Over 15 firms submit intent to undertake Tinian airport project

More than 15 local and off-island construction companies have so far expressed intentions to undertake the improvement of the West Tinian International Airport, a project that has been snagged for years due to financial constraints.

Commonwealth Ports Authority officials will be flying to Tinian Friday morning to discuss issues including project scope, deadline for the submission of proposals, construction phasing, contract duration and contract award will be discussed.

CPA will be soliciting two separate invitations for the project; one will encompass the construction of a 7,800 linear-foot asphalt concrete runway and the other will be for an 8,600 linear-foot runway, according to Ports Authority Board Chair Roman S. Palacios.

Mr. Palacios said bids will initially be evaluated to determine if proposed project cost for the Alternative Bid are within the available funds earmarked for the West Tinian International Airport improvement project.

If all alternative bids submitted exceed the total funding available, CPA will then reject all submissions and evaluate the proposal for the Basic Bid.

The ports authority has so far made $17 million in total funds available for the West Tinian International Airport improvement project, almost half of which were sourced out of the Federal Aviation Administration grants.

In July 1999, FAA pitched in additional $3.512 million for the West Tinian International Airport improvement project which marked its fourth grant for the undertaking since September 1998.

The July 1999 grant, brought to $9.387 million the total funds allocated by the FAA for the construction of new runway and improvement of the Tinian international airport.

In addition to the FAA grant, the Commonwealth government has allocated $3.4 million in capital infrastructure project funds for the Tinian air transport facility under the provision of Public Law 11-79 which was signed into law June 1999.

Total project cost has been initially estimated to reach at least $20 million.

The winning bidder will be subject to a comprehensive review by a panel of experts from the ports authority before the contract is awarded to ensure that the chosen company is responsive and responsible.

Qualifications for the review include: (a) previous project experience, 40 percent; (b) financial capabilities, 25 percent; (c) quality of equipment and personnel, 25 percent; and (d) bonding and insurance, 10 percent.

Mr. Palacios said evaluation by the ports authority on the overall merits of these factors will be the basis for the selection of the winning bidder who will undertake the multi-million-dollar Tinian airport project.

Under the basic bid, the $17-million project would be for the construction of a new 7,600-foot runway, two 600 linear-foot taxiways, one 200 linear-foot partial taxiway; and the conversion of the existing 6,000 linear-foot runway to a parallel taxiway.

It will also include the construction of 2,296 linear-foot parallel taxiway connecting to Runway 26 and rerouting 4,400 linear-foot of 8th Avenue, which will form part of the proposed 7,600 linear-foot runway.

The new runway will be constructed parallel north of the existing runway which will be transformed into a taxiway.

The construction of a new runway is part of the original West Tinian International Airport rehabilitation plan. CPA previously changed the plan by proposing to instead extend the existing runway which FAA opposed.

The 8,600 linear-foot runway is part of the second or alternative bid which the ports authority will solicit from companies interested to undertake the West Tinian International Airport project.

Also included in the basic and alternative bids are all drainage, guidance signage, taxiway and runway edge lighting, rotating beacon, beacon tower, approach and identifier lights, and other roadway works.