DEPARTMENT: Aviation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Frank Miller
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Common Use Planning at the San Antonio International Airport
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes a professional services agreement for common use planning with Barich, Inc. at the San Antonio International Airport (SAT). The Aviation Department would like to implement common use at the Airport which will allow the sharing of gates among airlines but requires changes that affect operation procedures, finance policies, properties, IT systems and physical infrastructure. Barich will develop a feasibility study and phasing schedule for implementing common use at SAT. The contract value will be in an amount not to exceed $487,107.00.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The airport industry is moving to a common use program throughout the United States. The purpose of implementing common use is to allow gates to be shared among the airlines in order to improve operational efficiency. With common use, an airport can relocate an airline to a different gate with minimal difficulties as the policies and procedures, physical and IT infrastructure, financial processes and support services are already in place. For the San Antonio International Airport (SAT), common use can provide
· Increased efficiency of gate utilization for underutilized gates
· Increased efficiency of check-in (ticket) counter utilization
· Increased efficiency of passenger movement and processing through the check-in process and boarding process
· Flexibility for re-assignment of gate resources due to irregular operations, delayed flights, or construction efforts
· Ease of adjustment for resource scheduled maintenance or operational breakdown
· Facilitation of new carrier market entry and existing operators expansion
The Aviation Department would like to implement common use at San Antonio International Airport; however, assistance is required from an experienced airport consultant as the shift to this model affects several aspects of the airport including operations, IT, fiscal, security and properties. The consultant will perform a feasibility study for the implementation of common use including justification and scope determination, policy change requirements, procedural requirements including potential impacts to City financial processes, supporting system requirements, a recommended phasing plan for implementation, and development of a common use concept and scope. Specifically, the report will address:
· The impacts of common use on other airport facilities during peak times like the baggage handling system, TSA checkpoint, customs and immigrations processing and hold rooms.
· Supporting systems such as Resource Management System (RMS), baggage handling systems and the flight display screens (MUFIDS).
· The cost recovery models, policy changes, impacts to City financial processes and the support service delivery approach including review of internal Aviation Department support staff requirements.
· The requirements and impacts on the Operational Control Center
· The architectural and electrical impacts to gates and ticket counters along with self bag tagging.
· Coordination with airlines including reviewing their systems, hardware, and needs as part of the common use concept development and working toward airline buy‐in for rates, changes to billing process, gate configurations, technology selection, and support structure.
The study/business plan will ultimately provide a clearly developed conceptual design and recommend a phasing plan for implementation, a recommended cost recovery approach, and roadmap for implementing common use at the Aviation Department. The consultant will also prepare an assessment of policy change requirements and documentation of procedural requirements supporting system requirements and develop an Engineer's Opinion of Probable Construction Costs to reflect the recommendations from the report.
Solicitation
A Request for Qualifications was released on July 3, 2014 and advertised in the Express-News, TVSA, and on the websites of the Airports Council International - North America, American Association of Airport Executives and the City of San Antonio. Three proposals were received on August 4, 2014. An evaluation committee compromised of representatives from the properties and operations divisions of the Aviation Department, ITSD and the Assistant Director for the Las Vegas International Airport reviewed, scored and ranked the proposals. Scores were based on the published criteria: background, experience and qualifications of team and the project plan. Barich, Inc. was awarded the most points.
Barich, Inc.
Barich, Inc. is a technology consulting and design firm focused on providing planning and management services. The firm has extensive airport experience and provided common use consultant services for the following airports: Oakland, Phoenix, San Diego, Toronto-Pearson and Palm Beach. The firm has previously provided construction administration services for the Terminal A IT Modernization program and conducted a shared tenant service feasibility study for the SAAS.
ISSUE:
The award of this professional services agreement and the authorization to expend project funds requires City Council action.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to approve awarding this professional services agreement; however, the City is not equipped with staff or expertise to conduct the study.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a one-time capital improvements expenditure in the amount of $487,107.00 within budget of prior appropriated funds and included in the FY 2015-2020 Aviation Capital Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the authorization of a professional services agreement with Barich for common use planning services at the San Antonio International Airport.