Burns & McDonnell is striking back at claims that its proposal to renovate KCI is more expensive than other plans submitted.
The company thinks it can build a new single terminal airport for Kansas City for $2.8 million less per year than its competitors.
Burns & McDonnell Senior Vice President Ron Coker gave that figure at a press conference Wednesday. The Burns & McDonnell cost is $67 million. One of the competitors is estimating $69.8 million.
"We don't lie. We don't cheat. When we say something, we mean it and we deliver on it," Coker said.
He was responding to claims Monday from Karl Rechelt of the AECOM/KCI Partnership group that the Burns and McDonnell proposal is more expensive.
Rechelt said the AECOM/KCI Partnershp could build the new single terminal for $69.8 million, while the Burns & McDonnell proposal would cost $85.2 million.
Also, on Wednesday, Kansas City released several clarifying questions it asked all the companies bidding on the project.
Coker also said his company’s project is not only less expensive – it provides more jobs for minorities and women. Their goal is to hire 30 percent of businesses for the project owned by women and minorities.
KCI Partnership sent a statement to 41 Action News accusing Burns & McDonnell of "purposely misleading" people about how much its proposal costs.
B&M is purposely misleading people by comparing the annual airline payment to the annual payment the City will make to the preferred Proposer. The airlines per Exhibit L of the RFQ/P will pay the same amount in annual rates & charges to the Airport. This payment is $69.33 million as contained in the RFQ/P, which will pay for their use of the airfield as well as the terminal. This should not be confused with the annual payment that the City will make to the preferred Proposer. The same airline payment will go to the preferred Proposer no matter who is selected.
The accurate comparison of annual payments for the same airport is the $69.8 million in KCI Partnership’s proposal and B&M proposal of $80.5 million per page 18 of their financial proposal.
KCI Partnership committed in its financial proposal to deliver the new 35-gate, fully compliant terminal for a fixed annual payment of $69.8 million. The cost of this airport in 2017 dollars is $1.035 billion. Per page 18 of B&M financial proposal, the annual payment to deliver a comparable airport of $1.050 billion in 2017 dollars is $80.5 million.
