DBE and the New LFT Frequently Asked Questions

DBE and the New LFT!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What kind of projects offer potential opportunities for certified DBEs?

Including the New LFT Terminal, the Lafayette Regional Airport is estimated to have as much as $150 million for construction and infrastructure projects over the next 3-to-5 years. The work will be administered under the following:

    • Architecture & Engineering (A/E)
    • Project & Construction Management (PMCM)

The prime contractors selected in each of these three areas will actively seek subcontractors to help them complete these projects.

  • Who should I contact about getting work for my company?

The Lafayette Airport Commission is in the process of selecting A/E, PMCM. The two will be announced at Lafayette Airport Commission public meetings, and the selections will be reported in local media coverage.  DBE-certified businesses, or those going through the certification process, are encouraged to contact those businesses, when they are announced, to promote your services.

  • What is the DBE goal for Lafayette Regional Airport projects?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal of 7.31% for federally funded work.  The Lafayette Airport Commission has decided the 7.31% goal will also apply to all projects no matter the funding source.

  • Why should I apply for DBE certification for my business?

DBE goals apply to projects using federal funds and some state and local projects as well.  In order to assist a prime contractor in reaching their DBE goal, a subcontractor company must be DBE certified.

  • How long does it take to receive DBE certification?

DBE certification is completed by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD). Businesses send all completed application forms and materials to LaDOTD and are normally notified if their business has been certified within 6-to-8 weeks.

  • What is the cost and what help in getting certification is available now?

There is free assistance available to business owners right now through:

    • The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Small Business Development Center – Heidi Melancon – 337-482-6312
    • Southern University Small Business Development Center – Sonia Wilson – 225-774-9213
    • Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development – Remy Graves – 225-379-1762
    • Lafayette Consolidated Government DBE Officer – Shaun Williams – 337-291-8410
  • Where can I find more information?

DBE forms and information are available on our website under the DBE tab.  Additional information is available on the LaDOTD website, under the DBE Certification tab.

 

Airport Selection Committee Narrows Architectural & Engineering Firms to Three

For Immediate Release
March 3, 2016
For more information, contact:
Robert Callahan, 233-6473, extension 113

The Lafayette Airport Commission has accepted their Architectural and Engineering (A/E) Selection Committee’s recommendation for the final three A/E firms that are seeking work on airport projects.  Eight qualified firms responded to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to aid in the completion of airport construction projects over the next three to five years. The centerpiece of the work is the New LFT Terminal project.

The final selection of an A/E firm completes the first stage of a three-part process to be followed by the selection of a project management and construction management (PMCM) firm to oversee the terminal project and the selection of a construction firm. The selection committee has reviewed the responses to the PMCM RFQ and this week completed interviewing the four firms seeking selection. The selection committee will make its recommendation of the top three to the full airport commission.

“We were pleased to receive so many responses to our RFQ,” says Lafayette Airport Commission Chairman Paul Guilbeau.  “Any of the eight firms could have done a great job. But only one can be selected to be our A/E firm and these three firms were the best of the best.”

The three finalist firms are: HNTB of Baton Rouge; RS & H of Houston, Texas; and Gensler of Baton Rouge. The three firms will make presentations to the full airport commission between March 21 and March 24. Once that is completed, the full commission will score the firms, make their final selection and begin contract negotiations.

Guilbeau says “The Selection Committee worked hard in the review process, the Committee members spent between 14 and 16 hours reviewing the responses and an additional two and a half hours interviewing each firm before scoring each.”

The selection committee, consists of Guilbeau, Airport Commissioner Paul Segura, airport Executive Director Steven Picou, transportation consultant Dr. Kam Movassaghi, and airport Environmental Quality Officer Ashley Simon.

The A/E will provide general professional A/E consulting services for the new terminal and supporting infrastructure projects, and additional support services. The A/E services are for a three-year term, with two possible one-year extensions. The projects will be evaluated annually based upon developments and new information, and funding availability. Projects may be added and deleted throughout the term of the contract.

Guilbeau says an important aspect in the selection process is the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal for the selected firms that offers opportunities for minority-owned or woman-owned businesses.  To participate, small businesses must become DBE certified, a process through the state for which applications are also facilitated by the Small Business Development Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Interested small businesses that meet DBE qualifications are encouraged to become certified.

“Meeting the DBE requirement is the responsibility of the general consultant awarded the contracts to provide airport design work, facility development, infrastructure construction and maintenance during the term of the contract,” says Guilbeau, who stresses that the airport will not have a role in the selection of individual subcontractors proposed, including those certified as a DBE. “That does not mean this is not important to our commission. In fact, the opposite is true. Seeing the DBE goal met is very important to the Lafayette Airport Commission. Our DBE goal is not only for work done with federal funds – it is a goal for all of our current and new terminal work, regardless of the funding source.”

Lafayette Airport Commission Chooses Firms to Advance New Terminal Project

For Immediate Release
March 31, 2016
For more information contact:
Robert Callahan, 337-233-6473
robert@sides.com

The Lafayette Airport Commission has chosen two firms to lead the design and project management for construction of the New LFT Terminal project and other associated projects over the next three to five years.  The decision marks a major milestone in the process of building a new airport terminal for the travelers of Acadiana. Another major decision, the choice of the general contractor for airport projects including the new terminal construction, will begin later this year.

“The decision to hire these two firms is the single most important decision the current airport commissioners will make” says Lafayette Airport Commission Chairman Paul A. Guilbeau. “The process to arrive at these decisions was not an easy one. We had many qualified firms that were interested in this project, and we truly had to choose from the best of the best. The commission is confident we have made the right choices and have selected two firms that will give the travelers of Acadiana an airport that will amaze them.”

RS&H of Jacksonville, Florida was selected as the architectural and engineering firm that will design the new terminal.  Established in 1941, RS&H provides fully integrated architecture, engineering, and consulting services. They are consistently ranked among the nation’s top 100 design firms and have worked in over 50 countries across the globe. Some of the airport work they have done includes Traverse City and Saginaw, Michigan; Bozeman, Montana; Jacksonville, Florida; St. George, Utah; Ashville, North Carolina; and Lisbon, Portugal.

Subcontractors on the RS&H team include: Domingue, Szabo, and Associates; MBSB Group; CK Associates; Air Environmental Services; Allain and Associates; Avant Acoustics; BNP Associates; Connico; Devonian Group; EnviroAire; Eustis Engineering Services; Ghosa Research; Louisiana Testing and Inspection; M&E Consulting; Marrero Couvillon and Associates; Ragland, Aderman & Associates; Southern Earth Sciences; Valancourt International; Viator and Associates; and Walker Parking Consultants.

Heery International, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., was selected to serve as the project management and construction management firm that will work with RS&H on scheduling and managing the Lafayette airport projects to their completion. Heery is actively engaged in more than $9 billion in design and construction projects across the United States.  They are ranked annually among the top professional services firms by industry publications such as Engineering-News Record, World Architecture and Building Design & Construction. Their airport experience includes airports in Miami, New Orleans, Boise, and Seattle.

Subcontractors on the Heery International team include: Royal Engineers, Sellers & Associates, Kutchins & Groh, Metro-Source and Eustis Engineering.

Lafayette Regional Airport Breaks Ground on $5.1 Million Cargo Facility

For Immediate Release
January 19, 2016
For more information contact:
Robert Callahan, 337-233-6473
robert@sides.com

Lafayette Regional Airport broke ground today on a $5.1 million cargo facility that FedEx and UPS will begin operating out of by the end of the year.  Trahan Construction of Lake Arthur was selected to do the construction project.  The project includes two buildings – one for FedEx and the other for UPS.  The FedEx building will be just over 4,700 square feet while the UPS building will be just over 3,900 square feet.  A Louisiana State Capital Outlay grant will fund $4.9 million of the construction costs, and the Lafayette Airport Commission will fund the remainder.  Construction will begin shortly and is scheduled to be complete by September, 2016.

The site of the project is along US Highway 90, just south of PHI’s facility.  Construction of a 60,000 square foot, 900-foot long by 500-foot wide cargo apron large enough to hold several large cargo planes was completed in late 2011, and the new facility will be built on that site.  The two cargo carriers currently operate out of an old hangar next to the terminal that will be torn down to make way for the New LFT Terminal.

“Last year, 25.8 million pounds of cargo was loaded and unloaded at Lafayette Regional Airport,” says Lafayette Airport Commission Chairman Paul A. Guilbeau.  “The new cargo facility will allow us to move cargo activity away from the terminal building, improving safety and passenger carrier operations.”

Lafayette Airport Commission to Host Meetings for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises

The Lafayette Airport Commission is planning an estimated $150 million in construction projects, including the new terminal and runway improvements, over the next 3-5 years. Some will be funded with federal dollars, some with state grants and others by the airport commission. A key component of these projects is the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal, set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), of 7.31 percent for minority-owned businesses on federally funded projects. The commission has decided that the DBE goal will apply to all projects, including state, local and airport funded ones.

“There are two Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) currently out for decision: an Architectural & Engineering RFQ and a Project Management & Construction Management RFQ. They will be followed by a Construction RFQ or bid later this year,” says Lafayette Airport Commission Chairman Paul Guilbeau. “The prime contractors we select for those three contracts will have a mandate to meet the DBE goal, which the commission considers very important. That opens opportunities for qualified, certified DBE businesses related to construction who chose to pursue that work . The key is the business must be certified as a DBE by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) and they must contact businesses who win the prime contracts.”

To help contractors meet their goals by promoting DBE certification to minority businesses, the airport commission will host two educational meetings and a workshop to help educate business owners to help them apply. Businesses eligible for DBE certification include those owned by Black Americans, Women, Hispanics, Native Americans and Pacific Asians. To qualify businesses must be 51 percent minority-owned, and the minority owner must run the daily operations of the business.

“There are very few certified DBE businesses in the Acadiana Region,” says Guilbeau. “With active participation from minority businesses who are interested, and assistance from our DBE education partners, we hope that will change. There is a process and paperwork that must be filed to gain certification. These meetings will be set up to help businesses learn and then complete the necessary applications with help from various agencies who provide their help free of charge.”

The DBE educational meeting will be held Wednesday, April 6 at 5:30 pm and will be repeated on Saturday, April 9 at 10 am at the Clifton Chenier Center, 220 W. Willow Street, Building C. Representatives from LADOTD, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Small Business Development Center, Southern University Small Business Development Center, Lafayette Regional Airport and Lafayette Consolidated Government’s DBE program will participate. They will discuss what the airport projects include, define what a DBE is and described qualifications for certification, and give an overview of the paperwork needed to apply.

Three weeks later, on Saturday, April 30 at 9 am, also at the Clifton Chenier Center, a workshop will be held where representatives from the educational meeting participants will be available to provide hands-on free help in filling out the DBE application. Both the meetings and the workshop are free of charge.

For those businesses ready to apply before the workshops, help is available through the Small Business Development Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette – contact Heidi Melancon at 337-482-6312.

Nearly 300 People Attend Educational Meetings for DBE

The Lafayette Airport Commission recently held two educational meetings for area businesses to clarify the certification process for the Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) goal established by the Federal Aviation Administration on upcoming airport projects. The high attendance, expert presentations and engaging discussions were an exceptional start to this dedicated effort to provide significant opportunities for businesses in the community.

Nearly 300 people were in attendance for the two meetings at the Clifton Chenier Center in Lafayette, which clarified how local businesses that are qualified can become DBE-certified and potentially secure work on airport projects. Because most airport projects utilize federal funding, it is a federal requirement that eligible businesses be DBE certified by the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (LADOTD) for their work to be counted toward DBE goals.

Representatives from the LADOTD, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Small Business Development Center, Lafayette Regional Airport and Lafayette Consolidated Government’s DBE program participated in these educational meetings. They discussed what the airport projects include, defined what a DBE precisely is and described the qualifications for certification.

Several governmental leaders also attended the meetings to show their support of the airport, including Senator Gerald Boudreaux, Representatives Terry Landry and Vincent Pierre, Lafayette city council members Kenneth Boudreaux and Patrick Lewis, and Louisiana Transportation and Development Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson.

Over the next three to five years the Lafayette Airport Commission has plans for an estimated $150 million in construction-related projects, including a new terminal and runway improvements. These upgrades will be funded by a combination of federal dollars, state grants and other funds provided by the airport. A key component of these projects is the DBE goal, set by the FAA, of 6.52 percent.

The commission voted to have the DBE goal apply to all construction and related projects, no matter the funding source. Those who qualify for the DBE program include women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian-Pacific Americans and others.

“It was gratifying to see so many people from all parts of the community participate in these educational sessions and come away with a clearer understanding of the DBE qualification process,” said Lafayette Airport Commission Secretary/Treasurer Valerie Garrett, who was the point person for the Commission’s efforts. “The DBE goal is an important part of building an airport that will serve this region for generations. While meeting the goal will be the responsibility of the general contractors, the commission is dedicated to providing opportunities for people from all backgrounds and diversities.”

For the new terminal, the Lafayette Airport Commission has selected RS&H of Austin, Texas as the prime contractor for Architecture & Engineering (A/E), and Heery International of Atlanta, Ga. as the prime contractor for Project Management & Construction Management (PMCM). These contractors will actively seek subcontractors to work on these projects, and it presents an opportunity for DBE-certified businesses to promote their services.

On April 30 at 9 a.m., a workshop will be held at the Clifton Chenier Center where representatives from the organizations that participated in these educational meetings will provide hands-on, free help in filling out the DBE application. The earlier meetings and the upcoming workshop are free of charge.

“At the next meeting, there will be people who roll up their sleeves and help get applications completed for the prospects who come with the proper documents,” said Garrett. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to be involved in a great project in our community, and the DBE experts we will have on hand from City Parish Government, UL Lafayette and the LADOTD want to help everyone properly complete the application.”