract with Corgan, Inc. for construction administration and construction phase design services.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve the construction contract award and an additional 5% project contingency for the International Passenger Processing Facility Project at Tallahassee International Airport, IFB 037-21-CW, and authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to negotiate and execute the contract with Whitesell-Green, Inc., contingent on funding availability.
Fiscal Impact
$28,249,105. Funding will be provided by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Federal Aviation Administration, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act(CARES) Grant, Sales Tax Revenue, Right of Way Funds, and the Airport Repairs, Replacement & Improvements (RR&I) Undesignated Fund Balance. This project is included in the Airport’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
Supplemental Material/Issue Analysis
History/Facts & Issues
On July 10, 2019, the City Commission provided authorization to accept and execute a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program Grant Agreement in the amount of $1,776,111.30 for the design of an International Passenger Processing Facility (IPPF) at the Tallahassee International Airport. The IPPF project is prioritized in the City's Five Year Strategic Plan (Objective 1-A-5) as well as the Airport Master Plan approved by FAA and FDOT. Once established, the new processing facility will serve as a major driver of economic growth for the Big Bend region.
Airport Staff have worked closely with the design team at Corgan Associates, Inc. and numerous representatives at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to design a facility that meets the rigorous requirements of the CBP's Airport Technical Design Standards. CBP has issued preliminary approval for the Tallahassee International Airport to be a designated User Fee Facility and has indicated that construction of the International Passenger Processing Facility should commence by March 21, 2022. If construction of the facility has not started by that date, CBP has indicated that the Tallahassee International Airport would need to reapply to become a user fee facility which would result in significant delays to the overall project.
The IPPF project will provide for a terminal expansion and an approved international passenger port-of-entry and federal inspection station that will serve both commercial air service and general aviation needs at the Tallahassee International Airport. In addition to construction, this project includes funding for permitting, resident project representative, construction administration, and construction phase design services. Once construction begins, the project is expected to take 600 calendar days to complete.
The City issued and advertised an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the International Passenger Processing Facility Project, IFB-037-21-CW on August 27, 2021 with bids due October 28, 2021. A total of two (2) bids were received as summarized in the attached bid tabulation. Both bidders demonstrated good faith in meeting the FAA-approved Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal. Whitesell-Green, Inc., the recommended bidder, provided the lowest responsive bid.