Photo By Jack Adamyk | Marine and Navy officers, and the employees comprising the Public Works Division...... read more read more
Production Plant Barstow, Marine Depot Maintenance Command, has embarked on a year-long construction project with a groundbreaking ceremony held on the Yermo Annex aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California, Nov. 28.
“We are building a Combat Vehicle Repair Facility, similar to our current structure with additional crane support capabilities so that we can quickly adjust to changes in workload,” said Victor Anaya, Engineering Technician with the Engineering Branch and project manager for the construction, which is scheduled for completion in December 2019.
Colonel Eric Livingston, MDMC commander, and Col. Craig Clemans, MCLB Barstow commander, as well as engineers and other personnel from both facilities, participated in the groundbreaking event.
The new structure will have 32 open bays, an administration area for supervisors, a breakroom, female and male restrooms, a telecomm room, electrical room, mechanical room as well as external mechanical yard, Anaya explained.
“One of the concerns was improving working conditions for employees,” said Nancy Wilson, Engineering director, Production Plant Albany, MDMC, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany. “The artisans were working outside in the extreme weather conditions known to the High Desert, such as extreme heat, cold, and sandstorms. This new facility will get those employees inside, into a protected and conditioned environment improving their quality of life and improve production efficiencies.”
It will save the government money in the end, by increasing productivity. In the current outdoor facility, work has to stop when the conditions are too extreme, halting production entirely and experiencing delays waiting on mobile crane support. In the new facility the cranes will be a permanent part of the structure and readily available, Wilson explained.
“This also improves the Return Cycle Time,” said Alicia Florez, Engineering Manager for PPB. “This, in turn, helps us meet deadlines, too.”
The process for getting funding for this project was a long one. The first proposal was submitted in 2001.
“Any military construction that will go over $2 million, must go through a military construction process, which includes Congressional approval,” said Florez. “The proposals are submitted for each base across the country and all of those proposals compete for the same pot of money under the Department of Defense. Everyone thinks their project is the most important, but of course, that’s just not how it works. The projects compete locally, then regionally, then nationally.”
Once they get Congressional approval, Naval Facilities Engineering Command is able to start the solicitation process and contractors will bid on the project. This project was awarded to Mortenson Construction.
“The location of the new facility is located at the Old Horseshoe to the west of the main building,” Anaya said. “Phase one is to get rid of the 30 dilapidated and corroded sun shades currently on the site.”
In addition to the 32 open bays, the structure will be approximately 60,000 square feet, and 60 feet tall. It will include two 40 ton cranes, and multiple 1.5 ton jib cranes. The facility will house up to 140 current employees who will shift from other functional areas. The facility will be a climate controlled building which will allow artisans to work more efficiently and away from the extreme weather conditions they work in year round.
“Which employees and shops will be housed in the new facility will be decided by Chip Schwartz, the Plant Manager,” said Anaya. “That will be announced over time and at his discretion.”
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2018 17:54 |
| Story ID: | 303292 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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