Miami-Dade commissioners direct mayor to negotiate MIA janitorial contracts with ABM and Flagship after contested procurement

Miami‑Dade County commissioners voted to reject all proposals for Area A of the Miami International Airport terminal janitorial procurement and directed the county mayor to negotiate contracts with ABM Aviation for terminal/lancet areas and Flagship Aviation for other covered areas, returning a recommendation to the board within 30 days.

Chairman Cabrera opened the discussion saying cleanliness is a top passenger complaint and that “the mediocrity and complacency would not be tolerated,” arguing the county should pursue a new model and consider splitting the work to bring in firms with airport‑specific experience. The county attorney then read the amendment that the board adopted, which directs county staff to negotiate noncompetitive agreements with ABM and Flagship and to report back if the mayor does not support a noncompetitive award.

Why it matters: Commissioners and bidders framed the decision as about passenger experience and operational readiness at MIA, the county’s largest economic engine. Several bidders and current employees told the board the incumbent, CNW Services, has decades of local presence and had been denied flexibility under a prior fixed‑rate contract. Competing firms said modern cleaning technology and different staffing models would produce better and more…