SPI Insights

Mason City Airport commercial terminal bid rejected

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa — The Mason City Airport Commission has rejected the three submitted bids for a new commercial terminal project because the proposals did not meet federal regulation. The commission plans to rebid the entire project and start the process over. The board can vote to reopen bidding at their Dec. 12 meeting leaving the decision likely open until January.

It is unclear whether this will set the $17 million project back, but it was necessary as the federal government awarded the city $14 million.

This new terminal, for which the foundation has already been laid, is in response to findings that show the current facilities are no longer adequate to support its operations. Specifically, the daily 50-person flights to and from Chicago. The facilities also are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The new facility could more than double annual enplanements and would be a significant expansion featuring an expanded lobby, gate hold area, baggage area and security checkpoint. Other additions would include a mother’s room, a private security screening room and potentially a fixed walkway.

Consisting of two packages, the work requested in the solicitation if for construction of a passenger terminal and associated site work. Work package 1 consists of site utilities, parking lot and roadway construction and apron paving. Work package 2 consists of construction of the terminal building.

Engineers estimated that construction could cost between $12.6 million and $13.8 million. Approximate project quantities include:

• 23,350-square-foot passenger terminal.
• 300-linear-foot sanitary sewer.
• 800-linear-foot storm sewer.
• 400-linear-foot water main.
• 14,000-cubic-yard excavation.
• 10,000-square-yard crushed aggregate base.
• 1,850-squar-yard concrete sidewalk and paving.
• 1,840-ton asphalt paving.
• 8 acres seeding and fertilizing.
• Erosion control.
• Traffic control.