Arkansas Government Projects, RFPs & Agencies

The council packet includes a draft resolution of intent for the City of Osceola to issue up to $2,000,000,000 in taxable industrial development revenue bonds for Exploratory Ventures, LLC to acquire, construct, and equip a Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) manufacturing facility near the Big River Steel plants. The City would own the facilities and lease them back to the company under Arkansas’ industrial development bond statutes, with the company making payments in lieu of property taxes equal to 35% of otherwise-due ad valorem taxes over a roughly 30‑year term. This is still a statement of intent—no bond issuance, construction contracts, or service providers are named yet, and terms could change as the company finalizes scope and financing. The scale of the project indicates significant upcoming needs for engineering, EPC, environmental services, plant utilities, IT/OT systems, security, and long‑term maintenance once the project moves from financing into delivery. Vendors that work on large industrial or steel-adjacent projects can position now around feasibility, design support, permitting, and future construction and operations support, as the bond structure and project details are negotiated.

Resolution also contemplates a long-term payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement, which will requ...

Job 110836 is a FHWA major project to replace the I‑55 Mississippi River bridge at West Memphis, with Kiewit Infrastructure South selected as CM and a $393.75M 2024 BIP grant shared with TDOT. Environmental assessment is approved, FONSI is in place, and ARDOT/TDOT have a cost‑sharing agreement, but design and construction packages are still being developed. Large bridge contractors, CM/GC partners, and specialty suppliers should monitor upcoming procurement steps and engage with Kiewit and TDOT/ARDOT about subcontracting, fabrication, and construction engineering services.

TDOT will lead but ARDOT is fully involved; each handles its own ROW and utilities.

Job 040882 is a FHWA major project to develop a new location I‑49 corridor from "Y" City to Barling (43.5 mi). Environmental reassessment is underway, public involvement meetings are being held, and the project is shown on the Draft CAP‑2 list for $270M. Planning, survey, and PSUR work are in progress, indicating a long‑horizon, large capital program where engineering consultants, program managers, and design‑build teams can start relationship building and help shape delivery methods and phasing.

Study found tolling infeasible; focus now on non-tolled funding and delivery alternatives.

ARDOT is developing a new‑location Future I‑49 corridor from "Y" City to Barling (43.51 miles), an FHWA Major Project programmed in the 2025‑2028 STIP. Preliminary engineering, environmental public meetings, UAV‑LiDAR surveying, and PSUR title work are underway, with multiple RR involvements noted. Large design firms, program managers, and eventual constructors have a multi‑year opportunity around corridor planning, environmental mitigation, structure design, and future construction packages.

Earlier tolling and feasibility study by HNTB concluded tolling infeasible; significant remaining cu...