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Officials provide inside look into project permitting, timeframe and pre-qualification
Signatory contractors encouraged to support, get on "front end" of upcoming contracts
Last week, Rosemont Copper representatives met with union contractors, Arizona Building Trades (BTC) affiliates and TCLG team members regarding its latest endorsements and progress made by the Rosemont Copper mine near Tucson. Assuring that commencement of the project is forthcoming, they also provided a detailed description of the project and review of the structures for which bids would be solicited. Officials from M3 Engineering - Rosemont's key partner in the development and construction of the mine - provided details regarding the environmental and technological logistics of the project build-out. Officials reassured attendees that environmental permit authorizations would be finalized soon, and contract bid reviews would readily follow around January 2012, with construction launching as early as July 2012.
Mine construction means job creation for AZ
Rosemont Copper President and CEO Rod Pace rallied project support by informing attendees that copper mining was the producer of approximately 73,100 jobs nationwide in 2010. Because Arizona generates 65 percent of US copper, he estimates the Rosemont mine project will create nearly 2,100 new local jobs, 2,900 state jobs across Arizona, and a $32 million increase in annual state tax revenue. Pace stated that the open-pit mine will produce approximately 100 contracts for related buildings and other structures, so the opportunity for employment is significant.
Pre-qualification and an inside look at proposal evaluation
Contractors are strongly encouraged to complete a pre-qualification form at www.ebidexchange.com/rosemont/ to receive immediate notification when a contract becomes open for bidding. When reviewing responses, Rosemont officials shared that they will heavily weigh the following criteria:
- conformity to the bid package structure of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ),
- company safety record,
- ability to hire local workers
- company's local presence and credibility,
- prior experience in required work, and;
- current workload.
They added that pricing was not the most important factor in awarding a contract.
Industry participation key to permit approval
Rosemont officials implored signatory contractors to follow the project's developments, to demonstrate support for the approval of the project, and to urge county and city officials to expedite the permit approval process so that local contractors and tradespeople can get back to work. | 
