establishing an in-house construction program...4/25/2019 1 establishing an in-house construction...

4/25/2019

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Establishing an In-house Construction Program

• AmericanStatesUtilityServices,Inc.(ASUS)owns,operatesandmaintainsprivatizedutilitysystemsfortheFederalGovernment.WesupportArmy,AirForceandNavyinstallationsacrossthenationwithefficientwaterandwastewateroperationsandmanagement.

• Througha50‐yearutilityprivatizationcontract,ASUSproudlyservesthefollowinginstallations:• EglinAFB,FL• FortBliss,Texas• FortBragg,NC(includingCampMackall)• FortLee,VA• FortJackson,SC• FortRiley,KS• JointBaseAndrews,MD• JointBaseLangley‐Eustis,VA• JointExpeditionaryBaseLittleCreek‐FortStory,VA

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UtilityPrivatization

• OwningandoperatingutilitysystemsisnotacorefunctionoftheDepartmentofDefense(DoD).• ArmyandAirForcehavehistoricallyunder‐fundedutilitiesinfrastructure.• UtilitiesPrivatizationprogramleveragesfinancingandeconomiesofscalebyturningoversystemstoindustryexpertswhowillbringutilitiestoindustrystandards.• Toobtainsafe,reliableandefficientutilityservicesforArmyinstallations.• Privatizationallowsinstallationcommanderstofocusoncoredefensemissionsandfunctions.• Utilities‐ electric,naturalgas,waterandwastewater

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UPCoreServices

• Completeoperationandmaintenanceofwaterandwaste‐waterinfrastructurefromtreatmenttopointofdemarcation• Emergencyresponseandrepair

• InitialSystemDeficiencyCorrections– identifiedduringsolicitationandtransition• Renewal&Replacement– basedonassetusefullife• Capitalimprovementprojects• NewServiceconnections

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In‐houseConstruction

• Establishedin2016to:• ExpediteconstructionschedulesreducingtimefromGovernmentawardtoconstructionstart

• Increasecontroloverconstructionscheduleandprogress• Reduceoverallconstructioncost

• Eliminateprojectchangeorders• Improveoverallconstructionqualityandjob‐sitesafety

• BeganasapilotprogramatFortBragg,NC(March2016)

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• ASUShas10in‐houseconstructioncrewsacross6states

• InternalcrewslocatedatEglinAFB,FortBliss,FortBragg,FortJackson,FortRiley,FortLee,FortStoryandJBLE

• Internalcrewscompleted20%ofASUSconstructionworkin2018,willgrowtoapprox.30%in2019

• In2019,willgrowto14crewsin7states

Staffing

• Lineworkcrewsgenerallyconsistof4‐5employees• Foreman,Operator,PipeLayer,ConstructionWorker• Largercrewsassembledfordeeperexcavationsandcomplexjobs

• Locationswith2ormorecrewsincludeaSuperintendent• Findingtherightpeople

• Internalcandidatepool• Externalcandidatescanbehardtofind

• Employeereferralprogram• Indeed• Industryjobboards(AWWA)• Non‐conventional– Newspaper,Internet

• Stricthiringstandards

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MaterialProcurement

• ExpeditingmaterialprocurementwhilemeetingallFederalAcquisitionRequirements(FAR)• Competitivebidprocess.• BuyAmericanAct

• Establishedcompany‐widematerialagreementwithanationalsupplier• 12‐monthagreement• Nationalpricingarrangement• PipepricesbasedonagreedtoBlockpricing

• Evaluatedevery90days

• Storedmaterials

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Equipment

• Standardcrewequipment• Largemini‐excavator(CAT308)• Backhoe(CAT420)• Skidsteer/loader(CAT299)• Dumptruck(mid‐size)

• Rentorbuy• Safetyequipment• PPE,airblower,tripodandharness,trench&MHboxes,hydraulicshoring,trafficcontrolitems,gasmonitors

• SharedequipmentwithOperations

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Training

• Safetytraining• OSHA30‐hour(all)• Trenching&Shoring• ConfinedSpace• Job‐sitetraining

• Annualsafetyrodeo• SafetyReportsapp

• Job‐sitetraining• HandsonexperienceforlessseasonedOperatorsandWorkers

• Standardoperatingprocedures

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In‐houseCapabilities

• Projectscompleted• Waterandwastewaterlinework• Liftstationsandforcemains• Manholeinsert• BFPsandmeters• Specialprojects– dryingbeds,waterpoints,securityfencing

• Linetapsupto12”• Gradingandrestoration(asphaltandconcrete)

• Constructionopportunitiesbeingevaluated• Laterallining• Manholelining• Directionaldrills

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Challenges/LessonsLearned• Safetyispriority1

• Continuousofficeandfieldtraining• Maintaininspectionofin‐housecrews

• Projectplanningandscheduling• Crewisfull‐time,mustalignprojectsandmaintainproductivity

• Shelfreadyprojectsarekey• Staffing

• Findingqualifiedapplicantsduringrecordlowunemployment

• Maintaininganengagedsubcontractorbase• 70%ofworkstillsubcontractedout• Smallbusinessperformance– maintained80.5%in2018

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Contact Us

Questions:

Brannon.richards@asusinc.com

(910) 723‐5749

(910) 495‐1311, ext. 190

Find Us:http://www.asusinc.com

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