AIR FORCE Bid dispute may delay expansion of museum

Associated Press

DAYTON

A protest over the awarding of a construction bid may delay a long-awaited expansion at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force near Dayton.

Museum spokesman Rob Bardua told the Dayton Daily News that it’s not known how the protest will affect construction of a new $35.4 million hangar, which was expected to be open in late 2015.

But Bardua says construction won’t begin until the protest process is resolved.

Five companies bid on the project, which was awarded this month to Turner Construction Co. in Washington.

The Army Corps of Engineers, which evaluated and awarded the bid, did not release the name of the company that protested the contract. Lawyers are reviewing the protest, and expect to come to a conclusion in less than 30 days.