How much does it cost to keep a major metropolitan airport spick-and-span? In the case of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, about $14 million a year.
The board of directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on July 17 approved a two-year contract worth $28.2 million for 24/7 custodial services at Reagan National. Tri-State Building Services won the contract from among four bidders.
Counting three additional one-year options, the ultimate contract could be worth $74.7 million over five years.
The approved contract came in higher than earlier estimates, which pegged the cost at $25.2 million for the base contract and $68.1 million overall.
The current custodial contractor is COA Virginia. Asked by a board member why that firm was not chosen for continuation, and airport official said that couldn’t be discussed in a public setting.
“We tend not to disclose the confidential evaluation,” said Julia Hodge vice president of supple-chain management at the authority.
Authority board members Jos Williams (District of Columbia) and Walter Tejada (Virginia) wanted to know if the new contractor would be starting from scratch, or hiring personnel that worked for COA.
Historically, “the vast majority of workers are hired by the new contractor,” authority president/CEO Jack Potter said, although that was not a contract requirement.
Like the old firm, the new contractor will be required to pay at least $16 per hour for workers.
Tri-State Building Services will be responsible for maintaining cleanliness across the entire airport complex, which totals 1.6 million square feet.
