Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 2, 1991 TAG: 9103020247
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF BUSINESS WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Virginia on Friday announced a task force to ensure a piece of the post-war action falls its way.
"There's a lot of interest in this," said Patrick Shaffner, a partner in the Roanoke architectural and engineering firm of Sherertz, Franklin, Crawford & Shaffner. The firm, which specializes in design of institutional and industrial buildings, is counting on selling its services. The firm ordinarily does a lot of work for the Department of Defense and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Rufus Phillips, a research specialist with the Virginia Department of Economic Development, said an estimated $100 billion will be spent repairing damage in Kuwait from the Persian Gulf War.
If so, he said, that's $30 billion more - in today's dollars - than was spent on the Marshall plan for rebuilding Europe at the end of World War II.
Phillips said he didn't know how much of that money can be attracted to Virginia.
The Army Corps of Engineers already has published a call for bids on architectural and engineering services, construction, communications and other basic services.
Shaffner said he had seen the list published in the Commerce Business Daily and it contained "projects we're highly qualified to do."
Shaffner said the Sherertz firm will seek contracts for designing barracks, dormitories, hospitals, health care and medical facilities, prisons and correctional facilities and industrial buildings.
The Roanoke firm has special expertise in those fields, Shaffner said, and "we like to think we have as much opportunity as anyone" to obtain some of the business.
Cathy Staples, spokeswoman for Gardner Denver Mining & Construction Division of Cooper Industries, said the company is "actively seeking business in the Middle East. We are going to compete wherever we have the opportunity. We're hoping to get some of that business."
Many of the projects will be subcontracts let through international construction companies.
Phillips said the first round of bidding will be on infrastructure such as harbors, dams, water treatment facilities, hospitals and similar basic public service.
Smaller projects will be bid in later stages, Phillips said. and "it will be a fairly drawn-out process."
Gov. Douglas Wilder has established a Kuwait Redevelopment Assistance Group spearheaded by the Department of Economic Development.
The task force will seek contacts for Virginia companies with the international construction firms already on the job in Kuwait.
Brian Wishneff, head of the economic development department in Roanoke, said he will work with the state on obtaining a share of the work for local companies.
Wilder charged the state task force with four tasks:
Compiling a list of Virginia firms that may be able to do business in Kuwait.
Serving as a contact with the Kuwait Relief Office on the screening process for bidding on contracts and assisting Virginia companies on how to become a qualified bidder.
Contacting selected companies about the steps necessary to pursue business opportunities and cataloging those firms' areas of expertise and interest.
Maintaining a contact with United States diplomatic sources who can supply needed detail.
Interested companies can call the Export Development Information Center at the Virginia Department of Economic Development at 1-800-553-3170. The fax number is 804-371-8860
"It is my intention that Virginia business be afforded the opportunity to assist with the monumental effort under way to rebuild Kuwait," Wilder said in a statement released Friday. "I know that virtually anything that is needed over there can be found right here in Virginia."
by CNB