Construction, the constant change

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joseph Boals
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  With events in the past year such as the April tornado and Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command activation, 2009 has been a banner year for the Airmen of both the 2d Civil Engineer and Contracting squadrons.

"We recovered from a tornado, were awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects, or ARRA, and we stood up Global Strike Command," said Maj. Aaron Boyd, 2nd CONS Commander. "This is over and above our existing day-to-day mission requirements of meeting the contractual needs of the 2d Bomb Wing and tenant units."

As a result of the AFGSC stand-up, 2d CONS awarded 123 actions totaling $20 million in renovations, modular buildings, furniture, support personnel and other services. Currently 152 projects are under construction on base, projects totaling $64.8 million, of which thirty are related to AFGSC.

"This is quite an undertaking of planning, prepping and providing installation support of an additional 1,000 personnel," said Major Boyd. "We need suitable, functional and furnished office space. As a result, we have obligated $110 million across 1,150 contract actions including the dollars spent by the organizations on their Government Purchase Cards. Contractually, this is a 110 percent increase in dollars, and a 33 percent increase in contract actions."
As a result of tornado recovery, 2d CONS awarded 36 contract actions, and $2 million in clean-up and infrastructure repair.

On the ARRA projects, 2d CONS awarded 20 contract actions totaling $11.5 million in heating, venting, and air conditioning and energy conservation projects. As a result of their hard work, the contracting squadron was rewarded with funds to cover five additional ARRA projects for a grand total of $13 million across 25 projects.

On the construction side alone, there has been over 300 small-dollar construction projects with an awarded valued over $30 million in fiscal year 2009. This is a 130 project increase and an additional $7.5 million when compared to last year. These projects include renovations of existing facilities, base infrastructure, minor construction and repairs. Some notable contracts include the Warrior Center and command post renovations, the dormitory renovations, modular facilities, and a new $4.6 million Child Development Center. There have been a few project completions so far, but for the most part these construction projects are all on-going and will continue into next year.

All of this construction on Barksdale wouldn't be possible without the cooperation between both the 2d Contracting and Civil Engineer squadrons.

"It has to be a hand-in-hand team effort," said Lt. Col. David Chisenhall, 2d CES Commander. "We design and develop what is required to get the mission done. We pass the package to contracting to award the contract. We work with them on work schedules, selecting materials, quality assurance of the work."

Although the construction means big changes on Barksdale, it may be some time before the projects are complete.

"Of course, we could not have done any of this without the dedication and support of our great contractors and the relationships that we continue to foster and grow on a daily basis," Major Boyd added.