Phoenix sky harbor international airport rental car center vertical transportation modernization engineering services

The City of Phoenix is requesting qualifications for engineering services to modernize vertical transportation systems at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport's Rental Car Center, with statements of qualifications due August 7, 2026 at 12:00 pm via the City's Procurement Portal, and a pre-submittal meeting scheduled for July 24, 2026 at 8:30 am.

The scope encompasses full design services for 18 escalators and 12 elevators at 1805 E. Sky Harbor Circle South, with potential follow-on construction administration and inspection services spanning six years, including engineering, permitting, procurement, installation, testing, and commissioning. The estimated construction cost is $50 million.

The City will conduct qualifications-based selection without formal interviews, resulting in a final list of three to five qualified teams before contract negotiations. Statements of Qualifications are limited to 10 pages in PDF format (8.5" × 11", 10-point minimum font). Interested firms must be registered in the City's Vendor Management System prior to submission.

Evaluation criteria assign 1,000 total points across design experience of the prime firm (150 points), construction administration and inspection experience of the prime firm (150 points), design experience of key personnel and subconsultants (125 points), construction administration and inspection experience of key personnel and subconsultants (125 points), project understanding and approach (300 points), staffing information and team commitment (150 points), and reference checks (21 points). Reference checks are evaluated on a four-point scale across seven performance categories — business relationship, team consistency from proposal to completion, proactive problem-solving, on-time and on-budget delivery, quality of work, innovation and efficiency recommendations, and willingness to contract again — with up to 21 total points available. Three references from prior clients with services relevant to vertical transportation modernization must be submitted directly to soq.referencechecks@phoenix.gov by the reference provider by August 7, 2026 at 12:00 pm Phoenix time.

Selection notification is expected in early September 2026, with a scope meeting scheduled for late September 2026. The City reserves the right to reject any or all qualifications. Direct contact with City employees involved in selection is prohibited; violations result in disqualification.