Tampa International Airport Recipient of the First
ACC Excellence in Procurement Award

For Immediate Release

March 16, 2009

Contact: Emily VanderBush

Washington, DC - Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Florida became the first ever recipient of the Airport Consultants Council (ACC) Excellence in Procurement Award. The Award was presented at the 2009 ACC/AAAE Airport Planning, Design and Construction Symposium in Denver, Colorado during a luncheon on February 26, 2009.  The Award recognizes an airport or airport sponsor that demonstrates excellence in procurement and contracting practices.

The Aviation Authority operates four airports: Tampa International Airport, Peter O. Knight Airport, Plant City Airport and Tampa Executive Airport (formerly Vandenberg Airport). The Authority was considered among a field of very strong award candidates. In announcing the award the selection committee noted that the Authority has a long-standing procurement process that is worthy of serving as a model for other airports and public agencies to follow. Among the specific reasons cited by the selection committee is that their process utilizes:

• A clear and well documented written procurement policy,
• A scoring matrix that is very transparent and fair,
• Contract language and fee determination that is fair, reasonable and negotiable if needed,
• A selection committee made up of airport staff that has technical knowledge of the project requirements,
• An open selection that allows new entrants to the market to be competitive, and
• An "open door" policy that allows firms to review the scoring matrix after the selection and get debriefs on the selection.

"The Aviation Authority has a clearly defined, very open procurement process that helps ensure the best qualified firms are selected for projects," said Andy Platz, Group Leader of Aviation Services for Mead & Hunt, Inc. and Chairman of ACC's Procurement Committee. "The Authority should be commended for their great working partnership with private firms that have resulted in successful improvements to its facilities."

"The airport consulting community is pleased to award Tampa International Airport with the first ACC Excellence in Procurement Award," said ACC President Paula Hochstetler. "This is a client that consulting firms want to do business with."

John Wheat, Deputy Executive Director of the Tampa International Airport, accepted the award on behalf of the Aviation Authority and stated that "this award recognizes the efforts of all of our employees and we are honored to have been selected". 

The Airport Consultants Council (ACC) is the international trade association that represents the unique interests of consultant firms and related businesses that provide airport development and operations expertise. Founded in 1978, ACC Headquarters is located in the Washington, D.C. area.