The airport is not effectively managing and overseeing the current version of the Great Hall construction project.

From initial contracting to ongoing execution.

Two key takeaways from the report related to the restart of the project in 2019 are first.

Selecting the wrong project delivery method can have expensive consequences.

Airport officials have acknowledged their lack of a formalized process to select project delivery methods.

We see this in our previous construction audits, including the Pena Boulevard improvements and their own after action report following the termination of the Great Hall Partners contract.

A formalized approach could help prevent inefficient and ineffective project oversight, including inflated construction costs and avoidable project delays.

Second, the airport deviated from its standard procurement process when it hurried to select a new contractor for the Great Hall project.

We found airport officials intentionally prevented public transparency of their decision making by not keeping any standard documentation to support key steps in the expedited procurement process.

Airport officials said they had to hurry up the process because they only had a three-month window to choose a new contractor and protect the active construction site from exposure to weather.

In addition to the quick contracting project to restart the Great Hall construction after the costly end of the public-private partnership in 2019, my audit also shows the airport has not been properly monitoring the subcontracting process.

As a result, the airport has paid more than it should.

Specifically, airport staff did not approve the subcontractors, allowed subcontracts to be awarded without competitive bids, and they allowed subcontracts to go to companies that were not the lowest responsive and qualified bidder.

Plus, the airport did not properly oversee the contractor as it hired itself for subcontracted work, increasing the risk of suppressing competitive bids and overpaying for work.

Subcontractor costs are by far the largest chunk of construction project costs, typically approaching 80 to 90% of the cost of a project.

Without proper project management and oversight of construction projects, beginning with choosing the appropriate project delivery method and lasting through construction, Denver International Airport risks overpaying for the Great Hall renovations.

Additionally, if the procurement of contractors and subcontractors is not done openly, fairly and competitively, it damages the airport's reputation and impedes the airport's ability to ensure the city receives the best value for contracted work.

Well, that's it for this episode of Ask the Auditor.

If you have a question, submit it to Auditor at DenverGov.org, and maybe your question will be the next question we answer on the next episode of Ask the Auditor.

I would say the sense of community that I have and the sense of belonging that I have in Denver.

It's very unique.

My name is Amanda Sandoval.

I currently represent Northwest Denver and also serve as Denver City Council President.

As a Latina who grew up in Northwest Denver, whose shoulders am I standing on?

And as I think of Hispanic Heritage Month, I think about how do we prepare for the next generation of leaders.

And I really think that this next month is an opportunity to unite us with the common denominator of our culture.

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In October on Elevate Denver, feel the chills and thrills of 13th floor Denver.

Grab your lipstick and fishnet stockings for a look at Fashion Nation.

There's no outcast down here.

Visit a farm that grows crops and generates energy.

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Those stories and more are on the next episode of Elevate Denver.

Welcome to this meeting of the Mayor and Denver City Council.

At this weekly session, city agencies brief the mayor and council members on various proposals and projects across the city.

This meeting of the mayor and city council members begins now.

Good morning, everybody.

Welcome to Mayor Council.

Thank you so much for being here.

Happy Tuesday morning.

We will start with introductions of all of our distinguished council members, but none more distinguished than the gentleman from District Six.

You may begin.

Good morning, Amanda Sawyer, District Five.

I'm Sarah Parody, one of your council members at large.

Good morning, Garrett Watson, fine district nine.

Good morning, Amanda Sanovo, Northwest Denver District One.

Great.

Uh well, good to see you all this morning.

We will open up with announcements if any council members have announcements they want to share for colleagues or for our listeners at home.

Uh Councilman Alvidas.

Thank you, Mayor.

I wanted to share and thank you to DDPHE for their involvement that the Public Health Republic Safety Active Collective Trauma Summit will be happening this Thursday and Friday.

Super exciting a moment to recognize the healers and mental health workers in the community and give them a chance to experience those services.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you so much, Councilman.

Councilman Cashman.

Uh yeah, thank you, Mayor.

On uh Tuesday, October 15th, uh we're gonna have our next virtual District Six Academy focusing on how to improve safety on Denver streets and let people know all the things that uh uh we're doing as far as new tools to make our roadways more safe.

Uh we'll have folks from uh Toddy, uh uh police chief Ron Thomas will be there, plus from the uh nonprofit advocacy sector, we'll have Joe O'Centori from Denver Streets Partnership and Stuart Anderson from Transportation Solutions.

So it should be a great discussion.