$44 million in stimulus headed to Tinker from Recovery and Reinvestment Act Published April 3, 2009 By Brion Ockenfels Tinker Public Affairs TINKER PUBLIC AFFIARS, Okla., -- The Department of Defense released an expenditure plan March 20 and Tinker could receive up to $44 million of the approximate $7.4 billion provided to the Department under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Base civil engineers received approval for 42 of the 71 projects submitted for stimulus funding. Engineer and Construction Branch Chief William Ward said the DOD spending plan for Defense-related appropriations account for less than one percent of the total $787 billion stimulus package signed on Feb. 17 by President Obama. Appropriations in this bill are available for obligation through the end of fiscal years 2010 and 2013 for military construction. But at Tinker, Mr. Ward said, "our goal is to award as many as we can by June 17, which is 120 days from the signing of the bill." Meeting the short turnaround time wasn't too challenging according Mr. Ward. Tinker Facilities Board Working Group officials meet regularly to review project list for facilities that support America's warfighters. Success in getting many of the projects funded was simply being prepared, he said. "Working closely with civil engineering customers, our internal Maintenance Engineering Team and the Facilities Board Working Group, we maintain a prioritized listing of unfunded facility projects here at Tinker," said Mr. Ward, "so we already had a pretty good list of projects." Generally, the criteria states that the projects had to be quickly executable said Mr. Ward. As a result the approved projects were identified based on Facility Board rankings and the Base Antiterrorism Office. Tinker's top 10 list includes airfield repairs, the construction and repair of various anti-terrorism projects, repair to heating and air conditioning in large industrial facilities, roadwork and roofing. Also working with civil engineers is a fourteen person team from the 72nd Contracting Squadron. Mark McKenzie, flight chief of the Construction Contracting Team, said his team will work to negotiate contracts with contractors that submit a response for proposals including small business concerns. He said contractors may get RFP information at www.fbo.gov/. "We want to encourage small businesses to participate and create opportunities to stimulate local economies through use of local construction contracts," Mr. McKenzie said. According to Mr. Ward, the projects should get started late Summer to early Fall. Air Force wide the recovery act provides approximately $1 billion in additional funding for facility sustainment and repairs at active, Air National Guard, and Reserve installations. These projects will improve roofs, utility systems, pavements and operational facilities for Airmen, as well as improve energy efficiency. Additionally, the act provides funding for Air Force energy research programs so DoD and Air Force can continue to lead the way in the national effort to achieve greater energy independence. The Air Force is receiving approximately $75 million for research and development. Funds from the act will also be used to continue research of fuel cells, wind, solar and other renewable energy sources to include bio-fuels and bio-energy. Through a Web site, set up by the Department of Defense, the public can monitor what projects were selected and how the funds are spent by visiting www.defenselink.mil/recovery or www.recovery.gov.