AF engineers publish guidance for using 'in house' expertise for construction projects

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LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Air Force base civil engineers now have a clearer path to follow when seeking assistance for executing their construction projects.

Officials in the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, in conjunction with those in the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, released guidance in April on their process of managing and executing sustainment, restoration and modernization construction projects, also known as SR&M.

"We want to let the base's civil engineering department know that we are here and we can help them out," said AFCEE construction branch chief Ben Kindt.  "Sometimes the base does not have enough resources or manpower to complete all necessary projects, and that is where we can step in."

The joint guidance document spells out the process for using AFCEE and AFCESA engineers to handle SR&M projects. It also clarifies the types of SR&M that can be handled by each agency.  AFCEE engineers handle vertical SR&M and environmental projects while AFCESA engineers handle horizontal SR&M and energy projects.

Vertical SR&M pertains to work done on a building itself and anything inside, while horizontal SR&M deals with work outside a building including runways, roads, utilities and parking lots.

"We want to let our customers know that AFCEE has the appropriate expertise and is poised and ready to help the bases with their SR&M projects," said AFCEE project manager Micah Shuler.

According to Mr. Shuler, there are a number of reasons why it is beneficial to use AFCEE to handle SR&M projects. AFCEE's customers can expect to see project status, funding amount and timeline for all projects currently being executed due to their open checkbook policy.

"Possibly the biggest advantage in using AFCEE for SR&M projects is that it allows the base to get more done with less," Mr. Shuler said.  "When you use AFCEE for your high dollar projects, it reserves your contract capacity." 

AFCEE officials have three contracting options available for SR&M projects: the heavy engineering repair and construction contract, also known as HERC, which cover renovations, minor construction, demolition and other SR&M projects; architect-engineer services, or 4P A-E, including designs, studies, investigations, analyses and Title II; and advisory and assistance contracts, also known as GEITA, covering construction quality assurance, programming and planning support and construction management.

AFCEE and AFCESA officials accept SR&M projects through a clearing house process. In this process, project managers review, prioritize and approve SR&M projects submitted for execution. The clearing house staff verifies project alignment with the agency's core competencies and recommends a course of action for projects that do not fall within their scope of service offerings.

AFCEE officials have experience executing SR&M projects. To name a few recent projects, AFCEE engineers renovated the old clinic at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, with improvements totaling more than $10 million. This includes new lighting, skylights, expanded waiting room areas, new furniture, flooring, signage and landscaping.

AFCEE representatives are also in the process of renovating dormitories at Dover AFB, Del., converting the old 4-room, 2 bathroom units to all private rooms with an adjacent private bathroom. This $7.2 million dollar project is scheduled for completion in Aug. 2010.

AFCEE officials also will be handling a $9 million renovation project at Randolph AFB on Building 100, known to many as the Taj Mahal,  Built in 1929, this building is the home of the 902 Flying Training Wing headquarters as well as the base commander. The inside plumbing, electrical system, air conditioning and communications equipment will be modernized and replaced, while preserving the historical, 1920's vintage appearance.