Focus on contracts at Los Angeles International Airport intensifies

Councilwoman Janice Hahn requested that the council review and take jurisdiction over a three-year, $41.5-million contract awarded Friday by the Airport Commission to Fentress Architects, based in Denver.

Fentress, known for its innovative designs of airports, museums and other public buildings, was hired to work on modernization projects at LAX, including a new midfield concourse and renovation of the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

In addition, City Controller Laura Chick announced that her office would look into a contract awarded in March to DMJM Aviation Inc., a Florida company hired to manage the expansion and modernization program at LAX. The one-year contract is worth $25 million.

The controversy has centered over whether airport chief Gina Marie Lindsey improperly influenced the hiring of DMJM Aviation and Fentress, two companies that worked on improvements to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport while she was airport director there.

Lindsey, who became executive director of Los Angeles World Airports in 2007, said she welcomed the reviews and looked forward to working with the controller's staff. She has denied any impropriety related to the Fentress and DMJM contracts.

"We're happy to have these public forums so we can talk about this complicated process, one that we are proud of," Lindsey said. "It's a rigorous process that we followed to the letter in both contracts."

DMJM Aviation was selected by airport commissioners although Bechtel Corp. of San Francisco was initially recommended for the contract during the airport's evaluation process.

After weighing bids from competing companies, a review panel recommended 4 to 1 on Jan. 9 that Bechtel be awarded the project management contract, airport records show. A second review panel, convened Jan. 15-16, voted 5 to 0 in favor of DMJM.

Airport sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Lindsey was unhappy with the Bechtel recommendation and ordered the second review, which she attended. Lindsey said Wednesday that she supported the idea of a second evaluation but did not request it.