PROJECT PROFILE
Client:
Federal Aviation Administration
Project Construction Cost:
Over $1.2 billion
Project Duration:
2001–2011
Parsons Services:
Site selection and engineering, construction, environmental
and fire/life safety, equipment
installation and testing, computer-aided design (CAD)
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The U.S. national airspace system (NAS) is the largest, busiest, most complex, and technologically advanced aviation operation in the world. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides the NAS infrastructure to support all air operations within the United States and certain oceanic areas. This responsibility ranges from air traffic control, system security, and safety to international coordination. The FAA's mission must be met 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a requirement for excellence that is unmatched in any other undertaking. To maintain and enhance their current safety and efficiency levels in the face of growing demand, the FAA uses a capital investment planning process that produced the Aviation System Capital Investment Plan (CIP).
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Very high frequency omni-directional range/tactical air navigation (VORTAC) transmits a signal that provides azimuth (direction from magnetic north) information to pilots of suitably equipped aircraft. This information is a road map to fly from point A to point B. Distance measuring equipment, collocated with the VOR, gives the pilot the distance to the VOR. |
| Above: VORTAC at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Parsons services included construction, electronic equipment installation, flight check, and commissioning. | |
The FAA awarded the Technical Support Services Contract (TSSC) III to Parsons in December 2001. Parsons is the prime contractor and employs approximately 70% of the workforce; Lockheed Martin is a subcontractor and employs the remaining 30%. This $1.2 billion+ contract has a 4-year base period with two 3-year options. The statement of work includes a variety of activities that support the FAA’s CIP modernization efforts: site selection and engineering, construction, environmental and fire/life safety, equipment installation and testing, CAD, and other technical services as required. Work will be performed across the nation in each of the FAA’s nine regions as well as the Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. A peak staff of 900–1,500 will support this contract, in addition to those subcontractors who will perform Davis-Bacon construction work (the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 preserves local area wages and labor standards in federal construction contracting work).
| Parsons TSSC Capabilties |  Parsons installed digital voice recorder system equipment and fiber-optic cable in the air traffic control tower at Orlando International Airport. Parsons has also started construction on a Category III instrument landing system including distance measuring equipment and an approach lighting system with sequenced flashing lights for new runways 17L/35R. |
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The transition from the incumbent contractor is now complete, and technical work is being performed in all FAA regions as well as in the Technical and Aeronautical Centers. In June 2002, Parsons received ISO 9000 certification for their Quality Management Systems that support the NAS work. A computerized database allows real-time scheduling and tracking of all work efforts, including earned value reporting of all work packages. Fundamental to all TSSC work is Parsons’ reliance on the principles of safety, quality, cost, and schedule to ensure performance at the highest level. Achieving TSSC goals requires teamwork with the customer, our subcontractors, and numerous other parties. Lockheed Martin (our principle teaming subcontractor) has integrated its key staff into our seamless Program Management team so that all team members use the same control system, the same policies, and the same procedures to perform work for the FAA.
| Work will be performed in the following areas of the NAS:
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 Parsons is providing environmental remediation services for the airport surveillance radar facility at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. |
The Parsons team provides a wealth of experience in engineering and construction management projects as well as in the FAA environment. Our 20 years of continuous engineering and technical support to the FAA, coupled with our highly trained and adaptable workforce, enable us to successfully meet the unique challenges and opportunities presented by each FAA location. Our selection as the number one construction management-for-fee firm by Engineering News-Record four years in a row reflects our success in supporting our various customers throughout the world.
