BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The shuttle buses and vans for travelers and workers at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are continuing to operate today under an emergency contract, as the Maryland Aviation Administration works out kinks in the award of a new three-year, $45 million contract to First Transit Inc. of Cincinnati.

The previous contract expired Wednesday and State Transportation Secretary John Porcari asked the Board of Public Works to hold off awarding the new pact. Porcari told the board the contract had been held up because the award was being protested by a competing bidder.

Porcari told The Examiner there had been questions raised about the minority-business participation under the old contract, and those concerns were being addressed.

Wayne Frazier, of the Maryland Minority Contractors’ Association, had extensive correspondence with BWI airport staff because First Transit had only achieved 13 percent participation by minority companies under the old contract, despite a goal of 25 percent.

Porcari said several provisions were changed under the new contract, and First Transit said it would reach 28 percent participation. “We think they can achieve that,” Porcari said.

“I don’t see how they can reach 28 percent participation when they’ve only been able to achieve 13 percent under the current contract,” Frazier said. He also said First Transit “has a history of mistreating its original two MBEs.”

“We’ve made a number of changes in the new contract” specifically to address the need for more minority participation, said Wayne Penell, deputy executive director of the Maryland Aviation Administration.

First Transit officials could not be reached for comment. The company operates transportation services at 235 locations in 45 states.

llazarick@baltimoreexaminer.com