Bechtel's Procurement Strategy Powering US Infrastructure

Bechtel demonstrates procurement's evolution from transactional purchasing to strategic value creation in two landmark US projects: LA's Sepulveda rail transit and Oklahoma's new primary aluminium smelter – the first US-built since 1980, set to double domestic output and bolster supply chain resilience.

Bechtel, core member of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners (STCP) consortium with Meridiam and American Triple I (ATI), welcomes Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board approval of its modified proposal for a high-capacity, fully underground rail line linking San Fernando Valley to Westside – one of America's largest transit investments.

This expands reliable transit along LA's busiest corridor, boosting regional connectivity.

Procurement in action: PPP and competitive tendering

This public-private partnership (PPP) exemplifies procurement's core processes: competitive selection via RFPs, consortium sourcing for specialised expertise and supply chain orchestration for megaprojects.

Metro's rigorous technical evaluation, environmental review and public engagement mirror CPO-led tendering, balancing cost, risk and innovation. Bechtel's lead role highlights strategic sourcing – vetting partners like financiers Meridiam for risk transfer and optimising spend across engineering categories.

"High-capacity transit is foundational to how growing metropolitan regions expand mobility, support economic growth and connect communities to opportunity," says Jacob Mumm, General Manager of Bechtel's Public Infrastructure Business.

"With deep roots in California and decades of experience delivering complex rail projects worldwide, Bechtel is proud to support Metro and our consortium partners as they advance this transformative investment for Los Angeles."

Supply chain mastery for rail scale

The subterranean line will serve more than 100,000 daily riders, rivalling Interstate 405 congestion relief with stations at Metro G Line, Ventura Boulevard, UCLA and Wilshire/Metro D Line – enhancing access to jobs, education and healthcare.

Procurement teams will manage high-value categories like automated signalling (from Riyadh Metro experience), tunnelling equipment and sustainable materials and applying spend analytics to control costs in a multi-billion-dollar build.

Bechtel's track record includes the world's largest driverless Riyadh Metro and Europe's Elizabeth Line. In California, it delivered the original BART more than 50 years ago and now leads BART Silicon Valley Phase 2, plus ongoing Riverside County transit since 1987 – spanning rail, roads, bridges and pipelines.

Reshoring aluminium production

Bechtel has been selected by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century aluminium for preparatory engineering and early execution planning on a new primary aluminium smelter in Inola, Oklahoma – expected to create 1,000 permanent jobs and up to 4,000 construction roles whilst strengthening US industrial supply chains.

Procurement here drives strategic sourcing of energy-efficient tech, bauxite/alumina feedstocks and modular construction strategies to enhance efficiency and minimise logistics disruptions via road/river transport. Bechtel's expertise – delivering one-third of global aluminium smelting capacity outside China over 25 years – positions it to optimise category spend for reshoring and sustainability.

"Our team brings deep experience delivering complex U.S. megaprojects and aluminium facilities around the world," says Ailie MacAdam, President of Bechtel Mining & Metals.

"We are proud to support EGA and Century as they advance this important investment in America's industrial future."

These dual showcases prove procurement's pivot: enabling GDP growth, job creation and resilient supply chains through expert partnership-building and category management.