MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. -- Editor’s note: This is the first article of an eight-part series on Inside Installation & Environment Division.
Within the federal government and Marine Corps, there are many projects to be done to complete the force’s mission to include upkeep of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany’s buildings.
Unfortunately, there is not enough expertise or resources available to accomplish this, according to Antron Patton, construction control inspector, Installation and Environment Division, MCLB Albany.
Patton is responsible for overseeing a variety of contracts to ensure they are in compliance with federal regulations and contracted services.
“As contracting officer representatives, we administer contracts that are issued from this base such as construction, repair, building or preventive maintenance,” he said. “We follow the contracts through all of the various stages from start to finish.” There are various contract jobs on base such as grounds maintenance, janitorial services, facilities repair and construction, which support the local economy through job creation.
According to Patton, local businesses contract with the base to provide needed services through a bid process, which is managed by I&E. The contracting officer handles the bid process, and the inspectors take over from there once everything is signed and both parties agree.
“We are the eyes and ears of the government to ensure the contract is followed and carried out according to plan,” Patton said.
Patton said his team’s role is important because when the base has requirements the government cannot complete on its own, a bid or request for proposal is put out to contractors to see if they have the ability to complete or fulfill that need.
“Equipment is returning here that will need repairing, and we may have to build new facilities to house the equipment or ensure the existing ones meet the needs of Maintenance Center Albany,” he said. “A major responsibility here in Public Works is to provide and maintain the facilities.”
Patton added requirements for facilities and other services are always changing, especially with the reduction of the war effort.
“We have several contracts creating several jobs on base such as the new barracks, warehouse maintenance and the one I’m primarily responsible for, the janitorial services contract with Power Works, a Goodwill company,” Patton said.
Power Works employs nearly 70 individuals on base. Crews work in every building, according to Patton, who regularly inspects their work. The work crews are responsible for floor care, general cleaning, grass cutting, tree trimming and more. Patton said the base has about 400 acres of land personnel are responsible for and he ensures the employees are doing their part.
One of the newest projects I&E is working on is a new mobile filing system that will be housed in Building 5500 and used as a library for all previous projects.
“As a construction control inspector, Antron is the chief facilitator between the contracting officer and the contractor providing vital custodial and grounds maintenance services to the base, said John Hoffpauir, deputy public works officer, I&E. “As a member of a 10-person team that oversees everything from grounds maintenance to construction of major facilities aboard the base, Patton also oversees minor construction and repair type contracts.”
Hoffpauir said the team ensures that the base receives maximum value from limited facilities resource funds.
“Antron is a valued member of the Public Works team,” said Harry H. Bailey, facilities contract support manager, I&E. “He takes our mission of providing excellent cost effective customer support very seriously. He assures the performance measures stated in these contracts are adhered to. He does a particularly good job at handling customer complaints and conflict resolution.”
Bailey said Patton has been formally trained in Lean Six Sigma and is a great help in the department’s continuous process improvement efforts. He has also taken an active role in the Voluntary Protection Program, especially as it relates to contractor safety issues.
“Every now and then I get a special project, but a majority of my time is spent with Goodwill or Ferguson Williams, a multi-trade, multi-functional company that handles repairs,” Patton said. “This is also the base’s way of boosting the local economy by providing jobs. It is vital to what we do because we do not always have the expertise or manpower for the job.”