The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on Wednesday announced the full implementation of sweeping reforms to the organization’s contracting and procurement policies.  The implementation, which was announced at the April meeting of the Airports Authority’s Board of Directors, includes the enactment of a revised Contracting Manual, as well as the completion of training for 100 percent of required employees.

“I’m very pleased by the progress we’re making in this area,” said Board Chairman Michael A. Curto. “The revised Contracting Manual reflects the best practices of government and industry and emphasizes full and open competition.”

The revised Contracting Manual was approved at the Board of Directors March meeting and became effective April 1.  It was developed with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Department of Transportation. All employees directly involved in the procurement or contracting process have received classroom-style training in this new manual, and have completed online Procurement Integrity Training.

“This is a major step, as the implementation and training of the new Contracting Manual assures that the Airports Authority is following best practices and remains on a good path toward closing out the recommendations as we continue to focus on our mission of serving the traveling public,” said Airports Authority President and CEO Jack Potter.

In other business, the Board approved an easement at Dulles International Airport property in connection with improvements to Route 50 by Virginia and an easement concerning the enlargement of a water distribution conduit by the Fairfax County Water Authority. 

The Board also received an update on the progress of Phase 2 of the Silver Line Metrorail Project. 

Price Proposals from the shortlisted proposers for the major design-build component of Phase 2 will be opened and read on Friday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the Airports Authority Corporate Office Building. Award of the contract is expected in May.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority was established in 1987 by the governments of Virginia and the District of Columbia to manage and operate Washington’s Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International airports, which together serve more than 40 million passengers a year. The Airports Authority also operates and maintains the Dulles Airport Access Road and the Dulles Toll Road and manages construction of the Silver Line project, a 23-mile extension of the Washington region’s Metrorail system into Loudoun County, Va. No taxpayer money is used to operate the toll road, which is funded by toll revenues, or the airports, which are funded through aircraft landing fees, rents and revenues from concessions. The Silver Line construction is funded by a combination of toll-road revenues, airport contributions and federal, state and local government appropriations. The Airports Authority is led by a 17- member board of directors appointed by the governors of Virginia, Maryland, the Mayor of Washington, D.C., and the president of the United States.

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