Haddonfield planning firm MCFA says its niche — combining real estate advisory and renewable energy knowledge — has been a continual eye-catcher for the federal Department of Defense.
This week offers the latest glimpse of that relationship, with MCFA announcing it was awarded a five-year contract with the Air Force for $40 million for real estate advisory and assistance services.
“This is a great opportunity for us,” said John Nehlsen, chief financial officer of MCFA. “It’s pretty cool this was awarded to a Jersey firm — I don’t hear a lot about entrepreneurial things and startups in New Jersey, I hear a lot about the big companies. … We’re really proud to have brought this one home.”
The 45-person firm, founded in 2003, will be working with the Air Force on enhanced-use lease programs, to determine how to best use property owned by the military.
“The federal government is land rich and cash poor,” Nehlsen said. “Because the Department of Defense has all of this land, sometimes it is underutilized, and they have a mechanism through legislation on the books to lease off land to developers to build things that are consistent with their military missions … we help them get these big projects off the ground.”
The firm already works with the Army and Navy on so-called EUL programs, developing office space and energy projects.
Nehlsen said the focus of the project for the Air Force is a renewable energy component of development, and is in the first stages of determining locations involved.
“When you work with the Department of Defense, frankly, you work in their footprint,” Nehlsen said.
Nehlsen said the company’s expertise in real estate and energy is a unique combination in the industry. MCFA supplements its focus by subcontracting with other firms that have expertise in engineering.
“As a small business, we don’t have all the skills that are required all the time,” Nehlsen said. “We augment the business we have with subcontractors.” The contract also could allow for hiring, including people with real estate and renewable power expertise, he added.
