Evaluation Committee to recommend F&G to construct airport terminal

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

June 13, 2017 2:47 p.m.

Airport terminal bid evaluation committee deliberates.

The General Aviation Terminal Building Evaluation Committee convened at 1:00 p.m. on June 13, 2017 to review and rank contractor-bidders for Fernandina Beach’s future municipal airport general aviation terminal/welcome center. Following 15 minutes of discussion and review, the committee voted unanimously to recommend to the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) an award of bid for only the base building and site to F&G Construction.

The recommendation to award does not include a notice to proceed. Should the FBCC approve the recommendation, Passero Associates, the city’s airport consultants, will then meet with F&G representatives in an attempt to further reduce the costs in the $4.395M bid. Should these efforts prove unsuccessful the city may move to the next low bid.

Members of the evaluation committee included: City Manager Dale Martin, chair; Community Development Director Marshall McCrary; City Engineer Andre Desilet; Andrew Holesko and Mike Cornell, Passero Associates.

In reviewing the bids, Andrew Holesko reported that Passero Associates had compared amounts provided in the rebid of this project to those received initially. With more clearly defined requirements, rebids received came in between $540K-$1.075M lower than initial bids.

Holesko explained that the recommendation would only cover the base site and building work. Bid additives for the nose/tail structure, Quonset hut, emergency generator, under wing construction, and related site work covering landscaping and parking would be considered at a later date. He expressed concern that all four bidders appeared to greatly exceed the estimated amount required for the nose/tail structure. He also expressed some disappointment that bid deductions for extending the deadline for completion from March to June 2018 at the request of the bidding contractors did not produce significant savings.

Bidders were ranked as follows for base building and site work:

1. F&G: $4,395,000.00
2. Scherer Construction: $4,539,110.55
3. West Construction: $4,566,705.00
4. OTAK: $6,048,462.85

Editor's Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne's many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.