The last criterion stresses the importance of selecting the right business partner. Prospective partners who offer the lowest bid do not always provide the best value in the long-term relationship. A candidate's experience in the area of public-private partnerships should be a major consideration before entering into any kind of agreement.
Fluor-Transurban was ultimately selected to partner with the Commonwealth on this project. After receiving the unsolicited proposal from Fluor, Virginia opened the competitive bid process for 120 days but did not receive any additional, competing proposals. Fluor is one of the world's largest publicly owned engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance service companies and has a long record of success in delivering transportation solutions. A few examples of recent projects include the design-build of Texas's largest single highway project, SH 130, which encompasses 90-miles of toll road; the Conway Bypass in South Carolina that involved a design-build contract for over 28 miles of highway opening seven months ahead of schedule, and; the development, financing, design and construction of Virginia's Pocahontas Parkway (Route 895). Fluor partnered with the Transurban Group to satisfy Virginia's request that the private sector also maintain and operate the new lanes. Specializing in the electronic collection of tolls, Transurban is a leading international toll road developer, operator and investor with interests in seven major assets in Australia and the United States. Virginia is also currently satisfied with Transurban's performance on the Pocahontas Parkway in the Richmond area.