A $435-million, 50-year federal privitization contract is going to Aqua Engineers of Lawa‘i. The Kaua‘i firm will operate and expand the Schofield Barracks Wastewater Treatment Plant in Central O‘ahu. Hawai‘i Congressman Ed Case announced the selection Thursday, adding that Aqua
A $435-million, 50-year federal privitization contract is going to Aqua Engineers of Lawa‘i.
The Kaua‘i firm will operate and expand the Schofield Barracks Wastewater Treatment Plant in Central O‘ahu.
Hawai‘i Congressman Ed Case announced the selection Thursday, adding that Aqua Engineers bested two major corporations in being selected.
“The selection of Aqua Engineers is a local small business success story, demonstrating how the ingenuity and resources of small businesses throughout Hawai‘i can compete on a national and international scale for major military projects,” said Case, who is a member of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business and represents sections of rural O‘ahu and the Neighbor Islands.
Case said he encouraged the Army to consider the company’s contract proposal.
“This small business demonstrated its managerial capabilities by bringing together an impressive team of Hawai‘i companies to help finance and upgrade the Schofield Barracks Wastewater Treatment Plant.”
The contract will privatize the U.S. Army-owned wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities serving Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield and nearby Helemano Military Reservation. All are located in central O‘ahu.
“We are certainly excited about the selection,” Aqua Engineers’ President Ian Kagimoto said. “This has been a long process for us and it has required a lot of time and effort from a lot of people. It was a team effort.”
Under the agreement, the Army will transfer ownership of the facility to Aqua Engineers and the firm will be responsible for the plant’s operation, maintenance, repair, and future upgrades.
“We will be able to offer more resources and expertise in helping the Army with their needs,” Kagimoto said. “I am personally grateful for the opportunity that the Army has given us to help them.”
In its proposal to the Army, Aqua Engineers leveraged the combined expertise and resources of small businesses on two other islands.
The project’s electrical engineers, Morikawa and Associates, are from Maui.
O‘ahu engineering firms on the project are Austin Tsutsumi and Associates, Wilson Okamoto and Associates, Brown and Caldwell Consultants, and ITC Water Management. Bodell Construction of O‘ahu is the contractor.
“Aqua Engineers is the only local and, for that matter, American company competing for the project,” said Case in a May 20 letter of support to the Army. “As a local company, Aqua Engineers can and will use its local knowledge and resources to ensure that the military receives the best value possible,” Case wrote.
Aqua Engineers employs 50 workers and has been in the wastewater industry for 22 years. The firm operates 23 wastewater treatment facilities in Hawai‘i.
“The work is only now beginning,” Kagimoto said. “At the same time, it (the new contract) will ensure the continued success of our company.”
Aqua Engineers was selected over American Waterworks and U.S. Filters, which are owned by large German and French companies, respectively.
The U.S. Small Business Administration recognized Kagimoto as the 2001 Small Businessman of the Year for the island of Kaua‘i.
“Aqua Engineers has been involved in projects on every island in the state and has a solid reputation in our community. It is commendable that the company also incorporated into its proposal a hiring philosophy that aims to hire local talent for technical and well-paid positions, retain women in positions of responsibility, and employ disabled veterans for this long-term project,” Case said.
Business Editor Barry Graham can be reached at 245-3681 ext. 251 or bgraham@pulitzer.net
