honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 21, 2005

Base subcontractors needed on O'ahu

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

FREE FORUM ADDED FOR NEXT MONTH

What: Forum for potential subcontractors to learn how to participate in $1.8 billion-plus in military home construction subcontracting work at military bases.

When: Nov. 17, 7:30-10 a.m.

Where: Waikele Golf Club House

Cost: Free

To register: Call 748-4412 or e-mail Mladena Yankova-Lapitan at mladena.yankova-lapitan@actuslendlease.com.

spacer spacer

Actus Lend Lease, which will build and renovate Air Force and Army homes on O'ahu, is looking for local subcontractors for more than $1.8 billion in military housing subcontracting work.

Actus set up a forum for potential subcontractors this morning at the Waikele Golf Club House but is also organizing another free forum on Nov. 17 because the company received twice as many responses as it expected.

"This session came as a direct result of our desire to partner with the local business community," Actus spokeswoman Bennette Misalucha Evangelista said. " ... As the agenda indicates, we want to get into the nuts and bolts of the bidding form, our administrative requirements and the meticulous internal process we go through in selecting our subcontractors."

Since the military began awarding massive Air Force, Navy and Army housing projects on O'ahu in 2003, Hawai'i subcontractors have been hoping for a piece of the work.

Actus, which won the right to develop projects at both Hickam Air Force Base and Schofield Barracks, has vowed to focus on local subcontractors.

"We would only approach Mainland contractors if the local subs are unavailable or incapable of delivering elements of work," said Steve Goraczkowski, Actus' regional director of construction for Hawai'i. "This is the very reason why we are having these forums. We want to raise the level of awareness, the level of competencies, so the majority of our work will go to small and local businesses."

Goraczkowski said Actus will need subcontractors from all of the major trades for things such as site work, building rough trades, building finish trades and specialty contracting for solar power and solar hot water systems.

The Hickam project includes 816 new homes and renovations to 564 homes, a housing office and community center, recreation center and swimming pool. Work began in May and is scheduled to be completed in late 2009.

The Army project involves $2.3 billion for the initial 10-year construction work and is considered the largest project of its kind in the military.

It involves more than 40 neighborhoods in six military installations on O'ahu:

  • The first phase includes 1,432 new homes, 706 renovations and five community centers. The work was started in June and is scheduled to be finished in 2008.

  • Phase 2 includes 2,010 new homes, 900 renovations and two community centers. The work will start in January 2007 and is scheduled for completion in 2011.

  • Phase 3 includes 1,713 new homes, 900 renovations and three community centers. The work is scheduled to start in August 2010 and be completed in 2015.

    The Department of Defense has adopted the housing privatization strategy since 1996 to speed upgrades to military housing, estimating it would take 30 to 40 years and $30 billion for the government to upgrade 168,000 "inadequate" military homes around the country.

    The program has private developers spending their money to upgrade and maintain the housing, then collecting rent over 50 years. The military leases the properties to the developers for 50 years, taking the risk that enlistments might fall and bases could close.

    "Actus is making a real and concerted effort to help construction-related companies meet the administrative requirements and selection criteria of our projects," said Damien Hertslet, Actus' regional vice president for operations. "Our intentions are clear: We want Hawai'i small and local businesses to be part of the economic gains ... as we undertake one of the largest construction projects in Hawai'i's history."

    Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.