Northampton County, NC --- December 19, 2008 --- Thirty-two general contractors were given a first-hand view of the site and discussed building plans for the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR) this week in anticipation of submitting bids for the project's Phase 1A building construction.

With NCCAR officials and representatives from Architects Kurmaskie & Tolson Associates, Inc. (AKTAI) and the site construction contractor, PLT Construction Inc., contractors braved chilly temperatures and muddy fields to look over the site near Garysburg in Northampton County. In the cramped PLT Construction trailer, they were welcomed by NCCAR Chief Operating Officer Simon Cobb and Board of Directors President Gary Brown.

Tim Kurmaskie, president of AKTAI, along with Greg Snyder and Sonny Wooten of PLT Construction, led the discussion. "I want to thank you all for your interest in submitting a bid on the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research," Kurmaskie told the group. "It's a very interesting project, a very exciting project, and it’s one that obviously will be going on for some time as we move through several development phases on the site."

He then pointed out that phase 1A of the project is well under way with site construction begun in October, and is expected to continue to move quickly. Buildings to be constructed in project phase 1A include the 23,620 square-foot operations, engineering and client garage facility and the entry security building.

Brown told the contractors, “We have a commitment to do this project exceptionally well and I know each of you share that same dedication. This is a project largely driven by the design of professionals throughout the world. We have some very exacting standards, both on the site and on the facilities to be constructed. We know you're equal to that challenge and I bid you all best of luck as you go forward.”

Cobb offered another perspective. "This is an automotive research center. That's what the buildings to be constructed going to become. It's not a service garage. It's where high tech future transportation development is going to be conducted and that's the reason for the slightly strange design," Cobb said. "It's not just six bays. They are discreet client garages where clients may well work 24/7 while they're on a trip from Thailand or Japan, or who knows where. That's the purpose for this site. Maybe that gives you a slight insight on why the design is what it is."

Kurmaskie advised the group that control of the site rests with PLT Construction as the site development contractor and all jobs must be approached with that in mind. There will be strict guidelines to insure safety and security, to prevent damage to and to provide efficient coordination of construction activities.

NCCAR has scheduled the bid opening for January 29, 2009.

About NCCAR: The North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR) is a modern automotive testing facility for use in the design, development, testing and certification of advanced vehicle technologies, sub-systems and components. NCCAR is a State funded initiative that is designed to combine the resources and skills of North Carolina's industries, academic institutions and strategies to put North Carolina at the front of advanced vehicle technologies and hence jobs The Research Center is a public-private partnership that matches the talents of multi-national automotive companies with those of North Carolina's leading universities. NCCAR is world class and focused on next generation research and development in the automotive industry. For more information, www.nccar.us