Trenton, NJ (March 6, 2008) - The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) has awarded performance-based contracts to seven New Jersey professional environmental and engineering firms to address the challenges posed by the redevelopment of urban land for use as school sites.

Under the contracts, the firms will provide environmental services to support a new integrated site development initiative – the Site Feasibility and Environmental Site Closure Program – which the SDA recently initiated for construction projects in the 31 special-needs districts served by the Authority. These services will be used to deal with environmental issues that may arise throughout the life cycle of a school development project, encompassing planning, land acquisition, design, construction and site closure. Previously, environmental assessments were conducted only during the initial phases of a project.

"Redevelopment of our urban areas represents an important challenge and an opportunity for the SDA to take a leadership role. The SDA depends on the ability of experienced environmental and engineering firms to work hand-in-hand with our staff as well as school districts and municipalities to support the construction of healthy schools," said Scott Weiner, Chief Executive Officer of the SDA.

"The firms the SDA has contracted with all possess the experience and expertise necessary to address the unique challenges of urban land redevelopment," said Weiner.

He noted the contracts require firms to support the SDA in communications with school district officials and the public about environmental issues that may arise.

"Robust, regular communication and public participation are absolutely essential," he said.

The SDA awarded three-year contracts to Arcadis U.S., Inc. of Edison; French & Parrello Associates, P.A. of Wall; HACBM Architects, Engineers, Planners, LLC & The Whitman Companies, Inc. of Lawrenceville; Hatch Mott MacDonald of Millburn; Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc. of Elmwood Park; The Louis Berger Group, Inc. of Morristown, and URS Corporation of Wayne. The SDA has the option to extend the pacts for a fourth year.

The contracts were awarded through a competitive bid process. Each proposal was evaluated for its responsiveness to a Request for Proposal (RFP), and each was evaluated by a committee with respect to the firms’ project management capabilities and technical expertise to support the SDA program.

The SDA will review each assignment for a school project on an individual basis. It will issue assignments based on the specific scope of work involved and the qualifications and capabilities of a firm to address it. SDA’s Environmental Services division will provide regular reports to the SDA board on the environmental site work being provided for school projects, the reasons for these services and the progress of the work to date.