Big-picture priorities and pressure points

• Tell me about your current capital program priorities over the next 12 to 24 months. Options: Terminal expansion or concourse work, Runway or taxiway rehabilitation, Air cargo facility work, Container or marine terminal, Intermodal facility build-out, Multiple/mixed
• Of those priorities, which ties most directly to revenue or capacity targets your leadership will judge you on? Options: Passenger throughput or gate capacity, Runway or airfield availability, Cargo throughput or berth capacity, Operational reliability during peak travel, Regulatory or compliance deadlines, Other
• Describe the top three schedule constraints you face, including hard dates tied to airline hub changes, fiscal windows, or peak travel seasons.
• Who on your team owns program acceptance criteria and final operational signoff? Options: Director of Capital Programs, Chief Operating Officer, Airport/Port Engineering Lead, Airline or tenant operations rep, Procurement or legal, Other
• When recent projects ran late, which operational consequence cost your program the most, revenue loss, passenger delays, regulatory fines, or something else? Options: Revenue loss from closed gates or runways, Passenger and flight delays, Regulatory fines or compliance penalties, Airline compensation or schedule disruptions, Reputational / media impact, Other

Where operations feel the squeeze

• Which operational compromise are you silently accepting to keep the schedule, more night work, temporary gate closures, or reduced scope? Options: Increased night or weekend shifts, Planned temporary gate or lane closures, Reducing scope or deferring noncritical work, Higher contingency for rework, Other
• Walk me through your typical peak-day staging plan when work is adjacent to a live gate, who coordinates it, and how changes are communicated.
• How often do you need TSA or airline coordination windows that are shorter than your construction windows? Options: Almost always, Often, Occasionally, Rarely, Never
• Give an example from your program of a phased work sequence that required reworking because of operational conflicts, and what caused the change.
• What single operational risk would make you stop this project immediately if it were not mitigated?

Where the current plan runs out of room

• Identify any external decision-makers, for example airline operations, TSA, or FAA, whose delay would pause work on your site. Options: Airline operations, TSA/security office, FAA or airfield authority, Port authority operations, Tenant facility managers, Other
• How many named interfaces, such as airlines, TSA, FAA, or tenants, do you have at this site that require formal coordination? Options: 1–2, 3–5, 6–10, More than 10
• Describe the last time an interface date slipped, how much it slipped, and the knock-on cost to your program.
• List the permits with the longest lead times in your jurisdiction and who owns securing each. Options: Building permit, Environmental review, Airside movement permit, TSA security approval, FAA waiver, Port authority berth permit, Other
• If a required permit were denied or delayed beyond 12 weeks, what would your team do instead of waiting?

Hidden obstacles and how they surfaced

• When was the last time a site condition forced a mid-project scope change in your work, and what did that cost you?
• Name the subsystems that most often produce defects in your phased work, for example MEP tie-ins, structural steel, curtainwall, baggage systems, or airfield pavement. Options: MEP tie-ins, Structural steel, Curtainwall/glazing, Baggage handling systems, Passenger boarding bridges, Airfield pavement, Other
• Who on your team becomes the escalation point when a safety or security concern arises during construction? Options: Safety manager, Security manager/TSA liaison, Operations director, Project executive, Other
• Estimate the weekly cost of unpredictability in your current projects, including overtime, rework, and airline compensation for your program. Options: Under $25k, $25k–$100k, $100k–$500k, Over $500k, Unsure
• What single site or security issue would you not accept proceeding without mitigation plans in place?

Other options you're weighing

• Who are you currently evaluating to deliver this kind of airport or port program, including internal teams, incumbents, or design-build firms? Options: Incumbent contractor, Design-build firms, Construction manager at risk, In-house delivery, New external bidders, Other
• Explain the conditions under which you'd stay with your current approach rather than switch to an external partner.
• Has anyone on your leadership team proposed keeping delivery internal instead of hiring an outside firm? Options: Yes, strongly, Yes, discussed but not decided, No, not seriously proposed, Unsure
• Rate the relative importance of these evaluation criteria when choosing a partner for your program, schedule certainty, security expertise, airport experience, and on-time phased delivery. Options: Schedule certainty, Security and badging experience, Airport/port operational experience, Proven phased delivery on similar sites, Cost
• If a competitor promises full operational continuity with no gate or berth closures, what proof would you need from them before awarding the work?

Gating items and readiness you must confirm

• Point to the specific access control or badging rules at your site most likely to block crews on day one. Options: Permanent badging only, Temporary badge limits, Escorted access only, Airside credentialing, TSA vetting delays, Other
• List the utilities or MEP tie-ins that require shutdown windows, and the maximum duration each can tolerate without disrupting your operations.
• Who owns the systems that track gate assignments, passenger flow, or operational windows at your site that we must integrate with? Options: Airport IT, Airline IT, Third-party operations system vendor, Not applicable, Other
• How many dedicated internal points of contact can you guarantee during construction for daily operational coordination? Options: 1, 2–3, 4–6, More than 6
• Is there a minimum insurance, bonding, or payment milestone your procurement requires before crews may mobilize on your project? Options: Yes, minimum insurance levels, Yes, bonding amounts required, Yes, initial payment milestones, No beyond standard requirements, Unsure
• If your TSA or FAA approvals are delayed past your target mobilization date, are you willing to adjust the start date, or will you cancel that scope? Options: Adjust start date, Cancel that scope, Proceed with limited non-airside work, Unsure

How you'll know this is working

• Identify the measurable success signals that must be present at each phased handover for your team to accept the milestone. Options: Passenger throughput targets, Safety and security clearance, MEP systems fully functional, No customer-impacting defects, Airline operational acceptance, Other
• Walk me through the acceptance test your operations team runs after a phase handover and who signs off on pass or fail.
• Select the financial or payment triggers that accelerate vendor mobilization in your procurement model. Options: Initial mobilization payment, Milestone payments tied to acceptance, Performance bond release, Letter of credit or escrow, Other
• How quickly could you make a go or no-go decision after a successful pilot or early milestone proves the approach for your operations? Options: Within 1 week, 2–4 weeks, 1–2 months, Longer or requires board approval
• If a pilot demonstrates the promised reduction in operational disruption, what internal approvals would your team need to sign within 30 days?
• Who holds budget authority and who holds final operational signoff in your organization, and are they aligned on the same acceptance criteria? Options: Same person or committee, Different people but aligned, Different and not aligned, Unsure

Clearing the path to a confident start

• Name the one unresolved blocker that, if still open after our next meeting, would prevent your team from signing.
• Who must attend the next decision meeting from your side to clear that blocker? Options: Program director, Operations lead, Security/TSA liaison, Procurement, Legal, Finance/CFO, Airline or tenant rep, Other
• Do you have internal procurement windows or board cycles in the next 30 to 90 days that we must align to? Options: Yes, within 30 days, Yes, within 60 days, Yes, within 90 days, No, Unsure
• When would you like us to deliver a risk-mitigated phasing outline for your internal review? Options: Within 1 week, Within 2 weeks, Within 3–4 weeks, Longer than 4 weeks
• If we can provide a phasing plan that meets your top two operational constraints within your target start window, would your team be prepared to move to commercial terms within 60 days? Options: Yes, ready to proceed, Maybe, need more detail, No, not ready, Unsure

• Construction Solution Experience Session

• Confirm the current state and its cost
• You confirm that the demonstrated phasing eliminates the operational breakdowns and ad hoc stoppages described in Discovery.
• Deliver a proposed phased schedule showing three work packages with operational windows and tentative milestone dates for the primary site scenario.
• You confirm the access and badging flow meets your security and TSA coordination constraints without creating schedule risk.
• Walk through Site Scenario A end-to-end
• Produce an access and badging checklist, including TSA coordination steps and temporary segregation controls for the confirmed zones.
• Prove the access control and badging flow
• Map your peak passenger and airline interface windows into a sequencing matrix for the demonstrated scenarios.
• You agree the proposed acceptance criteria and phased handovers provide a clear boundary for operational sign-off before cutovers.
• Demonstrate a high-impact crane and staging sequence
• You agree on the remaining evidence and the next milestones required to finalize commercial and execution commitments.
• Confirm named owners for approvals, security coordination, and operational sign-off for each phase.
• Validate acceptance criteria and phased handovers
• Forced validation question
• Align next evidence and decision milestones

• Construction Solution Experience Session
• Solution Experience Deck
• Solution Brief - Construction Solution Experience

• meeting
• slides
• document

• Terminal Concourse Structural Steel Erection
• Curtainwall and Exterior Glazing Installation
• Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Installation
• Baggage Handling System Installation and Tie-In
• Passenger Boarding Bridge Installation and Calibration
• Airfield Pavement Reconstruction (Runway/Taxiway)
• Airfield Lighting, Signage, and NAVAID Installation
• Marine Bulkhead and Wharf Construction
• Container Terminal Berth and Yard Construction
• Heavy-Lift Crane Mobilization and Lift Operations
• Provide Badged Labor for Secure Work Zones
• Security-Compliant Material Staging and Deliveries
• Commission MEP, BHS, and Airfield Systems for Turnover
• Install Temporary Passenger Flow Barriers and Canopies

Terminal Concourse Structural Steel Erection

• Describe the primary erection sequence you require for the concourse steel (e.g., perimeter first, long-span girders, mezzanine framing) referencing your site phasing map.
• Specify the shop drawing deliverables and anchor bolt survey tolerance you expect for base plate and embed locations (mm or inches tolerance). Options: Anchor survey to ±10 mm, Anchor survey to ±1/4 inch, Custom tolerance — describe in notes
• Identify critical crane pick points and minimum clearances shown on your lift plan for each long-span girder, with reference to the crane radius diagrams.
• List required temporary bracing and connection inspections that must occur before releasing temporary supports, citing any required inspector role (PE, third-party). Options: Structural PE sign-off, Third-party NDT, Inspection by airport engineering
• Estimate the number of steel erection shifts per week you want to permit in active concourse zones during peak operations. Options: 1 shift, 2 shifts, 3 shifts, Daytime only
• Confirm who will provide as-built anchor bolt location scans and the file format (PDF plan, COBie, or IFC) for tie-in verification. Options: We provide plan PDFs, We provide IFC/3D models, We require contractor to scan and deliver

Curtainwall and Exterior Glazing Installation

• Provide the required mock-up approval criteria for unitized curtainwall mockups (air infiltration, water penetration, structural deflection per ASTM/industry standard). Options: Air/water tests required, Structural deflection report required, Mockup not required
• Indicate the glazing performance targets (U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, visible light transmittance) you need for each façade zone.
• Name any prescribed sealant or joint-width standards you require (for example joint width in mm and sealant class) for exterior glazing per your architectural specifications. Options: Specify in project spec, Standard neutral cure silicone, Custom product — describe
• Choose the erection access method you allow at operational gates for curtainwall installation (scaffold, mast climber, boom lifts, aerial lifts). Options: Scaffold, Mast climber, Boom lifts, Aerial lifts
• Select the testing deliverables you require for glazed units prior to field installation (thermal break inspection, edge-seal adhesion tests). Options: Thermal break inspection, Edge-seal adhesion, Insulating glass unit (IGU) certification
• State your required format for curtainwall shop drawings and unit numbers (DWG, PDF elevation with panel IDs, or BIM model object naming convention). Options: DWG with panel IDs, PDF elevations, BIM objects (IFC)

Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Installation

• Outline the single-line diagram (SLD) and riser diagram deliverables you expect for electrical distribution tie-ins to the existing switchgear. Options: Full SLD and risers, Tie-in only diagram, As-built update required
• Detail required HVAC staging and temporary conditioning constraints for passenger areas during phasing, referencing AHU zones and terminal occupancy profiles.
• Which MEP shop drawing approvals are gating milestones for field work (e.g., ductwork isometrics, piping isometrics, equipment setting drawings)? Options: Duct isometrics, Piping isometrics, Equipment setting drawings
• How many mechanical room penetrations require firestop sequencing tied to phased occupancy milestones? Options: None, 1-3, 4-10, More than 10
• Who will hold and produce the single point of contact for lockout/tagout (LOTO) coordination during MEP shutdowns?
• When do you require submission of MEP as-built Revit or IFC files relative to final commissioning (e.g., before turnover, within 30 days)? Options: Before turnover, Within 30 days, Within 60 days

Baggage Handling System Installation and Tie-In

• Where are the BHS PLC and SCADA tie-in points located and which network handoff (IP subnet, VLAN) will your airport operations provide?
• Are there TSA inspection or security validation gates that constrain conveyor routing and installation windows? Options: Yes — TSA gates restrict access, No — open area
• Do you require test bag runs and RFID reader calibration tied to an acceptance throughput threshold (bags per hour) at each checkpoint? Options: Yes — specify throughput, No test runs required at scope stage
• Will you provide baggage tag reader logs or tag formats for integration tests, or does the contractor need to procure test tag simulators? Options: Buyer provides tag logs, Contractor supplies simulators, Combination
• By which document do you want conveyor splice and belt splice records delivered (mill certificate, splice report, photos)? Options: Splice report with photos, Mill certificate only, Both
• Within phased turnover, specify the minimum acceptable inspection test report (ITR) items for each BHS zone before operational use.

Passenger Boarding Bridge Installation and Calibration

• Using your gate layout, indicate required PBB travel and parking tolerances for safe docking to the aircraft types you serve (e.g., A320 series, B737 series, widebody). Options: Narrowbody only, Widebody compatible, Mixed fleet — specify aircraft types
• Attach any existing PBB structural mounting details, curb/bridge connection drawings, or apron load tables that will affect foundation or anchor design.
• Reference the calibration deliverables you expect for level sensors, rotating columns, and locking mechanisms (calibration certificates, alignment reports). Options: Calibration certificates, Alignment report with photos, Both
• Is there a preferred supplier or control protocol for PBB control interfaces (for example bridge PLC protocol or handshaking with the airside management system)? Options: Standard PLC protocol, Proprietary — buyer will specify, No preference
• Explain the gate operational windows (hours of day) when PBB installation, load tests, and calibration are allowed under live operations. Options: Night only, Off-peak daytime windows, 24/7 with escort
• Confirm the acceptance criterion for each installed PBB: parking alignment report, dynamic load test result, and handover certificate signed by your operations lead. Options: Require all three deliverables, Require two of three, Custom acceptance — describe

Airfield Pavement Reconstruction (Runway/Taxiway)

• Provide evidence of required compaction and friction test thresholds (e.g., CBR, FOD inspection, skid resistance) that will define acceptable runway segment turnover.
• Prioritize reconstruction segments by operational impact using your runway/taxiway phasing map (primary runway, secondary taxiway, apron access). Options: Primary runway first, Taxiway first, Apron access first, Staged by least operational impact
• Rank acceptable closure window durations for full-depth pavement removal per segment (hours), given airline schedules and NOTAM constraints. Options: 4-8 hours, 8-24 hours, 24-72 hours
• Allocate responsibility for pavement QA testing (density testing, coring, friction) between your QA team and the contractor. Options: Buyer QA, Contractor QA, Third-party testing
• Assign acceptable asphalt or concrete mix designs (mix ID or spec reference) that must be used for runway repair overlays.
• Account for coordination with FAA NOTAM issuance and the airport operations center for each closure; who will request NOTAMs and provide timing windows? Options: Buyer requests NOTAMs, Contractor requests with buyer approval, Jointly coordinated

Airfield Lighting, Signage, and NAVAID Installation

• Describe risk controls required during AGL (airfield ground lighting) trenching near live pavements, including temporary marking and NOTAM-driven closures.
• Confirm the interface points for beacon, PAPI, or localizer grounding and power feeds to your existing NAVAID cabinets (cabinet IDs or GPS coordinates).
• Note any obstruction evaluation or FAA 7460 reporting responsibilities tied to new pole or sign locations. Options: Buyer handles FAA 7460, Contractor handles FAA 7460 filings, Joint filing required
• Define required commissioning checks for AGL circuits (lamp current, photometric test, control system failover) and the format for the commissioning log. Options: Photometric report, Lamp current log, Complete commissioning log
• Provide the cable and conduit specifications (cable type, armoring, depth) you require for runway edge light circuits.
• Show the required documentation package for NAVAID handover (test certificates, grounding continuity checks, and as-built wiring diagrams). Options: Full package required, Partial package acceptable, Custom list — describe

Marine Bulkhead and Wharf Construction

• Report the geotechnical constraints and pile capacity values from your site report that will govern bulkhead anchor and pile spacing.
• Describe required fendering types and allowable berth deflection tolerances for the vessel classes that use the berth. Options: Tug/Class specification provided, Standard rubber fenders, Custom fendering required
• Specify the acceptable tidal and seasonal work windows for cofferdam, dewatering, or marine pile driving operations. Options: Spring tide window, Neap tide window, Year-round with mitigation
• Identify the permitting deliverables you require (environmental monitoring plan, spill response plan, USACE/port permits) for marine construction. Options: Environmental plan, Spill response, Both
• List required marine equipment mobilization specifications (barge class, spud barges, crane barge load charts) tied to lift drawings.
• Estimate expected dredge depths and tolerances for backfill compaction that will be required post-construction. Options: <3 m, 3-6 m, >6 m

Container Terminal Berth and Yard Construction

• Describe required pavement sections and wheel load ratings for yard aprons based on expected container handling equipment (RTG, AGV, quay cranes).
• Specify required electrical capacity and ductbank routing for quay crane power pedestals, including transformer and feeder locations.
• Identify stormwater and oil-water separation requirements for yard resurfacing and the monitoring reports you need for compliance. Options: Stormwater plan required, Oil-water separation required, Both
• List the gate and yard access control integrations required (badge readers, truck appointment systems) for the container yard turnover.
• Estimate the number of TEU storage lanes and required lane widths to be maintained during phased construction. Options: 1-2 lanes, 3-5 lanes, More than 5 lanes
• Choose the format for as-built yard surveying deliverables (CAD plan, georeferenced GIS, or BIM with coordinates). Options: CAD plan, GIS georeferenced, BIM/IFC

Heavy-Lift Crane Mobilization and Lift Operations

• Identify crane types and lift charts required for critical picks (luffing crane, crawler crane, all-terrain), and reference the lift drawing IDs.
• List the required ground-bearing capacity verification documents (geotech report, cribbing plan) for crane set-ups on apron or yard surfaces.
• Estimate the crane exclusion zones and duration per lift that you will allow in active operational areas. Options: 2 hours per lift, 4-8 hours per lift, More than 8 hours
• Select required lift supervision roles to be present during critical picks (lift director, signal person, rigger) and certifications required. Options: Lift director, Certified signal person, Certified rigger
• Specify required crane mobilization documents (assembly drawings, load chart, operator license copies, insurance certificates).
• Confirm required coordination steps with airside operations and NOTAM issuance prior to mobile crane lifts adjacent to active runways. Options: Buyer coordinates NOTAM, Contractor requests NOTAM with approval, Joint coordination

• Prime Construction Agreement
• Statement of Work (SOW) — Scope & Phasing
• Payment and Bonding Schedule
• Access, Permits & Site Entry Addendum
• Mutual Acceptance & Mobilization Criteria
• Insurance and Risk Allocation Rider
• Change Order and Scope Control Agreement
• Lien Waiver and Final Payment Terms
• Subcontractor and Key Personnel Approval
• Security & Public-Sector Compliance Rider

• Go-live Closeout Health Check
• First Operational Measurement
• Punch-list and Defect Rapid Resolution Standup
• 90-day Operational Performance Review
• Quarterly Operational Success Review

• Update the operations handover and maintenance plan with any agreed process changes.
• Reconfirm acceptance criteria and owners
• Confirm the defect tracking and warranty workflow that will be used until all items are closed.
• Publish the prioritized punch-list burn-down with target close dates and escalation thresholds.
• Enable the warranty defect workflow in the shared channel and document escalation steps.
• Schedule on-site verification inspections for items marked as resolved before closing them.
• Present 90-day operational performance data
• Agree on the status of remaining items and whether they are closed, require remediation, or move to monitoring.
• Document at least three lessons learned and translate them into concrete process changes for future phases.
• Establish follow-up cadence for any extended remediation items with target completion dates.
• Publish the 90-day performance report with accepted lessons learned and a remediation tracker.
• Schedule a 14-day follow-up focused on any unresolved critical items.
• Open extended-remediation tickets with explicit monitoring checkpoints and close criteria.
• Trends dashboard review
• Ensure key operational metrics are stable or improving and document any negative trends requiring escalation.
• Keep the open-issue backlog trending down and confirm owners for persistent items.
• Maintain a clear maintenance and warranty ownership map for the coming quarter.
• Update the shared trends dashboard and circulate annotated observations for the quarter.
• Create escalation tickets for persistent blockers with defined resolution targets.
• Record enhancement requests in the shared channel and assign a prioritization checkpoint for the next review.
• Confirm the documented punch-list count and classification are accurate.
• Named owners are assigned to all critical open items and immediate remediation actions are agreed.
• Site access and badging issues that would block operations are identified and scheduled for resolution within the agreed window.
• Distribute the updated punch-list with owners, priority, and target close dates.
• Log any safety incidents into the shared issue channel and flag for immediate remediation.
• Present first 30- to 60-day metrics
• Validate whether schedule variance and operational disruption metrics are tracking toward targets recorded in Project Scope & Phasing.
• Assign root-cause remediation tasks with clear target dates and an owner for each task.
• Confirm incumbent system is either decommissioned or formally retained read-only and that data archive/migration is complete.
• Publish the metric dashboard with annotated variance drivers and the agreed remediation timeline.
• Initiate the incumbent decommission or archive completion checklist and record final state in the shared channel.
• Open remediation tickets for each root-cause item with target close dates.
• Review critical defects and current status
• Agree target close dates for all critical punch-list items and start dates for remediation work.
• Reduce the average punch-list resolution time and produce a prioritized burn-down plan.
• Root cause analysis for metric gaps
• Site access, badging, and operational access validation
• Verify milestone acceptance status and remaining scope
• Open issues burn-down and persistent blockers
• Prioritize remaining punch-list items by operational impact
• Punch-list inventory review
• Incumbent system wind-down and data archive status
• Lessons learned workshop
• Assign remediation tasks and target close dates
• Maintenance, warranty, and operations handover status
• Enhancements and non-critical improvements
• Early operations indicators and safety alerts
• Warranty and defect tracking process review
• Agree corrective actions and timelines
• Decide closure, extended remediation, or monitoring plan
• Blockers and immediate remediation plan
• Confirm next-quarter focus and checkpoint
• Shared issue channel housekeeping