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Commission hears administration's explanation for airport contract ramp-up delays
Summary
Commissioners raised concerns that large airport contracts showed 'services not needed in first 60 days'; administration and airport directors said badging, equipment and ramp-up explain the delays and pledged to expedite where possible.
Commissioners on May 20 questioned why recently approved, high-value airport contracts showed no immediate work in the first 60 days, and administration officials said vendor badging and operational ramp-up explained the gaps.
The question came during discussion of a county report on procurement timelines requested by Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins (District 8). Higgins pointed to two airport contracts in the report: a Schindler elevator/escalator contract noted in the report as $602,000,000 and a $95,000,000 baggage-handling contract; the report indicated services under those contracts “were not needed in the first 60 days.” She asked how that could be true when the airport had emphasized urgency for repairs and upgrades.
Namira Upal and Ralph (airport director) explained the gap results from practical deployment steps after a contract award. The administration told the board that after a board award the county enters the contract into its system but departments must also terminate legacy contracts, arrange for staffing and equipment, and ensure vendor employees have airport badging and access. Ralph said badging and federal security clearances, which can be handled by the Transportation Security Administration and Homeland Security processes, often drive unavoidable ramp-up delays.
Ralph reported active progress on elevator/escalator modernization under the Schindler contract (the administration referenced a broader contract figure of roughly $681 million in discussion), saying the airport had moved operational performance on vertical conveyances from roughly 85% to 95% and that dozens of modernizations were underway. The procurement director and airport staff said they try to align purchase orders with vendor readiness to avoid issuing orders before staff and equipment are on site.
Commissioners pressed for clearer terminology; several recommended replacing phrasing such as “not needed” with “ramp-up period” to avoid implying the projects were unnecessary. The board approved the procurement-timelines report by voice vote and several commissioners offered to help expedite federal or administrative steps to shorten ramp periods where possible.
The discussion also touched on a pending janitorial contract transition: the new contractor is scheduled to begin May 31 and the airport said it has already hired most existing employees and started the badging process.
Commissioners approved the report and asked the administration to provide clearer language on procurement reports about ramp-up timing and to return with updates on execution of airport contracts.
