Jafza considering 5 engineering firms

By T&D Staff Thursday, July 23, 2009

Jafza South Carolina LLC announced Wednesday it is considering five civil engineering firms for the construction of the first phase of its planned logistics and multi-use commercial industrial park.

Five civil engineering firms will receive a request for proposal to construct the infrastructure of project’s first phase.

“All of the civil engineering firms that submitted a qualifications packet had excellent credentials,” said Clint Murphy, Jafza’s vice president of engineering and operations.

“The competition was tough and we feel confident in the firms chosen to potentially develop the first phase of our project,” he said.

The firms selected are:

* AECOM

* Alliance Consulting Engineers

* Arcadis

* BP Barber and Associates

* Seamon, Whiteside and Associates

All the firms have South Carolina offices.

Details on phase one are being revised and are expected to be released next month.

“Until we get a better understanding of the timeline on the U.S. 301 modification, we are focusing our efforts on plots of land that have existing access and are ready for business today,” Jafza spokesperson Tara Robertson said.

The Request For Proposals will be issued to the firms once the plans are finalized, Jafza officials say. The RFP will request more specific information, as well as a firm lump-sum price and schedule for providing the work.

In 2007, Jafza acquired more than 1,300 acres in Orangeburg County for a logistics, warehouse, light manufacturing and multi-use commercial complex.

The park will include light manufacturing, light industrial space, a public intermodal facility, a truck plaza, warehousing and mixed-use offices and commercial uses.

Company officials are still shooting for an early 2010 ground breaking, with the first tenants expected by early 2011.