Construction could be completed by early 2018
Officials who run Gary/Chicago International Airport are searching for a company to oversee construction of a long-desired U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that would permit the airport to accommodate passengers from other countries.
The airport authority issued a request Thursday for proposals from companies interested in building the facility. Bids would need to be received by the authority by Sept. 1, and officials said a contract will be issued during the fall.
The company that makes the winning bid could build the new facility, or subcontract the project to other companies, officials said. Actual construction could be completed by the first quarter of 2018, although airport spokesman David Goldenberg said it is difficult to put a timeline on the project because a customs facility entails issues related to national security.
“That means extra rounds of inspections that will need to be done by the federal government,” Goldenberg said. “The point is that this project is moving forward.”
The Federal Aviation Administration gave its approval to Gary officials to seek bids after signing off this summer on the design that turns a onetime storage facility for fire emergency equipment into a customs facility.
Although there are no airlines with international flights operating out of the Gary airport, officials say there are instances when businesspeople from other countries have expressed interest in having their airplanes land in Gary.
But those passengers have had to be transported to customs facilities at other airports before being returned to Gary, where they can leave the airport grounds freely.
Gary airport officials cite the time an airplane carrying a foreign soccer team landed there and had to go to Chicago and back.
“I am thrilled we will soon be able to offer this service to the general aviation community and increase the universe of potential airport users who will be able to fly into the airport from any destination in the world without having to stop somewhere else first to clear customs,” airport authority Chairman Stephen Mays said.
Airport Executive Director Dan Vicari said addition of a customs facility would increase the potential of the Gary airport to serve the greater metropolitan area.
“Gary/Chicago International Airport is an enormous resource to the region and the construction of a new customs facility will improve the airport’s ability to compete and attract new fliers while enhancing our marketability to the corporate, cargo and general aviation flying communities,” he said in a prepared statement.
The airport authority previously hired Greenwood-based NGC Corp. as the official architect of the customs facility, and that company’s plans and specifications have received approval from the Department of Homeland Security.
The company that receives the latest contract will be responsible for working with the airport authority and NGC on all aspects of the project — including the management of subcontractors to ensure that all federal security requirements are met.
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