Airport Authority Awards Contract for Preparation of EIS For Replacement Passenger Terminal Project

BURBANK, Calif., April 16, 2018 — The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Commission voted 8-0, with one member absent, to award a contract to RS&H California, Inc. (RS&H) in the amount of $2,811,801 for preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the replacement passenger terminal project, required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The FAA’s completion of an EIS for the replacement passenger terminal project is a prerequisite for the construction of the project as per the conditions of the Airport Layout Plan approval. On April 3, 2017, the Commission approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the FAA to provide the framework in which the FAA will prepare the EIS. As the lead agency, the FAA is responsible for compliance with the NEPA and associated regulations.

As the airport sponsor, the Airport Authority was responsible for retaining an FAA- selected contractor to prepare the EIS and the Airport Authority is required to pay the consultant’s invoices and provide data as requested, but will not otherwise participate in the review process unless directed by the FAA.

Two firms, Mead & Hunt, Inc. and RS&H, responded to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on the Airport Authority’s PlanetBids e-procurement website. FAA staff conducted interviews of the two respondents, and from these interviews, FAA staff selected RS&H as the most qualified firm and instructed Airport Authority staff to begin contract negotiations. In addition, an Independent Fee Estimate (IFE), required by the FAA to be undertaken by a firm that did not respond to the RFQ, was completed by Ricondo & Associates. The proposed fee from RS&H is 12.59% below the IFE prepared by Ricondo & Associates. FAA concurred with the fee proposal.

Funding for this project will be provided with an Airport Improvement Program grant of $2,417,700, which the Airport Authority received for the EIS in Federal Fiscal Year 2017. Matching funds in the amount of $582,300 have been applied for through a Passenger Facility Charge application, which is in process with the FAA.

On November 8, 2016, Burbank voters approved Measure B, which allows the Airport Authority to build a safer, modern 14-gate replacement passenger terminal that meets current safety and seismic standards. The FAA’s completion of an EIS pursuant to NEPA is one of several steps in the replacement passenger terminal process. Additional information about the replacement passenger terminal is available on the Airport Authority’s replacement passenger terminal website, www.elevatebur.coml.com.