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| Wilson: KAFB Housing Project Clears Major Hurdle |
March 12, 2003 |
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Largest Construction Job Since Big I Will Create NM Jobs
Albuquerque, NM - Congresswoman Heather Wilson today says that a $173.7 million construction project at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) is closer to becoming a reality. The KAFB Housing Privatization Project, in the making for several years now, has cleared Congressional approval and is now pending approval by the Office of Management and Budget. Wilson says she expects the OMB to approve the project within days, making way for final selection and negotiation with the successful contract bidder.
Wilson also pointed out that the project will have a significant impact on Albuquerque’s economy. Though the contractor is expected to be based out of state, there will be significant opportunity for on-site jobs and for New Mexico-based construction companies to work on the project as sub-contractors. Wilson has consistently worked to maintain Kirtland Air Force Base and keep its missions strong so that when there is another round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) in 2005, Kirtland will be in good shape.
“This will be the largest construction job in New Mexico since the Big I and will employ thousands of New Mexicans. This project will bring $173 million dollars worth of construction work to Albuquerque for the base,” said Wilson. “Our men and women in the military should have better housing than we have at Kirtland today. We need to tear the crummy units down, and build new ones a family would want to live in. Today, we’re much closer to making that a reality.”
Wilson, a member of one of the Congressional committees that had to render approval, said the project will significantly improve living conditions on the base and should strengthen the base’s position during the next round of Base Realignment and Closure, currently scheduled for 2005. According to Wilson, both the House Armed Services Committee, where she serves, and the Senate Armed Services `Committee have approved the plan.
Congressional notification of the Kirtland project - required by law - was held up when a similar proposal at Wright Patterson Air Force Base was stalled by a key member of Congress who expressed concern with that deal. Wilson engaged the Committee Chairman involved and asked the Pentagon to move the Kirtland project forward, while promising her help to avoid any delays in the House. The project today is on the tail end of a 45-day Congressional Notification period, which started just before the holidays.
Defense officials estimate that they’ll seal a deal with a contractor in mid-March.
The Base currently has 1,784 housing units that many, including Wilson, describe as under par. The contractor selected for the project will be responsible for demolishing 1,573 of those units, and will then construct 867 new ones within 3.5 years. When the project is complete, the Base will have a total of 1,078 units and will also have a commitment from the contractor to renovate or replace each of the units within 25 years of the last renovation or construction.
Last year, Wilson secured $8.4 million for a housing complex for visiting airmen and officers at the base. Currently, visitors at the base have to use off-base lodging. The existing visitor’s quarters are currently at full capacity, and a large percentage of visiting airmen must be housed in off-base contract quarters. Over 100 airmen per day are sent to contract quarters, costing the government over $3.0 million per year. During peak seasons, these off-base quarters can be up to 60 minutes away.
In recent years, Wilson has also added the following projects to the Department of Defense Budget for KAFB: $14 million to upgrade ramps and runways; $7.35 million to build a new fire and rescue station jointly used by the base and the Sunport; and $4.3 million to construct a new Small Arms Range and Support Facility
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