PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT: AN INSIDE LOOK

The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Public Works Department (PWD) is the cornerstone of the Navy’s shore-based operations. The comprehensive suite of Products and Services delivered by PWD enables the projection of sea power to provide unrivaled support for the warfighter. PWD is always prepared and ready to support the warfighter and our customers

“24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are kind of like the old saying from the post office. ‘Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail shall keep us from responding to an emergency.’” Said Philip W. Hammond, the Deputy Public Works Officer.

PWD Bahrain provides shore facilities management, operations maintenance, construction and repair, base operating support services, and environmental management in support of 148 Tenant Commands assigned to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Isa Air Base, and facilities in the United Arab Emirates.

The PWD is led by CDR Riley Smith, the Public Works Officer and is comprised of approximately 183 personnel, to include approximately 98 Bahraini Grade employees, 62 military personnel, 16 Government Civilian employees, and 6 contractors. The department is organized into four branchs consisting of the Facilities Management Branch (FMD), Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Branch (FEAD), Production Branch, and Environmental Branch (EV).

FMD is responsible for identifying facility requirements, for repairs and renovations, real property assets on the installation including space management, and real estate coordination.

FMD is broken down into three different divisions; Requirements, Asset Management, and Real Estate to ensure facility requirements are executed.

Primary interface between the PWD and supported commands lies within the Requirements branch. Main functions are to facilitate project development along with the Product and Services Work Induction Board.

Requirements supports command interface by operating the Installation Service Desk where customers may call for any facility related issues.

Besides the service desk, the branch is responsible for the building manager program and validates requirements to enable the execution teams to focus on the appropriate workload. The branch is also responsible for performing facility inspections to ensure facilities are maintained and repaired per Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) requirements. The branch is also responsible for answering service calls, which can be made 24/7.

The Asset Management branch manages all Class I and Class II property, develops short to long-range plans for the installation, and develops integrated priority lists for many programs such as; military construction, special projects, demolition, and installation appearance. Planners manage the physical space on the installation and work with supported commands when their space requirements change. They also ensure that planned work meets regulations, instructions, master planning and safety requirements through the site approval process. Within the Asset Management Branch, a host-nation planner works with the off-base organizations to ensure the Navy does not infringe upon local laws and regulations. This branch is also responsible for Geospatial Information and Services (mapping) and Real Property Asset accounting.

The FMD’s Real Estate branch is responsible for identifying the rental requirements for land and facilities to support the warfighter mission. This includes facilities in the BANZ warehouse area, NSA I, NSA II, NSA III facilities, and warehouse space in Hidd. As well as space to support the operation mission. Real Estate also provides leasing accommodations for tenant command housing off base.

The FEAD branch is responsible for all design, contracted construction and services, and acquisition planning and contract administration. Within the branch is the Project Management and Engineering Branch (PMEB), Contracting Branch, and the Facility Support Contracts (FSC) Branch.

When a customer submits a request for design work, it is initiated through the PWD work induction system. Once validated it will be assigned to the PMEB branch. Typically, the PMEB handles the majority of the design requirements. These requirements produce a construction contract package that includes an independent government cost estimate, along with full plans and specifications for construction completion. Aside from design packages, the PMEB is responsible for Construction Management of projects including safety compliance, administration of construction and quality assurance efforts by the government team. Effective construction management includes coordinated oversight of contractor submittals, quality assurance, prospective contract modifications, scheduling and progress payments.

The Contracting Branch performs administrative contracting duties. Once a contract is awarded, the contracting office ensures all contract provisions, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and supplementary requirements are fulfilled. Contract awards are for construction projects, services and repair, and task orders for the base operating support contract.

Planning, procurement, and management of shore installation facility services and base operational support is the primary role of the FSC branch. The branch is responsible for providing technical support for the contracting and oversight of facility support contracts on behalf of the PWO and Contracting Officer to meet the service requirements of NAVFAC’s supported commands. FSC includes such facility services as grounds maintenance, custodial, pest control, integrated solid waste, street sweeping, facility and utility operations and maintenance, and other installation support services. Here at NSA Bahrain the primary contractor performing functions established by FSC is Kellogg, Brown and Root(KBR). KBR is responsible for operating the water treatment plants, maintaining the medium voltage electrical, installation back-up generators, HVAC systems, custodial duties, grounds keeping, and vehicle maintenance.

Sailors, Marines and Civilians interact with PWD Bahrain’s Production Branch personnel more than any other branch within the organization. The Production Branch is responsible for ensuring facilities, utilities, and transportation assets are maintained appropriately. The Facility Sustainment Branch is responsible for all facility maintenance, repairs, alterations, and new construction incidental to maintenance. The branch is also responsible for executing planned maintenance and emergency work. The Utilities Service Branch provides utilities operations and maintenance, billing, assessment of utility systems. Here on NSA Bahrain, this includes the water treatment, wastewater, electricity, and water cooling systems. The Transportation Branch manages an inventory of government vehicles, performs vehicle maintenance, coordinates Government Civilian rentals, and maintains weight handling equipment and heavy equipment.

The Environmental Department has several divisions, which support the installation. Environmental Compliance division is responsible for providing environmental protections services, including hazardous waste management, lab sampling and testing, industrial waste removal, bilge water removal, and other environmental functions. Environmental compliance is also responsible for developing installation-level environmental policies,