Plans to build a $1.4-billion football stadium for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., are advancing toward a groundbreaking this year. 

The project team, led by a joint venture of Gilbane Building Co. and Turner Construction Co. with 34 Group, project manager Legends Development Group and designer Populous, posted on March 16 the latest group of bid packages soliciting work for the project. A day earlier, the Erie County Stadium Corp., part of Empire State Development, approved the general project plan and lease agreements for the property. 

Project owners expect construction to begin by mid-2023 and finish in time for the 2026 football season. The 1.35-million-sq-ft, 60,000-seat stadium would be built on a 242-acre site across the street from the team’s current Highmark Stadium, which would be demolished after its replacement is complete.

The project team says a total of 630 attendees participated in contractor information sessions for the project. The newly released bid packages include work on the exterior, with packages focused on aluminum and glass, a perforated metal panel system and installation of facade architectural precast elements. They are also looking for subs to furnish and install site utilities and superstructure fill-on-metal deck. 

Earlier, the project team released another group of bid packages for work on foundations and structural steel. 

The team also released a list of bidders for the first group of bid packages. 

Firms including Mark Cerrone Inc., Kandey Company Inc., Pinto Construction Services Inc. and Kiewit Infrastructure Inc. bid for non-electric utility work. Mark Cerrone Inc., Rodriguez Construction Group, Scott Lawn Yard Inc., L.M. Sessler Wrecking & Excavating Inc. and Pinto Construction Services Inc. bid for site demolition. Mark Cerrone Inc., Beaver Excavating Co., Union Concrete & Construction Corp. and Kiewit Infrastructure Co. bid for mass excavation work. The first batch of bid packages also includes fence, power relocates and elevators and escalators. 

Any firms interested in bidding as a prime or tier-1 subcontractor must prequalify to receive an invitation to bid, with details on the project’s website. 

The project team notes that it is encouraging firms to submit for work if they are certified in New York as minority, women or service-disabled veteran-owned or as local businesses. 

“Our joint venture team is committed to driving opportunities for diverse and local businesses and working with our partners to deliver this transformational project for western New York,” John LaRow, Gilbane senior vice president at Gilbane, previously said in a statement.