Vince Nowicki Asks Whether an Airport Contract Was Scored by the Right Rules

On 9/24/26, Commissioner Vince Nowicki asked the board to check that a $1.74M airport contract was scored under current federal rules before approving it. It passed 4-3, and the scoring review has not come back to the board.

From the official website of Vince Nowicki · · 3 min read

The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is planning a terminal overhaul of about $145 million that depends partly on federal grants. On 9/24/26, Commissioner Vince Nowicki asked the board to check that a key contract for the project was scored under current federal rules before approving it. The board approved it 4-3, and the scoring review has not come back to the board.

Key facts

  • The item was a $1,742,865.82 agreement with American Infrastructure Development, Inc. to serve as owner's representative for the airport's passenger terminal improvements (Legistar 26-1364A).
  • The board approved it 4-3 on 9/24/26. Commissioners Chris Latvala, Nowicki and Chris Scherer voted no.
  • Staff said they would review the scoring. As of 10/18/26, no follow-up item appears on the published agendas for 10/8, 10/13, 10/22 or 10/27/26.
  • The agreement was signed by the Chair on 9/24/26, and the fully signed copy was posted on 9/30/26.

What he raised

The firms competing for this work were scored in a 2024 selection process. The St. Pete Catalyst reported that the 2024 score sheet gave 25 of 1,000 possible points for "Minority Business Status." It also gave up to 100 points for Pinellas County Small Business Enterprise status and 25 points for location. In October 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation changed its disadvantaged business program rules for federal grants. Pinellas set its scoring criteria before that change.

According to the official minutes, Commissioner Nowicki pointed to an email he had received and given to the County Attorney's Office. He noted that under a 2025 executive order, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) no longer allows bidders to be rated on Disadvantaged Business Enterprise status, while this contract came from a 2024 process. He also raised the risk that another bidder could protest.

"I don't want to be sideways with the FAA when we're getting tens of millions of dollars to the airport," he said, according to the Catalyst. He also told the Catalyst that moving ahead before the review was finished was "reckless."

What staff said on the record

The minutes show that County Attorney Jewel White said her office had not yet had the chance to look into the issue. She later noted that the county has a Small Business Enterprise program and said DBE goals would not have been used to award the contract under current policies. Airport Director Mark Sprague said staff could research the scoring before the next commission meeting, and said he had no issues moving forward. County Administrator Barry Burton confirmed that the board could hold a separate discussion at the next meeting about whether the scoring needed to be redone.

In a statement to the Catalyst, Mr. Burton said: "We believe all federal requirements were followed but based on the issues raised we will review this item with purchasing and legal to ensure it meets all current procurement standards."

What has happened since

  • The contract is signed. The Chair signed the agreement on 9/24/26, the day of the vote, and the fully signed copy was posted to the county's Legistar system on 9/30/26.
  • The review hasn't come back to the board. No item on the airport contract scoring appears on the published agendas for the 10/8/26 work session, the 10/13/26 meeting, the 10/22/26 work session or the 10/27/26 meeting.
  • The question has not been resolved. The Catalyst reported that no federal agency has made a finding on the county's procurement.

Why it matters

Federal airport money comes with federal conditions. If a selection process is challenged, a project can face delays, added costs or a rebid. Checking the scoring first would have been a cheap safeguard for a large project.

Commissioner Nowicki's position is simple: confirm the process follows current federal rules, then approve. Staff said the review would happen. The public should see the result.

Frequently asked questions

What airport contract did Vince Nowicki vote against?

A $1,742,865.82 agreement with American Infrastructure Development, Inc. to serve as owner's representative for passenger terminal improvements at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. It was approved 4-3 on 9/24/26.

Why did Commissioner Nowicki question the contract?

The 2024 score sheet gave points for "Minority Business Status," and federal rules for federal grants changed in October 2025. He asked that the scoring be checked against current federal rules before approval, to protect the airport's FAA funding.

Did the county follow up on the scoring?

Staff said on 9/24/26 that they would review the scoring and that it could be discussed at the next meeting. As of 10/18/26, no such item appears on the published agendas for 10/8, 10/13, 10/22 or 10/27/26. The agreement was signed on 9/24/26 and posted on 9/30/26.

Sources

Every fact and quote above comes from the published reporting and public records listed here.

  1. Pinellas County Legistar, 26-1364A, staff report, roll call and minutes, 9/24/26. pinellas.legistar.com
  2. St. Pete Catalyst, "St. Pete-Clearwater airport contract draws scrutiny," 9/26/26. stpetecatalyst.com
  3. Signed agreement (Contract 24-1088-RFP-CCNA), Chair signature dated 9/24/26, posted 9/30/26. pinellas.legistar1.com
  4. Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners agendas: 10/8/26 work session; 10/13/26 meeting; 10/22/26 work session; 10/27/26 meeting.

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