Denver International Airport: Baggage Handling, Contracting, and Other
Issues (Fact Sheet, 08/09/95, GAO/RCED-95-241FS).

Initially, Denver planned to open its new international airport with a
conventional tug-and-cart baggage systems.  Later, however, the city
decided to go with a sophisticated automated system, despite the risk
that the system might not be up and running by the airport's October
1993 opening date.  During development and construction of the system,
significant software and hardware problems arose.  These problems, along
with major modifications to the system, delayed the opening date from
October 1993 to February 1995.   At the same time, the cost of the
baggage handling system has soared from $195 million to more than $290
million, which will largely be passed on to the airlines serving the
airport.  In addition to providing a chronology of the events involved
in the construction of the system, this fact sheet (1) assesses the
contract award process, including any special considerations for
disadvantaged businesses, and (2) lists major concerns raised about the
project and their resolution.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  RCED-95-241FS
     TITLE:  Denver International Airport: Baggage Handling, 
             Contracting, and Other Issues
      DATE:  08/09/95
   SUBJECT:  Airports
             Baggage (personal effects)
             Airline industry
             Facility construction
             Construction costs
             Construction contracts
             Prime contractors
             Minority businesses
             Federal funds
             Air transportation operations
IDENTIFIER:  Denver (CO)
             Denver International Airport (CO)
             FAA Airport Improvement Program
             Adams County (CO)
             
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