City Council approves DeVoe Construction and engineering contracts for airport projects

In a recent Special Finance Committee meeting held on March 24, 2025, the Bangor City Council discussed significant developments regarding airport construction projects and engineering services. The meeting highlighted the city's efforts to enhance airport facilities through strategic bidding and contractor selection.

One of the key topics was the rebidding of a major construction project at the airport. The council received two bids, with DeVoe Construction from Eagle Lake emerging as the low bidder at $14,082,504. This bid includes an optional add-on for furniture in the old room, which the staff recommended moving forward with. The project is partially funded by federal sources and the Maine Department of Transportation, with the city's local share estimated at just over $3.2 million. The proposal is set to be included in the council's agenda for approval later that evening.

Councilor Campbell raised a question regarding DeVoe Construction's experience, prompting a discussion about their previous work with the school department and other city projects, including the Condesa Extreme Pedestrian Footbridge. The council expressed confidence in the contractor's capabilities.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the need for engineering services related to ongoing and future airport capital projects. The city received five responses to a request for qualifications, focusing on the best service providers rather than cost alone. The selection committee recommended two firms: Mead and Hunt, specializing in airfield construction, and Hoyle Tanner, which is better suited for terminal building projects. Both recommendations are also slated for approval in the council's agenda.

A potential conflict of interest was disclosed by a council member regarding one of the bidders, Du Bois and King, who is a tenant of theirs. However, since this firm was not selected for the project, the council determined that there was no conflict.

The discussions during this meeting underscore the city's commitment to improving airport infrastructure while ensuring compliance with federal regulations and maintaining transparency in the bidding process. As these projects move forward, they are expected to enhance the operational capacity of Bangor's airport, benefiting the local community and economy.