Description of Work/Type of Construction:
BE&K provided engineering, construction trades and materials for the reconstruction work at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, in Belle Chase, Louisiana. The scope of work included the installation of HVAC and electrical service in 207 berthing tents; and plumbing and electrical services for three shower platforms and two galley facilities constructed on an open field. This tent camp provided living and dining facilities to 5,000 troops supporting Hurricane Katrina recovery operations.
Additional work on this project included the creation of trailer office areas, RV parking areas and a new Child Development Center. In all, BE&K worked to complete three concurrent task orders: construct the tent camp; establish berthing; and provide maintenance and operations for the crew living quarters.
Unique Aspects of Project:
BE&K established satellite communications equipment that enabled a continuous interface with home office support organizations. Through this process, we facilitated and expedited the use of existing business systems to perform procurement, human resources and subcontracting activities necessary to the success of this project. To monitor work activities, daily costs were accrued, verified and assembled into daily production and cost control reports. As accrued costs approached pre-set action levels, the prime contractor was notified.
Due to the devastating impact within the region, the sustainability of the workforce became a limiting factor in support of timely mobilization. In spite of this obstacle, BE&K mobilized craft and professional personnel to the job site with arrival within 72 hours of Notice to Proceed. We provided temporary housing for our workforce, constructing a trailer park, dormitory, laboratories, shower facilities and waste water collection systems concurrent with our emergency response activities.
Material shortages were prevalent throughout the region as well. BE&K overcame these shortages using our existing network of suppliers. As a major EPCM contractor, BE&K’s buying power and existing working relationships alleviated many critical supply issues. In conjunction with several critical suppliers, we established consignment trailers at the jobsite that enabled us to maintain a supply chain of critical materials throughout the project.
We addressed equipment shortages through the utilization of the existing equipment inventory contained in the BE&K Saginaw Warehouse. BE&K was able to mobilize equipment trailers containing vehicles, heavy equipment, small tools, generators and communications equipment as necessary, usually within 24 hours.
Due to the lack of local labor, multiple subcontractors were required to complete the project. In all, six subcontractors were able to contribute to the effort at any single moment, and at its peak, the project involved a workforce at 225 employees.
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