Finalists selected to oversee Chrysler site demolition

Six firms have been selected as finalists to take on the monumental task of transforming Newark’s former auto assembly plant into a research facility at the University of Delaware.

Six firms have been selected as finalists  to take on the monumental task of transforming Newark’s former auto assembly plant into a research and technology facility at the University of Delaware.

1743 Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of UD, chose the six general contractors from a list of  70 for consideration to oversee the work that will eventually lead to demolishing the numerous buildings at the site to make use of the 3.4 million square feet of business space.  The work also includes abatement of materials containing asbestos, and recycling and disposal of all building materials.

The six firms selected to participate in the Request for Proposal phase are: Brandenburg Industrial Service Company; CST Environmental, LP; Envirocon, Inc.; North American Dismantling Corp.; URS Corporation and WRSCompass.

“Through an extensive process we narrowed the field down to those firms that are most qualified to undertake the proposed work,” Vic Costa, 1743 Holdings, LLC Executive Director, said.

All six general contractors selected to participate in the RFP process will be participating in the Delaware Opportunity Expo which will give local contractors, consultants and vendors an opportunity to meet with each of then,” Jennifer (J.J.) Davis, UD Vice President for Administration, said.

The Opportunity Expo takes place May 10 and 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Administrative Building at the former Newark Assembly Plant on 550 South College Avenue.

From there, the list will be narrowed further.

Selection criteria included experience in projects comparable in size to the plant site, safety and health programs, and a commitment to use local vendors.

The University of Delaware purchased the site  in October 2009 for $24.25 million.