After collecting more than a quarter billion dollars over 16 years, a consulting firm's controversial contract at Miami International Airport is finally drawing to a close.

Dade Aviation Consultants, a joint venture of eight firms -- four of which are minority-owned -- has managed architectural, engineering, planning and technical services for Miami International Airport's South Terminal and other projects.

But the firm's contract has been fraught with questions regarding political maneuvering, high costs and minority participation by partners whose contributions were murky. One minority partner, Linda Forrest, of Poinciana Development Group, even spent time in prison for conspiracy to embezzle insurance funds, unrelated to DAC, while the contract was in force, records show.

Meanwhile, costs have mounted, based on a ''multiplier effect'' that pays employees' salaries, plus an additional 1.25 times their salaries to DAC for health benefits, vehicles, travel, relocation expenses and other fringe benefits.

As a result, DAC's office manager, Virginia Horty, earns $74,027 annually, while the county pays another $92,534 to DAC for her. And the highest-paid employee, program manager Don Hessong, earns $201,177, while MIA pays DAC another $251,472 for his benefits.

MARTINEZ OPPOSED

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez calls the multiplier a ''rip-off'' and successfully pushed to reduce it several years ago.

He doesn't think MIA needed DAC. ''There are a lot of times these things go out to consultants -- not because we don't have [county] people to do it, but because we have people who are too lazy to do it,'' he said.

Since the contract began in 1992, the county has paid DAC $252,771,964, Miami-Dade Aviation spokeman Greg Chin said.

DAC is made up of eight firms: Bechtel Infrastructure, with 35 percent ownership; DMJM Aviation, 23 percent; Spillis Candela & Partners, 23 percent; Maurice Gray Associates, 5 percent; Poinciana Development, 5 percent; Sharpton Brunson & Co., 5 percent; the Bugdal Group, 2 percent; and Thompson Consultants International, 2 percent.

Miami-Dade Aviation Director José Abreu said having DAC as a general consultant was important for projects such as the fourth runway, but he concedes DAC missed the ball on the South Terminal, requiring him to put Deputy Aviation Director Max Fajardo in charge.

''On the South Terminal, there were all kinds of challenges,'' Abreu said. ``And it is my belief that if I had not interjected with one of our own, DAC would not have been able to finish it, period.''

DOWN TO 10

DAC spokesman Howard Menaker defends the company's work: ``We think the relationship with the airport has been very good and there is a lot to be proud of and a lot that we accomplished in 16 years.''

Back in 1998, DAC had as many as 100 employees. Today, 10 DAC employees remain on staff to help the airport push through the final punch-list items for the South Terminal. Those last executives, managers and support staffers will depart by Dec. 12 -- saving the county more than $2.26 million a year in salaries and benefits.

The Miami-Dade County Commission initially approved DAC's contract in 1992, for 10 years. It then extended the contract for five more years, until 2007. And in November 2007, the commission approved an additional year due to South Terminal construction delays, upping the amount by $7.5 million. Besides working on the South Terminal, DAC has worked on cargo buildings, the new central collection parking plaza and other MIA projects.

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@