Contract Offers “Best and Brightest Solution” for Environmental Cleanup

  • Published
  • AFRPA / PA
San Antonio, TX --  The Air Force recently awarded a Performance Based Remediation (PBR) contract to complete environmental clean-up at the former Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Tex.

Shaw E&I Group of Knoxville, Tenn., received a $37.5 million award spanning clean-up at 30 sites at the former base. This comes amid an Air Force-wide approach of utilizing PBRs, allowing private industry contractors to focus on results rather than methods.

"Performance Based Remediation contracts provide the best and brightest solutions aimed at achieving site closure faster and at a reduced cost to the Air Force," said Paul Carroll, Air Force BRAC Environmental Coordinator for the former Kelly AFB. "It is the new way of doing business."

This PBR utilizes an aggressive approach that will result in accelerated site closeout at the former base. The Air Force anticipates reducing annual out-year costs by 69%, while saving 31% in cost-to-complete expenses over the next 30 years.

In addition to saving money, the PBR contract accelerates the Air Force's ability to restore a significant portion of the land to unrestricted community reuse faster. "Unrestricted reuse" means there will be no restriction against developing the land for any particular purpose. Approximately 25% of the sites at the former base are expected to reach unrestricted site closure by FY2019.

The Air Force closed Kelly in 2001 under the Base Realignment and Closure Act. Since then, the Air Force Real Property Agency has transferred 1,887 acres to Port San Antonio, the local redevelopment authority. AFRPA continues to work with Port San Antonio to manage environmental data and comply with deeds and agreements. The former base was formally transferred to Port San Antonio in September 2010.

AFRPA acquires, manages and disposes of Air Force-controlled real property worldwide. The agency's BRAC division has managed the remediation and transfer of more than 77,000 acres of property at 35 former installations to local communities for economic development.

For more information on the environmental cleanup program at the former Kelly AFB, please call 866-725-7617 or email afrpa.pa@us.af.mil.