Staff recommends that the City Council approve and award the Airport's Commercial Ramp Construction Project - Schedule III to Knife River Construction for $1,071,588.50.

The Commercial Ramp is where the airline aircraft park and is located on the north side of the Terminal Building.  These ramps are constructed with 16 inches of concrete to support the wheel load weight of the aircraft. Two sections of this ramp, Schedule I on the west side and Schedule II on the east side of the Terminal, were replaced in 2019/2020.  The Airport plans to replace Schedule III in the Summer of 2021, and this ramp is directly northwest of the new A Concourse.  Like Schedule I and II, the Schedule III concrete has been inflicted with Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR).  ASR is a reaction that occurs over time in concrete, between the highly alkaline cement paste and the reactive non-crystalline silica found in many common aggregates, and usually is triggered by excessive moisture.  This reaction results in a soluble and viscous gel of sodium silicate causing the concrete to swell from inside, resulting in a loss of strength, significant spalling, and eventually debris as the concrete begins to chunk out.  This sort of debris would be detrimental to aircraft engines if ingested.  Additives that inhibit ASR from happening will be included in the new concrete mix.  Additionally, this section of concrete needs to have the slopes adjusted to accommodate the new aircraft parking areas for the new A Concourse.  This project includes the removal of the existing concrete pavement section, an asphalt pavement section, utility work, and the installation of 16 inches of P-501 Portland Cement Concrete Pavement over 4 inches of P-401 asphalt. Schedules I through III were bid separately so that different Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant funds could be applied to the cost of the project as grant funding became available.

This project was advertised in the Yellowstone County News on February 7, 14, and 21, and posted on the City and Airport’s Websites.  On March 9, 2021, the following bids were received:

Contractor                                                Bid
KnifeRiver Construction                   $1,071,588.50
FirstMark Construction                     $1,228,145.00
Treasure State (Belgrade)                $1,405,834.00

City Council may:

• Approve the award of Schedule III for the Commercial Ramp Construction Project to KnifeRiver Construction for $1,071,588.50; or  
• Decline to approve the award, reject all bids, and delay the project.

The total cost of this project is $1,071,588.50.  The project may be funded at 90% ($964,429.65) with FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant funds and 10% ($107,158.85) with local share funds.  There is a possibility that the grant could provide 100% funding, the result of language in the pandemic relief bills.  If the Airport is required to pay the local share, the funds are available in the Airport's Capital account.