A contractor is chosen for the construction of the new Fort Bliss replacement hospital.

Clark McCarthy Healthcare Partners were awarded the $648 million contract.

The company isn't local but it is allowing opportunities for that money to be churned back into the El Paso economy.

"Right now, we see a clear road ahead of us. We don't expect any significant problems," said Michael Vonasek, construction manager of Fort Bliss Medical Construction Office.

The groundwork has been laid.

We're giving the contractor a clean building pad so he's gonna be ready to go and start building as soon as he gets here," said Vonasek.

Construction -- going on since 2011 -- has built the foundation and framework of the new Fort Bliss replacement hospital. Just days ago, the contract for the bulk of the project was awarded.

"We'll probably, as large as this project is, see a mixture of local and contractors that are brought in from elsewhere to construct," said Vonasek.

The remaining sub-contracts are open to any qualified individual that wants to bid on the project -- Vonasek said, they can't specifically designate who can or can't bid.

Congressman Beto O'Rourke says, one of his focuses in congress is to ensure local contractors have the chance to compete for the contracts.

"So that all this money invested into El Paso, almost a billion dollars before it's all said and done flows through this local economy so that we have the chance to benefit in putting more people to work, reducing our unemployment rate and growing this economy," said O'Rourke.

Clark McCarthy Healthcare Partners indicate that they want 30-percent of small business participation in sub-contracting, which opens up opportunities locally.

A number of community forums were held to give local companies the same opportunities as outside ones.

"They have a labor force here, they understand the environment, they don't have to travel to get here so they may have an advantage in bidding," said Vonasek.

And an opportunity -- to add to a project that's more than just a building.

"It's gonna be a landmark building for El Paso. You will see a brand new hospital. It's gonna be world class serving the soldiers at Fort Bliss. A well needed project," said Vonasek.

O'Rourke says the existing William Beaumont structure can be used for area veterans and perhaps have a full service VA hospital in this region -- something never been done here.

The project is expected to be completed in 2017.