24 firms interested on Tinian airport project

At least 24 companies have signified intentions to participate in the bidding for the multi-million-dollar improvement of the West Tinian International Airport during an ocular inspection with Ports Authority officials Friday.

CPA Board Chair Roman S. Palacios and Executive Director Carlos H. Salas spearheaded the delegation to the island for a tour of different sites that are up for repair under the West Tinian International Airport improvement project.

The ocular inspection was part of the Pre-Bidding Conference for the project, where issues including scope, deadline for the submission of proposals, construction phasing, contract duration and contract award were discussed.

Bids for the project, which will be opened on June 2, 2000, should have at least a five percent bond of the base bid price as required by regulations of the Federal Aviation Administrations.

Mr. Palacios said the five percent bond should already be enough to cover re-bid costs to the ports authority.

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 Mr. Palacios.

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.

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 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.