The finalists, California State University at Sacramento, Illinois State University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, and Southern Polytechnic State University will make oral presentations of their written bid proposals at the competition’s next phase, March 18-22, at the Walt Disney World resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

A panel of judges convened on Jan. 12 to read, discuss, and score written proposals submitted by 26 MCAA student chapters and a student chapter sponsored by the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) in Hamilton, Ontario.

The final oral presentations will be scored based on overall quality; feasibility of project management, organization, and schedule; accuracy and completeness of project costs; and answers to judges’ questions.

Each finalist team will have 20 minutes to convince the judges they are best qualified to perform the proposed work on the project, 15 minutes for a formal oral presentation, and five minutes to respond to the judges’ questions. Each team’s score will be based on a combination of oral and written scores.

This year’s competition is based on an actual project performed by the Marelich Mechanical Co., Inc. (Hayward, Calif.). The project involves the HVAC and plumbing work completed during the renovation and remodeling of a 165,000-square-foot historical building. The building, located in San Francisco, was transformed from a library into an art museum.

The first-place winner will receive a $5,000 prize. The second-place team will receive $2,500, and each of the other teams will receive $1,000. All finalists will receive a trophy commemorating their achievement.

In addition to the four finalists, proposals were submitted by California State Polytechnic University at Pomona; California State Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo; California State University at Chico; Central Washington University; Colorado State University; Fairleigh Dickinson University; Florida International University; Iowa State University; Kansas State University; McMaster University (Canada); Northeastern University; Northern Kentucky University; Pennsylvania State University; Pittsburgh State University; Oregon State University; Purdue University; University of Maryland, College Park; University of Nebraska, Lincoln; University of Wisconsin, Stout; University of Washington; Washington State University; Weber State University; and Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Publication date: 01/30/2012