Tyndall Air Force Base rebuild sees progress: $357M contract awarded for infrastructure project
BAY COUNTY — The rebuild of Tyndall Air Force Base is steaming ahead with another $357 million in projects unveiled for the base that was destroyed by Hurricane Michael in 2018.
Lane Construction Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of Webuild Group, was awarded the large U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contract to rebuild parts of the base with hardened infrastructure to address future climate change challenges.
The rebuild is expected to start this summer and take five to seven years to complete, said Don Arias of Tyndall's Natural Disaster Recovery Office (NDR).
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When Hurricane Michael laid waste to the base more than three years ago, Arias said it inflicted about $4.7 billion of damage. The Category 5 hurricane damaged or destroyed 484 buildings and forced the Air Force to relocate 11,000 personnel and 46 aircraft.
"Airmen and their families were a priority following the storm," Arias said. "It took a great amount of organization and leadership to make sure every family was safe."
What's in Tyndall's $4.9 billion recovery plan?
According to Lane Construction, the design-build project will be done in two phases and is part of Tyndall's $4.9 billion recovery plan. The project consists of roadways, fencing, lighting, parking, water, wastewater, electrical, stormwater, communications, fire protection infrastructure and other related works.
Army Corps of Engineers officials said Lane Construction will be required to comply with the Miami/Dade County Hurricane Standards of the Florida Building Code.
The years-long Tyndall rebuild will include 44 new military construction projects and 120 facilities, sustainment, restoration and upgrading projects, Arias said.
A priority of the rebuild is to harden the base's infrastructure against future hurricanes.
"Infrastructure is the foundation of Air Force readiness and lethality," Arias said. "Effective infrastructure is inextricably linked to ensuring readiness, lethality and combat power while providing safe communities for our airmen and families."
According to Army Corps of Engineers officials, the infrastructure project is a "design-build contract," which allows the designer and contractor to use their skill and talent to meet contract requirements based on the contract's scope.
Arias said the Tyndall oversight team is building a "resilient, efficient and innovative base of the 21st century that will serve as a benchmark for the Department of Defense.
"The Installation of the Future will be optimized for mission success and fueled by modern technology, innovation, and connectivity to give the Air Force a competitive advantage for continued mission success," Arias said. "The NDR program team at Tyndall AFB is using innovative technologies that increase cybersecurity and perimeter defense, enhance base safety and equip airmen to execute the missions of today and tomorrow."
$357 million contract is latest in long list for Tyndall
Fifteen contracts have been awarded so far for the base's reconstruction:
September 2020 — Childcare center
June 2021 — $91.5 million new lodging facility
July 2021 — $6.3 million mobility storage facility for Security Forces
July 2021 — "Installation of the Future" headquarters
July 2021 — Special purpose vehicle maintenance facility
August 2021 — New emergency operations center
September 2021 — $18.2 million for the base's commercial gate complex project
September 2021 — Silver Flag training missions
November 2021 — New dormitory complex
January 2022 — $6.4 million sexual assault prevention response facility project
February 2022 — $32.5 million flightline munitions storage area
February 2022 — $80.6 million for five buildings to support the storage, assembly, and maintenance of subscale drones
March 2022 — $22.1 million to construct facilities for civil engineer operations, a base engineer maintenance shop, storage shed and storage facility
April 2022 — $15 million for small-arms range facility
May 2022 — $357 million to harden base's infrastructure
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Tyndall Air Force Base: Contract awarded for infrastructure project
