Air Force aims to save by asking all Airmen to clean up Published Dec. 5, 2008 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Standard "levels of service" are being implemented across three Air Force contracts. The new levels of service are effective immediately and must be fully implemented in all contracts by the start of fiscal 2010. Many of the changes had already been implemented at Tinker, and most of the rest will start Jan. 1. Known as the "big three," grounds maintenance, custodial and integrated solid waste management (refuse collection) will change to meet the new levels of service. "This standardized approach will ensure all Air Force installations receive the same 'level of service' as funding allows," wrote Gen. Duncan McNabb, vice chief of staff, in a May 23 memorandum about the changes. "These standards were carefully developed to meet mission requirements and provide a clean, professional work place while acknowledging the realities of today's fiscal environment." At Tinker, the most noticeable difference will be changes to both Operations & Maintenance and Depot Maintenance Activity Group custodial contracts. The custodial contractor will eliminate individual trash pick-up and will implement trash collection from centralized areas located within each facility. Also, there will be no more periodic cleaning such as dusting or glass and spot cleaning. The new Air Force standards allow Tinker to offer only two levels of custodial service, "prestige" and "basic," for government employees. Levels of service are predetermined for units. Prestige service is specified for general officers, wing and installation commander's suites, education centers and other high traffic areas. Basic service is specified for general administrative and industrial areas. With the prestige service, trash will be picked up from a centralized location twice a week and restroom cleaned one time per day. With the basic service, trash will be picked up once a week and restrooms cleaned twice a week. Tinker general officers have declined the extra services and will adopt the "basic" standard. "Our leadership fully supports these new standards," said Gene Gallogly, Base Civil Engineer, "and they did not want one standard for their office and a reduced standard for the men and women they lead." Ruby Gray, primary Quality Assurance lead for the 76th Maintenance Wing's Depot Maintenance Activity Group contract, which funds custodial service for the industrial facilities, said a drop to basic custodial service will be felt throughout Tinker's 38 industrial facilities. Restrooms in facilities that are serviced by the DMAG contract are currently scrubbed and detailed twice a day. They are also policed for cleanliness and supplies twice a day. Under the new Air Force levels of service for industrial facilities, they will receive basic service and will only be cleaned once every two days. "It will be quite a change," Ms. Gray said. There will be no change in the levels of service in restroom cleaning on the Operations and Maintenance custodial contract, which services 178 facilities on Tinker. Those restrooms were already maintained at the new standard. Other changes Tinker personnel can expect to the "big three" contracts are minor. Under the grounds contract, flowerbeds will only be maintained at the installation main entrances and headquarters. All other flower bed maintenance must be funded by the affected organization. No other services on the grounds contract will be affected. Officials said adjusting to the overall changes will require individuals to take more personal responsibility toward the base, their facility, and their work spaces. "The new Air Force standards will require a culture change," said Gary McCracken, 72nd ABW Contract Surveillance Division chief. "6S requires employees to take more personal responsibility for maintaining their work area and cleaning up after themselves. This extends to maintaining common access areas such as hallways and break rooms. This means if you come across a piece of paper in a hallway or in your office, pick it up and dispose of it. Don't make the assumption someone else will do it. It also means you should avoid leaving a mess that someone else will have to clean up. Take pride in your work area. Take pride in Tinker." Each facility will be contacted to implement the custodial changes over the next year. For more information, call Ms. Balsley at 734-3301.