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Record of Proceedings

Miami-Dade Airport Committee Meeting - September 10, 2025

BCC Committee Meetings — Wednesday, September 10, 2025
BodyMiami Dade County, Florida
SessionBCC Committee Meetings
DateWednesday, September 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:43

Committee, can our clerk please take the role?

0:48

Good morning.

0:49

Commissioner Gilbert.

0:51

Commissioner Hardiman.

0:54

Commissioner Million Orbis.

0:56

Here.

0:57

Vice Chairman Gonzalez.

0:59

Chairwoman Cohen Higgins.

1:02

Present.

1:03

Three members present, you have a quorum.

1:05

Please rise for the invocation led by Commissioner Hardeman, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Commissioner, led by Commissioner Milian Orbis.

1:19

Heavenly Father, we gather today as stewards of Mamma D County seeking your guidance.

1:24

Grant us wisdom, discernment, and patience as we work for the good of our community.

1:28

Help us to listen with open hearts speak, humility, and serve with integrity.

1:34

May our efforts promote unity and the well-being of all of our residents.

1:38

We ask for your blessing upon this meeting and upon our county.

1:40

Amen.

1:49

One nation and God.

1:51

Indivisible with liberty and just as well.

2:03

At this time, we'll open the reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard.

2:06

I have two speaker cards.

2:07

Anyone in addition to Mr.

2:09

Brian May and Mr.

2:10

Eric Singer, please approach the podiums at this time.

2:14

You'll have two minutes.

2:15

Please give us your names and your addresses.

2:29

Madam Chair, Commissioners, Brian May, uh with Office at 235 Catalonia Avenue and Coral Gables.

2:37

I'm here representing LamarTech, who is the lowest responsive bidder on item 3D.

2:44

I'm really here to just speak on the recommendation from the administration, which I think frankly is a perfect example of an abomination of a bid process, right?

2:59

Um you go through the facts of this bid for the airport operations center uh bid, it's very clear that two companies followed the bid documents and followed the addenda clearly and precisely and submitted responsive bids uh that were scored along with three others.

3:22

Uh uh the problem was the other three did not fill out the bid forms correctly, and they goofed on two of 23 items that were bid items specifically in the bid.

3:33

Lamar Tech bid precisely in accordance with the bid documents again, finished as the lower bidder, as the lowest bidder, and should be negotiated with for a contract.

3:45

The recommendation before you I would submit sends exactly the wrong signal in terms of bidding on projects at not only at MAA but any county project, which is if you follow the process precisely, if you follow the bid deck bid directions precisely, you bid in accordance with the documents, and you become the lowest bidder.

4:07

If three other people complain who did not do it properly, then somehow you'll get to a recommendation to reject all bids.

4:31

And uh I appreciate your consideration and attention.

4:34

Thank you.

4:35

Thank you, Mr.

4:35

May, Mr.

4:36

Singer.

4:41

Good morning.

4:42

Eric Singer with Bells and Sumberg, offices of 1450 Brickle.

4:46

Also, on behalf of Lamar Tech NV2A, the low bidder for the airport operations center procurement.

4:53

Uh, we're here in opposition to item 3D, the recommendation to reject all bids.

5:00

Back in July, this body asked the administration for alternatives to scrapping the whole process.

5:04

And in this case, there's an obvious alternative award to the low bidder.

5:09

That should be the starting point in any bid, and we really fail to see any reason to deviate from that here.

5:16

With the supplement, the administration came back with the exact same recommendation, this time with a different justification.

5:23

Last time it was that the bidders were somehow confused by the bid specs.

5:28

This time the administration is somehow confused by the bid specs.

5:31

This is not an RFP.

5:33

There's really no complication to it.

5:35

It's a straight bid.

5:37

There's a bid form, the bidders fill it out.

5:39

The lowest total price wins.

5:41

And that's case.

5:42

In this case, it's LamarTech NV2A.

5:44

This is really as simple as it gets in county procurement.

5:48

Every item on the bid form is something the county will need to pay for.

5:53

The supplement suggests that there might be confusion about which count and which don't.

5:57

It really makes no sense that there would be something that the county has to pay for that's a required part of the scope that you wouldn't count for determining the low bidder.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procurement█████████████████████████████████████████████70%
Government Operations████████12%
Community Engagement██████10%
Aviation And Seaport█████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Miami-Dade Airport Committee Meeting Summary – September 10, 2025

The Miami-Dade Airport Committee met on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 9:00 AM in Commission Chambers, chaired by Danielle Cohen Higgins. The committee considered multiple resolutions regarding Miami International Airport (MIA) and general aviation airports, including contract approvals, bid rejections, and an update on airport development. Key votes included approval of building recertification contracts, rejection of bids for an Airport Operations Center, and approval of an Air France VIP club lease. The committee also heard public comments and discussed negotiations for hangar acquisitions.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Brian May (representing LamarTech) opposed the recommendation on item 3D to reject all bids, arguing LamarTech was the lowest responsive bidder and that the bid process was mishandled. He stated two companies followed bid documents precisely while three others did not.
  • Eric Singer (Bells and Sumberg, representing LamarTech NV2A) also opposed item 3D, urging award to the low bidder. He noted bids were submitted in April 2025 and that rejecting all would lead to inflation and tariff-driven price increases.
  • Miguel de Grande (on behalf of E Plus) supported item 3C, highlighting that after a second-tier review, the selection committee again recommended E Plus. He cited the principal's 20 years of experience and the inclusion of Gannett Fleming, a firm with over 100 years of experience and 5,000 professionals.
  • Eric Sakella (Allied Contractors) opposed item 3D, claiming Allied was the low bidder based on instructions to bidders (items 1–20). He criticized the administration for not meeting with his client after the July committee directive.

Discussion Items

  • Item 3D – Rejection of Bids for Airport Operations Center (P250A): The administration (Director Ralph Cutié) explained a staff oversight: the original solicitation stated award would be based on items 1–20, but addendum 13 added items 21–23 without updating the scoring language. All five bidders priced all 23 items. Counting only 1–20 produced a low bidder (Allied at $17.3M), while counting 1–23 produced a different low bidder (LamarTech at $20.7M). The administration recommended rejecting all bids and re-advertising. After extensive debate, Commissioner Hardemon moved to approve the recommendation, seconded, and carried 2–1 (Commissioner Gonzalez voted no). The director stated the project could be re-advertised within weeks.
  • Items 3G and 3H – Baggage Handling System Contracts: Commissioner Milian Orbis requested background. The director explained these contracts are for studies and design criteria for upgrading baggage handling systems in North, Central, and South terminals. Work will be tracked via a centralized database with equitable service order issuance. Both contracts were approved (3G: 3–0; 3H: 3–0).
  • Item 1F1 – Update on Building Leases and Developments at MIA: Chairwoman Cohen Higgins initiated discussion. The director reported record passenger volume (56 million in 2024, on track to break again in 2025) and cargo (3.1 million tons), with long-term projections of 77 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo by 2040. Negotiations are ongoing to acquire two hangars on the north end of MIA to enable expansion of maintenance repair operations. An initial meeting occurred the previous day, with another scheduled next week. Chairwoman urged expeditious progress. Commissioner Gonzalez raised a separate question about a holdover tenant at Miami Executive Airport, asking about double rent collection; the director promised to provide information.
  • Item 2A – Families on the Fly Program: Resolution urging DHS and TSA to implement the program at MIA. Commissioner Gonzalez added as co-sponsor. It was forwarded to the full board with a favorable recommendation 4–0.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 3A Substitute (Building Recertification contract with T.Y. Lin International, $57,321,799 over 10 years) – Approved 4–0.
  • Item 3B Substitute (Building Recertification contract with DDA Engineers, $57,321,799 over 10 years) – Approved 4–0.
  • Item 3C Substitute (Building Recertification contract with E Plus Engineering, $57,321,799 over 10 years) – Approved 4–0.
  • Item 3D – Motion to reject all bids for Airport Operations Center carried 2–1. Project to be re-advertised.
  • Item 3E (Rejection of bids for Satellite E Chiller Plant) – Deferred to November committee cycle.
  • Item 3F (Air France VIP Club lease, ~7,370 sq. ft., estimated $17,523,747.36 over initial and renewal terms) – Approved 4–0.
  • Item 3G (Baggage handling contract with Intropa, Inc., $8,270,625) – Approved 3–0.
  • Item 3H (Baggage handling contract with BNP Associates, Inc., $8,270,625) – Approved 3–0.
  • Item 6A (Approval of committee minutes from February, March, and May 2025) – Approved 4–0.
  • Item 2A – Forwarded to full County Commission with a favorable recommendation 4–0.

Meeting Transcript

Committee, can our clerk please take the role? Good morning. Commissioner Gilbert. Commissioner Hardiman. Commissioner Million Orbis. Here. Vice Chairman Gonzalez. Chairwoman Cohen Higgins. Present. Three members present, you have a quorum. Please rise for the invocation led by Commissioner Hardeman, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Commissioner, led by Commissioner Milian Orbis. Heavenly Father, we gather today as stewards of Mamma D County seeking your guidance. Grant us wisdom, discernment, and patience as we work for the good of our community. Help us to listen with open hearts speak, humility, and serve with integrity. May our efforts promote unity and the well-being of all of our residents. We ask for your blessing upon this meeting and upon our county. Amen. One nation and God. Indivisible with liberty and just as well. At this time, we'll open the reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard. I have two speaker cards. Anyone in addition to Mr. Brian May and Mr. Eric Singer, please approach the podiums at this time. You'll have two minutes. Please give us your names and your addresses. Madam Chair, Commissioners, Brian May, uh with Office at 235 Catalonia Avenue and Coral Gables. I'm here representing LamarTech, who is the lowest responsive bidder on item 3D. I'm really here to just speak on the recommendation from the administration, which I think frankly is a perfect example of an abomination of a bid process, right? Um you go through the facts of this bid for the airport operations center uh bid, it's very clear that two companies followed the bid documents and followed the addenda clearly and precisely and submitted responsive bids uh that were scored along with three others. Uh uh the problem was the other three did not fill out the bid forms correctly, and they goofed on two of 23 items that were bid items specifically in the bid. Lamar Tech bid precisely in accordance with the bid documents again, finished as the lower bidder, as the lowest bidder, and should be negotiated with for a contract. The recommendation before you I would submit sends exactly the wrong signal in terms of bidding on projects at not only at MAA but any county project, which is if you follow the process precisely, if you follow the bid deck bid directions precisely, you bid in accordance with the documents, and you become the lowest bidder. If three other people complain who did not do it properly, then somehow you'll get to a recommendation to reject all bids. And uh I appreciate your consideration and attention. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. May, Mr. Singer. Good morning. Eric Singer with Bells and Sumberg, offices of 1450 Brickle. Also, on behalf of Lamar Tech NV2A, the low bidder for the airport operations center procurement. Uh, we're here in opposition to item 3D, the recommendation to reject all bids. Back in July, this body asked the administration for alternatives to scrapping the whole process. And in this case, there's an obvious alternative award to the low bidder. That should be the starting point in any bid, and we really fail to see any reason to deviate from that here. With the supplement, the administration came back with the exact same recommendation, this time with a different justification. Last time it was that the bidders were somehow confused by the bid specs. This time the administration is somehow confused by the bid specs. This is not an RFP.

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