CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: JANUARY 28, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: APPROVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NO. 25Q465
WITH ACCENTURE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS, LLC
FOR AIRPORT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY
CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE AIRPORT
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Department of Aviation
SUMMARY:
This action will award professional services agreements with Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC for Airport Program Management and Advisory Consulting Services for an amount not to exceed $6,000,000 for the Palm Springs International Airport (Airport).
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve Professional Services Agreement No. 25Q465 with Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC to provide Airport Program Management and Advisory Consulting Services for an amount not to exceed $6,000,000 for an initial three-year term commencing on January 29, 2026, and continuing through January 28, 2029, for an amount not to exceed $6,000,000; with two one-year extension options at the City’s sole discretion.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documents.
BUSINESS PRINCIPAL DISCLOSURE:
According to the Public Integrity Disclosure forms (Attachment B) submitted in November 2025, Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC is registered in the state of California.
BACKGROUND:
The Airport requires as-needed/on-call program management and advisory consulting services for a variety of future capital improvement projects. The full extent of required
City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2026 -- Page 2
Agreement No. 25Q465 with Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC services is not known at the present time; however, generally the Airport anticipates the need for consulting services to support the capital improvement program budgeted projects.
The Airport is a small hub airport serving roughly 3.2 million annual passengers in 2024 and supports nine resort cities in the Coachella Valley. The Airport has 980 acres that includes the following:
Approximately 57 buildings
The Wexler designed terminal building that is listed as a Class 1 asset on the National Register of Historic Places
Two open-air concourses with a total of 18 gates
Two parallel runways:
1. 13R/31L is a 10,000 foot runway that serves commercial traffic
2. 13L/31R is a 5,100 foot runway that serves light general aviation aircraft 10 commercial airlines nonstop to 32 North American airports, one-stop to 300+ global cities
The Airport is completing a comprehensive Master Plan process which anticipates nearly $2.2 billion in capital improvements over the next 5-20 years. The Airport is expecting to double its growth over the 20-year planning horizon.
Short-term capital development plans include the expansion of the main terminal, replacement of the outbound Baggage Handling System (BHS) and construction of a consolidated rental car facility.
Medium-term capital development plans also include expansion of the main terminal and a north concourse expansion which would add seven gates and a Federal Inspection Station (FIS), expansion and relocation of public parking and employee parking areas, and airfield improvements including potential reconstruction of the primary commercial runway, the addition of Remain Overnight (RON) parking, and relocation of a Fixed Base Operator.
Due to the potential scale, number of concurrent projects, and operational complexity, the Airport seeks to engage a Program Management & Advisory Services consulting team with airport-specific expertise and specialty technical services to assist with the development and oversight of the mega-program delivery. This approach is standard practice at peer airports of similar size facing large capital programs.
On January 21, 2026, Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC is scheduled to present (Attachment C) to the Airport Commission. Due to the timing of the Commission meeting relative to the City Council agenda cycle, the staff report reflects staff’s recommendation independent of the Commission’s discussion.
City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2026 -- Page 3
Agreement No. 25Q465 with Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC STAFF ANALYSIS:
The Aviation Department worked with the Procurement and Contracting Department to issue a Request for Qualifications No. 21-25 (RFQ) to find a firm for the needed services.
The RFQ was advertised in the local newspaper, published on the PlanetBids website with notification to 430 registered vendors, and 366 vendors through Bid Broadcast. This extended outreach resulted in 26 attendees at the Pre-Qualification Conference on October 14, 2025, and the submission of 6 Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) for Airport Program Management and Advisory Consulting Services for the Airport.
The following firms submitted SOQs for consideration by the November 3, 2025, deadline. 3D Built – Los Angeles, CA
Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC – Palm Desert, CA Hill International, Inc. – Irvine, CA
M2P Consulting, Inc. – New York, NY
Paslay Management Group, LLC – Fort Worth, TX (Non-Responsive) STV Construction, Inc. – New York, NY
An evaluation committee consisting of City staff from the Aviation Department, a representative from Daley Strategies, and a consultant from InterVISTAS Consulting USA LLC, the Airport’s on-call planning firm that assisted with preparing the scope of work for this agreement, reviewed and scored the statements of qualifications received against published criteria in the RFQ. Criteria included the firm’s experience, the staff experience, the understanding of the scope of work, and references of similar projects. Based on the review of the statements of qualifications, interview and scoring, the evaluation committee recommended that the City enter into financial negotiations with the highest scoring firm.
Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC (Accenture) was ranked the highest by the evaluation team. Staff were successful throughout the financial negotiation process and estimate a cost savings of $183,306.53 through the hourly rate reductions secured and is recommending award of the contract.
After reviewing the hourly rates submitted by Accenture and the projected project costs of the ten projects included in the Airport’s Planned and Ongoing Projects for 2026–2030 (Attachment D), which may be considered for management and advisory services by Accenture, staff determined that a contract amount not to exceed $6,000,000 would be required to sufficiently fund the three-year contract.
Accenture has been providing professional Airport Program Management and Advisory Consulting Services to over 25 small, medium, and large hub airports throughout the United States since 2005. Among these, there are the following airports:
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) / Project Value: $580 Million / Project Dates:
2021 – Present
Des Moines International Airport is a small hub airport experiencing passenger volumes City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2026 -- Page 4
Agreement No. 25Q465 with Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC beyond original forecasts and has launched a $580 million program to replace its aging terminal infrastructure, modernize facilities, and expand capacity to meet future demand.
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) / Project Value: $1.3 Billion / Project Dates:
2019 – Present
Sacramento International Airport has experienced rapid growth that is outpacing airside and landside capacity. In response, SMF is expanding and modernizing its facilities, including gate expansions, an expanded baggage system, a pedestrian bridge, Consolidated Rental Car Facilities, and a new parking garage.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) & Orlando Executive Airport / Project Value:
$5 Billion / Project Dates: 2002 – Present
The Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport required compliance support for its Capital Improvement Program to ensure conformance with internal standards and Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration regulations, while securing and properly administering all available external funding. Projects have included new airside and landside terminals, rehabilitation and expansion of existing facilities, construction of a new intermodal station, parking facilities, Consolidated Rental Car Facilities, roadways, and infrastructure.
Palm Springs International Airport is seeking professional Airport Program Management and Advisory Consulting Services to ensure the success of the Airport’s estimated $2.2 billion capital program. The complexity of the need is illustrated in the Airport’s Planned and Ongoing Projects 2026 - 2030 (Attachment D), which reflects overlapping timelines, diverse project scopes, and a sustained capital workload requiring coordinated, program- level oversight. Due to the on-call/as-needed basis of the proposed Agreement the scope of services will vary, depending upon the number and type of projects assigned by the Airport. The on-call, task-based services will include the following:
Program Strategy and Management Services
Program Scheduling
Oversight and Budget Control
Document Controls Design Management
Preconstruction Facilitation
Project Management
Advisory Services
Oversight of a Program Management/Construction Management Team responsible for key projects (if needed)
The Airport Program Management and Advisory Consulting Services will ensure efficient and effective project delivery, regulatory compliance, stakeholder coordination, and strategic alignment with the Airport’s long-term growth objectives by providing program- level oversight, advisory, and integration services. Individual projects will continue to have City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2026 -- Page 5
Agreement No. 25Q465 with Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC separate designers, contractors, and construction management firms, making it clear that Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC’s work is complementary rather than duplicative.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The requested City Council action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The requested action is to approve contracts for the above-mentioned services, and is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15378(b), in that a “Project” does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:
Approval of this action supports the City of Palm Springs’ Strategic Plan Broad Goals of Infrastructure and Facilities and Economic Development, and it also supports the Airport’s 2025-2029 Strategic Plan’s Strategic Priorities for Infrastructure.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding of $400,000 is budgeted in Fiscal Year 2025-26 and in Fiscal Year 2026-27 in the Department of Aviation Administration Contractual Services Account 4157020-40105.
The estimated fees for Airport Program Management and Advisory Consulting Services are included within the budgets for each of the projects listed in the Airport’s Planned and Ongoing Projects for 2026–2030 (Attachment D) in the Department of Aviation Airport Capital Projects Account 4167065-80000.
If Airport staff determines that additional funding is necessary for Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27, staff will seek City Council’s approval for an appropriation of funds to increase the budget for Account 4157020-40105. Sufficient funds will be budgeted for Fiscal Years 2027-28, 2028-29, and 2029-30.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Harry Barrett, Jr.
Procurement & Contracting Manager: Tabitha Richards
Director of Finance & Treasurer: Kristopher J. Mooney
City Attorney: Geremy Holm
City Manager: Scott Stiles
City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2026 -- Page 6
Agreement No. 25Q465 with Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC ATTACHMENTS:
A. Professional Services Agreement 25Q465
B. Public Integrity Disclosure Form
C. Presentation
D. Airport’s Planned and Ongoing Projects 2026 - 2030