Historically, the Department of Aviation and Transit enters into a five-year term contract with a registered professional architectural firm to provide the necessary architectural services for all Federally funded Airport Improvement Program (AIP) projects, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) projects, Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) projects, and the other general architectural services needed to design and administer the construction work pertaining to the Department's many buildings and their varied systems (heating, cooling, electrical, security, etc.).  The five-year term allows the architect to become familiar with the numerous Federal Regulations that must be followed when utilizing PFC funds or FTA and AIP grant funds, which subsequently provides a greater continuity of service.  The five-year term is the maximum allowed per Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular Number 150/5100-14D.

A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to provide the Aviation and Transit Department with architectural services for a five-year period was advertised in the Billings Times for three weeks, on the City's Web page, and distributed to three architectural firms and three plan rooms.  Proposals were received from A&E Architects, JGA Architects, and CTA Architects and Engineers.  A selection committee comprised of Airport Commission Members Sterling Starr and Charlie Peterson and City of Billings staff members evaluated the RFQ responses. This committee unanimously selected CTA Architects and Engineers.  

The City Council may:

• Approve the award of the five-year Architectural Services Contract to CTA Architects and Engineers; or
• Decline to approve the award of the five-year Architectural Services Contract with CTA Architects and Engineers, and provide staff with guidance on how to proceed.

There is no direct financial impact at this time.  The architectural fees associated with each future project will be negotiated between CTA and staff, and approved by the FAA or FTA.  Subsequently, the base contract will be amended and approved by Council each time a project is undertaken and the financial impact will be presented at that time. As in the past, the majority of the costs will be funded with FTA or FAA AIP grants, or with PFC funds.

Staff recommends that City Council approve the award of the Aviation and Transit Department's Five-Year Architectural Service Contract with CTA Architects and Engineers.