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Airport advisory commission approves up-to-$35 million pool for capital program management
Summary
The commission authorized a five-year pool of contract services to augment airport project management, approving a not-to-exceed $35 million authorization after discussion about staffing, cost and small-business participation.
The Airport Advisory Commission on April 9 authorized a contract pool of up to $35,000,000 to provide program and project management services for the airport's rolling capital improvement program and expansion work.
The authorization covers seven firms for an initial five-year term with up to two one-year extension options. The firms named in the procurement include AVIDGIS Systems Limited; AECOM; GeoMetrics; Hill; Parsons Transportation; STV; and Sunland. Funding for the current year includes approximately $2,000,000 available in the airport’s capital budget; additional spending would be contingent on future budget approvals by the City of Austin.
Deputy Chief Development Officer Lynn Estabrook, who presented the item, said the pool is intended to augment the airport’s in‑house team by providing specialists who can be assigned on a rotating, as‑needed basis. “This contract will provide capital improvement program management services in support of the airport's rolling capital improvement program as well as the expansion program to address the needs of infrastructure improvements, and help us deliver the project,” Estabrook said.
Commissioners pressed staff on why the department is hiring outside program managers rather than adding full‑time city positions, how many people the contracts might bring in and whether the $35 million ceiling is a realistic estimate. Estabrook said recruiting and retention remain challenging and that some roles are specialized or intermittent; the contracted staff will sit with the airport project team, follow city security clearance and use the airport’s project controls systems.
Staff noted some small‑ and minority‑owned firms were selected as primes; Estabrook said roughly half of the recommended contractors were small businesses and that the procurement intentionally sought opportunities for smaller firms to act as primes.
After discussion the commission voted to recommend the authorization; the motion passed with one abstention. The item was scheduled to proceed to city council for final approval.
The vote was taken after a substantive public exchange about workforce continuity and program costs; several commissioners acknowledged the need for outside expertise while expressing concern about long‑term continuity and the effect of contractor rates on program costs.
