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Customs facility floor plan approved by CBP; airport eyes bids before spring construction
Summary
Design consultants presented a CBP-approved floor plan and site layout for a new Customs and Border Protection facility, and airport staff said the authority expects to bid the interior work late this year with construction targeted for spring, subject to CBP staffing lead times and contractor selection.
Consultants working with the Hamilton County Airport Authority showed board members a Customs and Border Protection-approved internal layout and site plan for the airport’s planned CBP facility, and said the authority is moving toward a public bid for interior work.
The consultant said the approved floor plan includes a post-processing area where CBP officers can detain and process passengers, office space, and mechanical and electrical rooms that must be accessible from the exterior rather than through CBP’s interior spaces. “This is actually very close to the original layout that we had,” the presenter said, describing how options were narrowed to satisfy CBP’s security and operational needs.
The site plan includes a dedicated aircraft parking position adjacent to the building large enough for business jets; consultants said the box may be available for general airport use when CBP is not operating. The planner also described a Global Entry access point on the west side of the building to allow enrolled travelers to enter directly from the parking area.
Board members pressed for timing and staffing details. The consultant said CBP previously indicated it needs roughly six months' notice to staff a new facility and that the authority intends to align officer staffing with the construction and bid schedule. “That was my anticipation,” the presenter said when asked about coordination, adding that the authority hopes to have bidding documents ready by year-end and to start construction in March or April.
The consultant warned that construction will include specialized IT, security and electronics work and that the procurement will require pre-screening and nondisclosure agreements for contractors because of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in CBP documents. “It’s a public bidding process but we have to prescreen them,” the consultant said.
Why it matters: A staffed CBP facility would permit international arrivals at the airport and change operational demands on the apron and terminal areas. Board members asked staff to coordinate the COI (certificate of insurance) and operational interactions among CBP, the airport’s FBO and other tenants as the design moves into the bidding phase.
Next steps: Consultants said they will fine-tune design submittals and site details, staff will prepare bid documents, and the authority will coordinate with CBP on staffing lead times; no construction contract or start date is final.
