Friday, March 24, 2017

Contract Awarded for First Building at Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park

A $17.2 million contract for construction of the first building on the 58-acre Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park (SARTP) adjacent to the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, the nation’s premier air transportation laboratory, and the Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township was unanimously approved on March 23, 2017 by the Atlantic County Improvement Authority’s board of commissioners.
 

The three-story, 66,000-square foot building will be constructed and owned by the Atlantic County Improvement Authority. It will include high-speed connectivity to the Technical Center laboratories, state-of-the-art classrooms and conference rooms, and roof top lounge. An FAA laboratory and offices will occupy 7,000 square feet with rental space for additional laboratories and offices. Tenants will have 24/7 access protected by a state-of-the-art security system.

“This moves us closer to our goal of establishing an aviation industry in Atlantic County and a means of growing and diversifying our economy,” stated Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson. “The SARTP supplements our existing assets of the FAA and the airport, Stockton University and Atlantic Cape Community College, and being one of six national Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) test sites in the country.”

The building is one of seven, multi-story buildings with over 400,000 total square feet of research and development space planned for the park which will all include high-speed connectivity to FAA laboratories, data and systems. The campus-like setting is designed to promote collaboration among business, academia and all major research arms of the federal government.

“This is a testament to perseverance and determination. The last few years have been extremely challenging, but I do believe the tide is turning and the future of Atlantic County is bright. We are putting the Atlantic County Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan to work and it is beginning to bear fruit,” added Levinson.

Bids were submitted by 10 companies and ranged from $16.9 million to $19 million with the contract awarded to Hessert Construction of Marlton, New Jersey which provided the low responsive bid.

“The bids were relatively close which indicates that the specifications were solid,” stated John Lamey, ACIA Executive Director. “We are anxious to begin construction and help the SARTP become a collaborative, full-service, aviation research facility to grow and support an aviation industry in Atlantic County.”

Site work and infrastructure improvements at the SARTP began in November 2016 following the award of a $1.354 million contract to Command Company, Inc. of Egg Harbor City.

The ACIA expects Hessert construction crews to mobilize and be on site in a month with construction completion anticipated in the second quarter of 2018.

 

 

 

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