Posted on July 31, 2023
The Port of New Orleans Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved $8 million worth of design and engineering contracts for the Louisiana International Terminal.
The project continues to progress through the federal permitting process.
“Contracts awarded today will provide cost estimating, geotechnical services, and will design rail access to the terminal, earthwork and ground improvement, and a drainage pump station,” said Renee Aragon Dolese, director of marketing, communications & community engagement.
In addition, the Board awarded a construction manager at risk (CMAR) contract to provide pre-construction services for the terminal, advising on construction sequencing, cost estimates, and constructability.
In February, the Board approved a contract to provide pre-construction services for the wharf at the Louisiana International Terminal, and at its May meeting, the Board approved a contract to design the road realignment for the terminal.
“Together, these contracts will finalize the design of the terminal, as required by the permit process, and will develop a phased plan for construction,” Dolese said.
In June, a contract was awarded to study the feasibility of the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor, among other roadway improvements, to support the LIT. The $1.8 billion container terminal is planned by the Port of New Orleans in Violet, Louisiana.
Brandy Christian, president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans and the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, has said the LIT and its supporting infrastructure will benefit all corners of the state and enhance Louisiana’s global gateway for generations to come.
Construction is expected to begin in 2025 after receiving the necessary permits. The first berth is slated for 2028, with a full buildout to be completed in 2032.
An in-depth look at contracts approved Tuesday:
-Contract with Kiewit Louisiana Co. to provide construction management at risk (CMAR) services for the LIT site development project for a period of three years for an amount not to exceed $1 million for the full contract term.
“During the pre-construction phase, the CMAR contractor will be required to work with Board staff and its design team to develop a comprehensive set of construction plans and specifications,” the contract scope reads. “The CMAR contractor will perform constructability reviews, provide construction phasing and sequencing suggestions, develop, and update an open book cost model, assess appropriate means and methods for construction, develop a detailed construction schedule, and provide input into the development of innovative time-saving and cost saving ideas for the site development portion of the LIT project. The CMAR contractor also provides opinions of probable construction costs at designated milestones and a guaranteed maximum price for negotiations.”
-Contract with Linfield, Hunter & Junius Inc. for the offsite terminal rail realignment for the LIT for a period of three years in an amount not to exceed $400,000 for the full contract term.
“Professional services under this contract include the design of mainline rail realignment and the design of a new spur to provide rail access to (LIT),” the contract scope reads.
-Contract with Ardurra Group Inc. for the access, drainage, earthwork and ground improvement for the LIT for a period of three years in an amount not to exceed $2 million for the full contract term.
“Professional services under this contract include the design for clearing, demolition, erosion control, drainage and ground improvements associated with the (LIT) site,” the scope of the contract reads.
-Contract with TBMA Solutions LLC for independent cost estimating services for the site development phase of the LIT for a period of three years in an amount not to exceed $250,000 for the full contract term.
“Professional services under this contract include the development of project costs estimates for the validation of designer and CMAR contractor estimates with the goal of the Board reaching an agreement on a guaranteed maximum price with the CMAR Contractor to perform the work,” the scope of the contract reads.
–Contract with GIS Engineering LLC for the design of the drainage pump station for the LIT for a period of three years for in amount not to exceed $2 million for the full contract term.
“Professional services under this contract include the design of a drainage pump station to evacuate storm water from the terminal drainage area,” the scope of the contract reads. “The pump station will include the intake structures, pump station foundations, pumps, and the pump station building, as well as civil components associated with the pump station, including the access roads, parking areas, utilities, and erosion controls associated with the pump station construction.”
-Contract with Eustis Engineering Services LLC to provide geotechnical services for the LIT project to increase the not-to-exceed cost by $2.4 million and to extend the contract time by two years.
“In February 2022, the Board entered into a contract with Eustis Engineering Services LLC in the amount of $800,000 to provide the geotechnical engineering services required for the preliminary design and permit support for the (LIT),” the scope of the contract reads. “In March 2023, Amendment No. 1 was executed extending contract time through October 2023. Eustis Engineering Services LLC has been engaged in the LIT project since the initial feasibility phase and has provided geotechnical services for the conceptual layout and the 30% design effort. To ensure consistency throughout the design of the terminal and all ancillary features, staff recommends execution of this amendment, which will allow Eustis to continue to provide geotechnical services for the next phase of the LIT design.”
Background on February CMAR award and May contract award:
-Contract with Kiewit Louisiana Co. to provide pre-construction phase construction management at risk (CMAR) services for the LIT wharf and ramps project, for a period of three years for an amount not to exceed $500,000 for the full contract term.
“During the pre-construction phase, the CMAR contractor will be required to work with Board staff and its design team to develop a comprehensive set of construction plans and specifications,” the scope of the contract reads. “The CMAR contractor will perform constructability reviews, provide construction phasing and sequencing suggestions, develop, and update an open book cost model, assess appropriate means and methods for construction, develop a detailed construction schedule, and provide input into the development of innovative time saving and cost saving ideas for the LIT wharf and ramps. The CMAR contractor also provides opinions of probable construction costs at designated milestones and a guaranteed maximum price for negotiations as part of the pre-construction phase.”
–Contract with Design Engineering Inc. to provide engineering and professional services for the design of the relocation of East St. Bernard Highway and Associated Utilities for the LIT for a period of two years for an amount not to exceed $2.4 million for the full contract term.
“This project consists of the design of highway relocation, utility relocations (water, sanitary sewer, storm drains, gas mains, electrical lines and communication lines), a bridge over a rail line, a temporary road bypass while the bridge is under construction, and neighborhood side-street connections,” the scope of the contract reads. “This highway relocation is a critical early step to move the highway out of the footprint of the future container terminal. This alignment will relocate the highway slightly closer to the river and was conceptualized based on community and stakeholder input.”
