Houston Airport System Offers Opportunities for Contracting

Houston Airport System Offers Opportunities for Contracting

WORK IN PROGRESS: More than 180 minority, women-owned and small business enterprises have participated in the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, with more opportunities on the horizon. (Photo: Aerial View of Mickey Leland International Terminal D)

By: Andrea Sidlauskas

The Houston Airport System (HAS), comprised of the George Bush International Airport, the William P. Hobby Airport and the Ellington Airport, has long been touted for its top-tier travel venues. It is also thriving with opportunities for small businesses in the Houston area, including work in construction, professional services, concessions and car rentals. These opportunities are awarded to companies through the City of Houston’s bid process.

Competitive bidding specifications are available through Bid Documents (awarded to low bidder), Requests for Proposal (RFPs), Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), Best Value Bid (BVB) and Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP). The type of method used depends upon the type of commodity or service being procured. For more information about doing business with HAS, go to Contracting Overview | Business and Partnerships | Houston Airport System (fly2houston.com).

The Office of Business Opportunity maintains an office at the Houston Airport System (HAS-OBO), which is committed to removing barriers to contracting success, ensuring equal opportunities and providing necessary tools for small businesses to compete successfully within HAS and the Houston metropolitan area.

Kellie Irving, the Deputy Assistant Director for HAS-OBO, said the sole purpose of this division is helping small businesses succeed.

Kellie Irving, Deputy Assistant Director, Houston Airport System - Office of Business Opportunity

“The opportunities for small businesses here at the airport are vast,” Irving said. “We want to ensure that small businesses have just as much opportunity as a larger company. We’re trying to build up companies in order for them to succeed in the Houston market area.”

One tool that can be useful for small businesses is to obatin their Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) certification.

Although the certification applies only to businesses that plan to become retail or food and beverage concessionaires, as opposed to participating in construction-related or professional service-related projects, it does allow small businesses the opportunity to be awarded a subcontract from a prime company.

“I would always encourage a firm to get their ACDBE certification,” Irving said. “If you are certified, you have the option of either being the prime or submitting yourself as a partner to the prime and helping them satisfy a participation goal that’s been placed on the project.”

While receiving the ACDBE certification comes with advantages, it is not necessary to conduct business within the HAS. If a business is not certified, it can still access the HAS-OBO to help identify where business opportunities are; connect with the Supply Chain Management Department, which is part of HAS; and monitor the City of Houston’s Strategic Procurement Division for up-to-date contracting information.

“We want to partner our small business community with good, viable opportunities to help them grow,” Irving said. “We want them to be able to flourish, and that only comes with good, keen knowledge that can be imparted by the HAS-OBO staff.”

To prepare for ACDBE certification, businesses are encouraged to attend the Pre-certification workshop, held every third Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m. at the Bob Lanier Public Works Building, 611 Walker St., on the 7th floor. Workshops are also available via Microsoft Teams at 2 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month, except for holidays and City closures, and 24/7 in English and Spanish at www.youtube.com/houstontxobo.