Passenger Terminal Improvements

Pinellas County is seeking professional architectural, engineering, planning, and construction engineering and inspection services for the expansion of the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) passenger terminal. The procurement is a Request for Proposal (RFP) #23-0146-RFP, with the primary objective of designing and constructing terminal improvements to address capacity constraints and accommodate projected passenger growth. The county intends to select a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) who will collaborate closely with the selected consultant during the preliminary design and construction phases. Key deliverables include updating aviation forecasts, validating project requirements, and preparing design documents for both the Planning Activity Level 2 (PAL-2) and ultimate build-out (PAL-3) conditions. The evaluation process will allocate 1,000 total points across multiple criteria, including firm and personnel abilities (425 points), project experience (375 points), previous work volume (50 points), minority business status (25 points), Small Business Enterprise status (100 points), and location (25 points). The RFP was released on November 23, 2022, with a question submission deadline of January 13, 2023, and a proposal submission deadline of January 31, 2023, at 3:00 pm. A non-mandatory site visit was scheduled for December 15, 2022, and the contract will remain in effect for 2,000 consecutive calendar days from the Notice to Proceed.

The project has a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal of 6.68% for fiscal year 2023 and will be partially funded by grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The airport has experienced significant passenger growth, increasing from 1,017,049 passengers in 2013 to 2,228,692 in 2019, necessitating expansion of various terminal areas including passenger security screening, hold rooms, boarding gates, concessions, restrooms, office space, and aircraft parking positions. The comprehensive master plan and terminal building conditions assessment reveal opportunities for incremental and fiscally responsible development, with potential expansion directions including west, north/east, or south. While specific project budget details are not explicitly stated, the extensive documentation suggests a significant capital investment in terminal infrastructure improvements. The project aims to address current operational inefficiencies, such as split check-in areas and circuitous passenger routes, while preparing for future airport growth and enhancing passenger experience at the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport.