Both the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and Clark Construction Group’s Subcontractor Development Strategic Partnership are making it easier for local and small contractor firms to get work.

The airport authority recently announced its project-to-date figures for local and small business contracts awarded as part of The Green Build Terminal 2 improvement program. Bidding opportunities are still available.

The Green Build is divided into two major contracts: Contract 1, consisting of terminal construction and airfield improvements, and Contract 2, for the dual-level roadway, smart curb and parking. Each contract is subdivided into packages. 
For the program to date for Contract 1, $216 million has been awarded, 83% of which went to local businesses. Under Contract 2, $177.9 million in packages has been awarded. Of that, 91% has gone to local businesses.

The airport authority says it sized and tailored bid packages for all its projects (in addition to The Green Build) in order to facilitate small business participation. Small businesses have been awarded 90% of the contracts for which they were eligible, to the tune of $89 million dollars. Local businesses have won a total of $340 million in contracts.
 
The Green Build still has 16 packages remaining under Contract 1, valued at more than $35 million. Packages range from $200,000 to $7 million, for work such as flooring and landscaping. All packages for Contract 2 have been awarded. For more information about Contract 1 opportunities, register your business at www.san.org/business.
 
Meanwhile, Clark Construction Group, LLC, Costa Mesa, has expanded its Subcontractor Development Strategic Partnership Program to Southern California. Last week, 18 small and local businesses began a nine-month executive MBA-style program designed to improve their construction management and overall business skills.

Clark says that since the program’s inception in the Washington, D.C. area in 2006, it has graduated more than 175 small businesses, each now with increased capabilities in the construction industry.

Richard Heim, president and CEO of Clark’s western region, says the program “offers businesses the opportunity to learn from construction and business experts and significantly improve their operations at no cost.” Kwaku Gyabaah, director of purchasing, is responsible for the program’s roll-out in Southern California. He previously served as an instructor and program facilitator for the program in Clark’s mid-Atlantic region.

The Subcontractor Development Strategic Partnership Program curriculum combines interactive classroom instruction, team projects, and presentations. Classroom instructors include veteran Clark employees and experts from companies such as Glenn M. Gelman & Associates, Santa Ana (CPA and business consultancy), and Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services, San Francisco. Participants will study a range of business and construction industry topics, including project management, insurance and bonding, and estimating and purchasing. The program culminates with a capstone project presentation to industry leaders.

The program’s 18 initial participants were selected through an application and essay process. A majority of the companies, which include businesses specializing in earthwork, drywall, woodworking, solar/electrical, and testing and inspection, have more than three years of industry experience. 

Clark
spokesman Eric Fulton says the firm plans to begin a second Subcontractor Development Strategic Partnership Program next summer. Interested companies can call 714-429-9779 for application information.

Update: Clark Construction spokesman Eric Fulton sent along the list of the 18 firms involved in the Subcontractor Development Strategic Partnership Program, and they are: Alameda Construction (paving/site concrete), Alaska Enterprises (general contracting), Barb's Electric (electrical), Carter's Industrial Automation (building automation), CTI Environmental (SWPP/site remediation), Dyson Electrical (electrical), EG Montanez (general contracting), Glow Electric Co. (electrical), Golden Gate Framers (drywall/framing), Infinity Business Solutions (management consulting), Monaco Mechanical (plumbing/mechanical), Post Earthwork Constructors (earthwork), Rare Earth Systems Construction/Landscaping (landscaping), RBT Electric (solar/electrical), TEC Construction Management (general contracting), The Bedford Group (general contracting), Vobecky Enterprises (demolition) and Woods of the Forest (woodworking).