Throughout history, college campuses have transformed students into global leaders by equipping them with the resources and knowledge required to address the world’s most troubling issues. That’s a critical component of every aspect of our well-being around the world. So, it is important for U.S. colleges and universities to have the talent and the required resources to maintain the nation’s competitiveness. That task, however, is not easy.

Costs for colleges and universities continue to escalate, and wages for instructors and administrators increase. Technology upgrades are required, research labs are needed, and online curriculum demands even more. The pressure to meet critical needs and manage costs has escalated – so much so that the interest in collaborative partnerships with private-sector companies has reached new heights. Here are a few examples of large initiatives that definitely require participation from the private sector.

The University of Iowa has plans for a $9.2 million expansion of the State Hygienic Lab in the city of Coralville. Currently, the lab is processing 1.6 million COVID-19 specimens that were collected over the last two years. The research being done is timely and critical, but more resources are required. Additional space created inside the biosafety lab expansion project will ensure that the facility has capacity to house all aspects of the testing program, including wastewater tests for COVID transmission among shared-building populations. The university’s board of regents will meet at the end of January to discuss expediting the project so that construction may begin in 2022.

California – Gov. Gavin Newsom released his 2022-23 state budget proposal on January 10 that draws from a $45.7 billion surplus and $34.6 billion in reserves to fund several initiatives including drought relief, wildfire prevention projects, and school facility construction.

Included in Newsom’s California Blueprint are plans to invest $5.95 billion in immediate drought response to aid residents, farmers, and wildlife. The proposed Department of Water Resources budget includes funding to support flood control projects, Sustainable Groundwater Management Act implementation, the Salton Sea Management Program, and water conveyance projects.

The Department of Education is requesting an increase of more than $2.17 billion in one-time funding to support new construction and modernization projects through the School Facility Program. These allocations would support the state’s efforts to achieve free universal pre-K, add thousands of child care slots, and increase access to before and after school programs.

A fire protection capital outlay of more than $175.23 million will go to build, replace, and relocate fire stations and air bases in the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) system as part of a $1.2 billion package of investments that target the state’s wildfire risks. This includes $243 million in 2022-23 and $245 million in 2023-24 for CAL FIRE as a part of a comprehensive package to increase the pace and scale of forest health activities and reduce wildfire risk.

Oregon – The Metro Council on January 6 authorized the use of $36 million in state funds for the physical engineering phase of the estimated $3.2 billion to $4.8 billion Interstate 5 Bridge replacement project.

The Interstate Bridge is two bridge spans, side by side. The northbound span dates to 1917. The southbound span opened in 1958. Traffic congestion of seven to 10 hours each day, narrow lanes, no shoulders, poor sight distances on and near the bridge, and frequent bridge lifts are several of the factors driving the replacement project.

To provide coordinated regional leadership, the Oregon and Washington departments of transportation are jointly leading the program work in collaboration with eight other bi-state public agencies, including Oregon Metro.

As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Portland region, Metro Council will combine its funds with $35 million from the state of Washington to partially fund the $205 million physical engineering phase.

Key objectives are to complete the federal environmental review process, obtain necessary state and federal permits, finalize project design, develop a finance plan, secure adequate funding, address public questions and concerns, and prepare the project to move forward into right-of-way and construction phases.

Metro Council estimates it will take three to five years to complete the environmental review process, which began in 2021, and obtain federal approval before beginning construction.

Missouri – St. Louis aviation authorities are considering a plan to consolidate two undersized terminals into a new terminal likely to cost in excess of a billion dollars.

Consultants presented a preferred concept to the St. Louis Airport Advisory Commission on January 5 that featured a 62-gate facility with a 110-foot-wide double-loaded linear concourse.

The airport currently has almost 1.42 million square feet of terminal space encompassing two terminal buildings with 54 boarding gates that are a mix of gate sizes, designed for smaller aircraft and lower load factors.

Terminal 1 suffers from surplus space that is functionally obsolete, two security checkpoints at opposite ends, unbalanced concessions distribution, and a parking garage that needs to be replaced, while Terminal 2 has insufficient space for all functions, a single-loaded concourse that requires connecting passengers to walk long distances, and undersized baggage make-up for domestic and international. Both terminals are constrained by a runway, Interstate 70, and Metrolink tracks.

Airport staff will be detailing and refining program costs, phasing and sequencing, and enabling projects such as a consolidated parking garage, departure-arrival curbsides, and relocation of support facilities.

In addition, they will collaborate with airline partners, tenants, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the St. Louis Airport Authority and the city of St. Louis update their current Airport Layout Plan for the airport.

New Jersey – Seeking answers about the financing challenges faced by local energy efficiency contractors, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) released a request for information (RFI) to gather input on green fund programs.

NJEDA plans to launch the New Jersey Green Fund in the coming months to help accelerate the state’s growth of an equitable clean energy economy.

The fund aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote an inclusive clean energy economy by supporting the deployment of proven clean energy technologies. Similar to green banks across the country, the Green Fund will specifically work on projects that are cost effective and leverage private capital.

Through the RFI, the state is seeking specific insights on financing availability using a “loan-to-lender" approach as well as feedback on the cost of capital challenges faced by New Jersey’s energy efficiency contractors to guide a potential new Green Fund bridge financing loan program.

Responses to the RFI are due by 11:59 p.m. EST January 21.

512-531-3900 www.spartnerships.com

Arizona – Entering his final year as governor of Arizona, Rob Ducey announced a $1 billion investment in water desalination at his State of the State on January 10.

Ducey provided scant details of the project in his address, but he said he would be working with Arizona Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers and State Senate President Karen Fann to expand on the state’s recent water initiatives to secure its water future for the next 100 years.

Arizona appropriated $200 million in 2021 to invest in water technology to continue its efforts that kicked off with the passage of a state Drought Contingency Plan.

The governor also noted the state’s relationship with Mexico in speaking about the desalination initiative. In 2020, Arizona joined California, Nevada, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and several Mexican agencies in studying desalination opportunities in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.

All potential locations evaluated in the study would deliver treated water to Morelos Dam for exchange. They are:

The third and fourth opportunities were set aside for further development.

According to the study, a seawater desalination opportunity that provides an additional 50,000 to 200,000 acre feet per year (AFY) of new water supplies would contribute significantly to restoring water supply in the Colorado River Basin.

The total projected AFY deficit is more than 1.15 million for the affected Mexico region by 2030 and Arizona, Nevada, Southern California, Northern Baja California, and Sonora by 2035.

This study assumed a traditional design-bid-build approach to project delivery. However, because this facility will be outside of the U.S., it is more likely that this this project would be delivered under a different method, such as a public-private partnership.

Michigan – To further its aim to establish passenger rail service between Detroit and Toronto, Amtrak reached an agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) to support its proposed combination with Kansas City Southern (KCS) railways.

In return, CP has committed to cooperating with Amtrak to implement its long-term strategic vision for new and expanded intercity passenger rail service, including:

Subject to CP’s application for control of KCS being approved by the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the agreement also includes CP’s commitment to support Amtrak efforts to work with the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) and others for the first service in more than 50 years for Amtrak service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge and to study the potential for Amtrak service between Meridian, Mississippi and Dallas.

Amtrak and CP will file their agreement as part of the docket in the CP-KCS proceeding at the STB.

Washington, D.C. – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will award $256.4 million in highway safety grants to support an array of traffic safety priorities across the nation.

Highway safety offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will receive these grants as part of the funding included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

More than $133 million in State and Community Highway Safety Program funds will enhance highway safety by supporting data-driven traffic safety programs in the states. These programs include initiatives such as high-visibility enforcement campaigns and other safe driving campaigns.

NHTSA is providing an additional $123.4 million to states and eligible territories through the National Priority Incentive Programs. These funds include nearly $70 million for impaired driving countermeasures, $19 million for state traffic safety information systems to help states build databases related to crashes, more than $17 million for occupant protection including seat belt education and enforcement, more than $9 million for distracted driving prevention, $6.6 million for pedestrian and bicyclist safety programs, and $2 million for motorcyclist safety.

When full-year distributions are completed, the law will increase the funding available for these programs by 31 percent over the previous fiscal year’s levels.

This funding is part of over $13 billion in funding for roadway safety programs in the new law, including a $6 billion new Safe Streets for All discretionary grant program.

The Department plans to release its first National Roadway Safety Strategy in January to lay out policies and issue a call to action to officials at all levels of government and stakeholders across sectors to help reduce traffic fatalities and injuries.

Massachusetts – The towns of Braintree, Randolph, and Holbrook are partnering to build an estimated $74 million water treatment plant.

Braintree Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Randolph/Holbrook Water Treatment Plant are nearing the end of their useful lives. Rather than constructing two separate plants, the communities determined the most cost-effective approach was to construct one Tri-Town Regional WTP on available land adjacent to Braintree’s plant.

This project includes a new 12.5 million gallons per day (MGD) dissolved air filtration regional water treatment plant and redundant sub-aqueous transmission mains.

Design work is nearly complete, and construction is scheduled to start in June. The towns anticipate operations will begin in 2024.

Idaho – Boosted by a $1.9 billion surplus, Gov. Brad Little detailed his Leading Idaho plan on January 10 highlighted by funding for transportation, water supply, and technology initiatives.

Little’s plan would direct $200 million to known transportation deferred maintenance gaps split between the state ($120 million) and local governments ($80 million). Paired with previous legislation signed by Governor Little, the state will have fully funded transportation maintenance needs to the level estimated by the Moving Idaho Forward study.

Under his plan, the state would allocate $200 million one-time funding for local bridges. Idaho has 966 local bridges that are more than 50 years old, and many that are closed or have restrictions that impede commerce. This investment package will allow local governments to improve the safety of approximately one-third of these deficient bridges.

In addition, it would make targeted investments of $10 million for pedestrian safety, $10 million for ports, $8 million for railroads, and $6.4 million for airports.

Leading Idaho would provide record investments in state water infrastructure of $75 million from the state’s general fund and $250 million in federal funding to ensure a dependable water supply.

The Department of Water Resources will manage these funds to bring critical projects to completion, including raising the Anderson Ranch dam and finishing the pipeline to the Mountain Home Air Force Base. These funds will also support water recharge infrastructure on the Upper Snake River and replace aging infrastructure for irrigation districts and canals.

To support broadband infrastructure improvements, Leading Idaho would invest $225 million of federal funding to upgrade broadband infrastructure across the state over the next five years. At the direction of the Idaho Broadband Advisory Committee, the state would ensure every rural Idaho community can facilitate remote work, distance education, and telehealth.

Leading Idaho also would establish a $12 million Cyber Response and Defense Fund, provide $500,000 for integrity audits of Idaho elections, and set aside $2 million to improve statewide information technology to ensure all agency board meetings can be accessed online.

Wyoming – The state’s Department of Education issued a request for information (RFI) to identify potential sources and products for an assessment dashboard and early warning system for academic performance.

To replace the existing assessment dashboard with a cost-effective solution, the department would like to use the information gathered in this RFI to expand upon its strategic plan and potentially release an RFP for a new assessment dashboard and early warning system.

Some of the desired services or deliverables include:

The deadline for RFI submissions is 2 p.m. MST February 16.

Florida – Highlands County is planning to partner with a private firm, or firms, to establish a countywide broadband strategy to improve capability, capacity, and availability of broadband.

To begin the process, the county has issued a request for information (RFI) to seek a financially sustainable business model that furthers the county’s final goal of ensuring that all residents and businesses – starting with underserved and unserved areas – have access to affordable broadband services that can easily and inexpensively scale to provide higher-speed services as demand for broadband increases.

Highlands County has allocated $4.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the first phase of broadband expansion implementation. The county is seeking information on providing and improving high-speed internet connectivity for governmental, commercial, and residential needs by leveraging a Community Broadband Network (CBN) that, at a minimum, utilizes fiber-optic infrastructure as its core communication technique to increase capacity and consistency of broadband services across the county.

RFI submissions are due by 4 p.m. local time January 28.

New York – More than $23 million in state grants will help improve water quality and mitigate climate change in New York.

Through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation’s Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP), $20.8 million is being awarded to 17 projects that incorporate green storm water infrastructure, as well as implement energy and water efficiency measures. An additional $2.5 million in Engineering Planning Grants will help jumpstart planning for 56 water infrastructure projects.

Among the GIGP projects are:

The funding is part of the $750 million announced for Round XI of the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Of the 17 Green Innovation Grant Program projects, 13 projects worth $17.9 million will impact Environmental Justice Communities.

New Jersey – The board of trustees of New Jersey Institute of Technology appointed Dr. Teik Lim as the institute’s new president, effective July 1. He will succeed President Dr. Joel Bloom who is stepping down in June. Lim serves as the interim president of The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Prior to that, he was UTA’s provost and vice president for academic affairs.

California – The San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) board of directors appointed Alex Clifford as RTD’s new chief executive officer, effective January 31. He will succeed current CEO Gloria Salazar who is retiring in February. Clifford most recently served as CEO of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District. Before that, he was CEO and executive director of Metra.

Georgia – The Flowery Branch City Council named Tonya Parrish as its new city manager. She took over from Interim City Manager Vickie Short. Parrish most recently served as city manager for the city of Waycross. Before that, she was director of administrative services and chief financial officer for the Glynn County Board of Commissioners.

Colorado – Denver Mayor Michael Hancock nominated Armando Saldate on January 5 as executive director of public safety. If approved by the Denver City Council, he would take over from Executive Director Murphy Robinson who is stepping down this month. Saldate is currently an assistant deputy executive director in the city’s Department of Public Safety. Before that, he was a civilian commander in the internal affairs bureau for the Denver County sheriff’s department.

Florida – The Naples Airport Authority named Byron Gray as director of fixed-based operator (FBO) services at Naples Airport. Gray has more than two decades of success and experience in the general aviation industry. Most recently the national sales manager for a national fuel supplier, he has held leadership positions in several internationally known FBO chains.

Virginia – The Henry County board of supervisors named Dale Wagoner as the next county administrator, effective July 1. Wagoner previously served in multiple positions with the county, most recently as deputy county administrator and public safety director.

Mary Scott Nabers, Publisher

Devin Monk, Editor

Government Contracting Pipeline, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., is a free, weekly newsletter detailing important happenings nationwide and the premier source for federal, state, and local government news and contracting opportunities.