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aUNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN BOOKSTACKSFOREWORD
It is imperative that a Military Installation present a visual image that is both professional and attractive. In order to effect this image, it is important that the design, location and maintenance of buildings, roads, parking lots, and signs be a top priority to that installation’s Commander and personnel.
It is a fact of life that many DLA facilities are old and that fact, combined with inadequate maintenance due to lack of funds and competing priorities, has led us to a situation where we must take immediate steps to correct this decline of our facilities.
While there is no single approach to a facility improvement program that will work in every situation, this executive guide has been developed to provide an approach using lessons learned from the Military Services where the programs have been successful. It is comprehensive enough tocover the depots, but also it has considerable application to those organizations in a tenant status. Your Facilities Staff will help you develop programs and will recommend how work can best be performed, balancing requirements against available resources.
CHARLES McCAUSLAND Lieutenant General, USAF Director
Defense Logistics AgencyWHY FACILITY IMPROVEMENT?
Remember, the keys to success are:
Your involvement
A good plan - short-and-long term goals Widespread interest and participation Commitment of resources Steady but patient progress
QUALITY
FACILITIES
MOTIVATED
PERSONNEL
MISSION
SUCCESSYOU NEED A PLAN
Any major project involving multiple entities, resources, and widespread commitment to change needs a plan. A facility improvement program is no exception. Following a comprehensive plan will facilitate success.
A piecemeal approach may add to the problem rather than provide solutions.
A plan provides continuity as commanders come and go.
A plan provides a basis for soliciting financial support from HQ DLA, OSD and Congress, and appreciation from the local community, and the state.
A plan helps establish priorities for resource allocation and work accomplishment.
A plan gives a yardstick for measuring progress and identifying problems.A Facility Improvement Plan must be tailor-made to fit your installation. Be sure the user has correctly identified the problem. Not ail problems require facility solutions but, for those that do, this guidance will be a great help.
Development of a comprehensive plan requires a considerable amount of effort from a large number of people with a wide variety of expertise. There are, however, some proven hints to help you develop and maintain a complete and successful Facility Improvement Plan which will produce positive results.
Understand the concept Encourage involvement Determine goals and objectives Keep the plan balanced Establish priorities
Incorporate existing plansUNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT
Planning should be comprehensive. Consider the points made in this guide and solicit the advice of 'your’ Installation Master Planner or HQ DLA Master Planner and other professionals (such as independent consultants in architecture, engineering and planning) .
Develop long-term goals with intermediate and short-term objectives.
Encourage innovation but discourage 'hobby shop’ or ’far-out' suggestions which you know are not feasible.
Remember that even though the Facilities Engineer is the keeper of the plan and, to a large extent, the implemented installation-wide involvement is necessary if the plan is to succeed.
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Be supportive. Your Facilities Engineer needs your support, your advice, and your guidance.
The plan needs a kingpinl - The Installation Commander is the kingpin!ENCOURAGE INVOLVEMENT
Get the key people on your installation involved.
They don’t have to do the detail work--their representatives on working groups do that--but they must identify requirements and establish priorities.
Key players should be the Installation Commander, Director of Installation Services, the Facilities Engineer, the Master Planner, the Contracting Officer, the Comptroller, and the Supply Officer. Others may also play big parts, but these are the people who can make it work given sufficient support from the rest of the installation.
Don’t forget tenant organizations.
Solicit comments from established groups.
Government employee union representatives might have an interest in the plan. If so, keep them in the information loop.
City/State/Federal legislators will support you if they understand your goals and methods.
Community interaction is important.DETERMINE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Remember--establish long-term goals and intermediate or short-term objectives.
Set milestones to track progress. Match resources and time to reach realistic milestones.
Keep the mission in focus, not just that of the installation or organization but also of the specific facilities to be modified or constructed. Remember--you will have activity improvements as well as facility improvements to implement.
Coordinate the final list of goals and objectives with all key players. Ensure there is clear understanding and commitment to the goals. People will learn to recognize and understand the plan through group meetings.KEEP THE PLAN BALANCED
For instance, don’t concentrate on all new construction or on modernizing just one type of facility. Consider the entire installation for self-help projects, new construction (as needed) and maintenance/ repair of existing facilities.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of just making the installation look good, i.e. putting ail the emphasis on exterior appearance. It is important to consider interior condition and appearance and the appropriateness and efficiency of the housed activi-vity as well.
BALANCED REQUIREMENTS
INTERIOR
EXTERIOR	LIVINGESTABLISH PRIORITIES
Ultimately, this is your decision, but it will be easier to implement if some consensus is reached.
Priorities are influenced by facility condition, mission need, and resource availability coupled with your judgement.
Consider funding trends and projected changes in mission, equipment or manpower.
Priorities are changeable, but changes should be kept to a minimum if the plan is to have credibility.
FACILITY CONDITION
RESOURCE
AVAILABILITY
MISSION
NEED
JUDGEMENT
PRIORITY DECISION MODELRemember the "invisible facilities” that mean so much to the operation of your installation. The components of your installation infrastructure, including such things as electrical distribution systems, streets, mechanical systems, water mains, etc., have a tendency to be forgotten until they fail. Part of the balanced programs mentioned above is the allocation of resources to keep these invisible systems working properly and, if necessary, to replace them in a timely manner.INCORPORATE EXISTING PLANS
Your installation has a reservoir of plans and studies which contain information you can incorporate into your Comprehensive Facility Improvement Plan. Examples are as follows;
Architectural Compatibility Plan Paint Plan Signage Plan Landscaping Plan
Utility, Pavements and Structural Maintenance/ Repair Plans (infrastructure)
Land Management Plan
Interior Design Plan and Schedule
Traffic Engineering StudyREFERENCES:
DLAR 4165.8, Sign Standards for DLA Activities
DLAM 4270.1, DLA Facilities Project Manual
MIL. HDBK 1190, Military Handbook, Facility Planning and Design Guide
DLA-W letter to all PLFAs and PSEs dated 24 March 1989, subject: DLA Policy on Painting of Masonry Structures
DLA-W letter to all PLFAs and PSEs dated 27 July 1989, subject: Installation Appearance Standards
DLA-W letter to all PLFAs and PSEs dated 12 October 1989, subject: DLA Policy on Self-HelpEXISTING FACILITIES
While there is no one way to accomplish an installation-wide program to improve existing facilities, there are certain fundamental concepts which can, if adhered to, make the program more effective and provide continuity. If a Facility Improvement Program is to succeed, you must pay particular attention to the following:
Exterior finishes
Interior appearance
Landscaping
Visual effects
Signs
Disposal
YOUR EXISTING FACILITIESWhere possible, use materials that do not require painting now or in the future.
In most instances, masonry is still the best choice for low maintenance and good appearance.
Brick, split-faced concrete masonry units, textured concrete, stone and exposed aggregate are excellent choices.
One masonry color and texture should predominate throughout the installation to provide a theme and continuity. Variations should be used as accents or to reduce repetition.
Ensure all exterior metals are prefinished in the same color, such as dark or medium bronze.
Remember roof colors. Coordinate them with each other and walls. Most roofs should be the same color throughout the installation.Exterior painting is a key issue. Paint schemes should reflect the "professional” image of a DLA installation. If you don't have a cyclic plan as part of your comprehensive plan you will more than likely have an installation that does not display color coordination. This will detract from your overall improvement efforts.
Planning should not be based on an isolated look at individual structures. Your paint plan should be sufficiently detailed to show graphic schemes and color interaction with other facilities. Stand back 100 yards and view the relationship with other facilities/environment. Develop a three dimensional perspective of building clusters.
Finally, your paint plan should specify individual facility colors and painting frequency.
The installation color plan should feature no more than two or three major colors in most instances.Use earth tones that complement the exterior surroundings (natural and facility). Don't use bright ‘electric’ colors. Some colors are appropriate for fabrics, plastics, automobiles, etc., but highly inappropriate for buildings. Soft colors are the answer.
Graphics should be carefully and professionally done and have a definite function. Accent stripes are permissible and encouraged.
Facility number colors should complement the color of the facility exterior.Test a color scheme on the building’s backside, out of sight. Get agreement from professionals and occupants before proceeding.
If you don’t like the finished scheme, don’t start over immediately. Corrections should be made by repainting.
Water towers do not need to be advertisements for Ralston-Purina. The towers must be highly visible from the air but need to be deemphasized in most ground level views. Painting a water tower with an earth tone is recommended.
Self-help involvement can expedite your painting schedule but encourage supervised self-help.Integrate the complete interior. Do not piecemeal. Furniture should be selected at the same time as floor, wall, and window materials and should be compatible. Professional assistance from an interior designer will help.
Consider using wall coverings with long life expectancy to reduce painting requirements.
Wainscoting is not a recommended feature for contemporary work spaces. Use other design features for wall treatment in most applications.
Use accent walls to break monotony.
Do not use ceiling tiles on walls and doors except where acoustic treatment of vertical surfaces is specifically required (such as communications security) .
Carpet will last in most administrative spaces if properly installed with good padding. Carpet also reduces noise.
Window treatments are potential energy savers. Do not cover the windows and then increase electrical light levels.One-inch wide blinds (in colors or wood) can control light and direct it to the ceiling where it is reflected to all parts of a room. Curtains can reduce heat loss.
Do not use extremely bright colors or high gloss finishes. Earth tones provide the best color theme and provide a sense of comfort.
Upgrade heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems concurrent with interior improvements.
Develop office clutter rules and enforce them. Require framing of all displayed items.
Use installation service contracts to paint and rehabilitate furniture that cannot be replaced. All painted furniture surfaces within an area should be one color. All horizontal surfaces should be the same wood grain. Limit furniture within an area to one style.
Use sound absorbing materials when you can.
Consult with occupants when preparing custodial contracts. The contracts must provide enough service to keep facilities clean and presentable. This requires periodic carpet, window, and wall cleaning. Be picky. Have door knobs, push plates, hand rails, etc., cleaned frequently.
Enforce the contract.LANDSCAPING
Landscaping is important. It provides low cost functional as well as cosmetic improvement and brings comfort to sterile industrial areas.
Plants not only look good, they can reduce energy consumption and save dollars.
Different parts of the installation need special attention, i.e., installation entrances, headquarters buildings, living and recreational areas.
Select hardy plants that are easily maintained, indigenous to area, and drought resistant.
SiPlant for dramatic color contrasts in spring and fall. Fragrant species are an added benefit.
Eliminate messy trees (such as sycamore) that drop leaves throughout the fall and winter. An acceptable deciduous specimen should drop all leaves within a short period.
Use some coniferous trees for greenery year round.
Use small spreading evergreens at the base of tall, leggy shrubs.
Provide visual relief and break up large paved parking areas with plantings.Trees can be planted to shade buildings in summer and allow the sun to heat buildings in winter.
Use landscape features to screen unsightly areas.
Control all plants. Don’t let them overgrow. Allow for growth when planting.
Use mowing strips and foundation planting that can be mowed without hand work.
Mulch with earth colored material to control weeds.VISUAL EFFECTS
SCREENING
Screening can be used to hide visual atrocities. Screening will require excessive maintenance if overused or if improper materials are selected.
Landscaping is usually the most economical choice for screening. Use natural terrain features or earth berms that can be easily mowed or planted with ground cover.
When attached to a building, screening should look like part of the building. Coordinate colors, texture, materials, and scale.
Do not use slats in a chain link fence as a final solution. Slats are a maintenance headache.
Do not create a mowing problem. Raise screening structures off the ground to allow a mower to go under them or use concrete mowing strips.
Since most of our installations have an industrial mission, screening should be primarily used in administrative, housing, and community areas.Use buildings as screening. Locate parking lots behind buildings.
Orient service functions away from primary sight lines.
Locate trash dumpsters to keep them from becoming major site features.
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LIGHTING
Lighting illuminates obstructions, highlights landmarks, and provides a sense of orientation and a feeling of security. A plan should be developed for lighting systems which are compatible with the architectural style of the area.
Establish a lighting system which promotes a sense of visual continuity throughout the installation. Coordinate lamp and fixture types for various areas.
Relate fixture type and mounting height to scale of facilities and architectural style.Different types of lighting are best suited for specific needs. High-pressure sodium is good for primary streets, secondary streets, and large parking lots. Mercury vapor is good for residential streets and small parking lots. Metal halide and incandescent are good for pedestrian walkways and recreational facilities.
Use accent lighting to illuminate important landmarks and buildings. It aids nighttime orientation. Don’t overlook lighting for important 3igns.
Reduce glare by reflecting light off buildings.
Balance your lighting plan with your energy conservation efforts.VISUAL EFFECTS
VISUAL CLUTTER
Good scheduling can aid significantly in removing visual clutter. Traffic congestion, and trash removal operations can detract from an otherwise orderly, ’professional’ installation appearance.
Traffic congestion can be reduced through staggered work shifts.
Provide commercial truck access and routing to avoid a conflict with rush hour.
Have traffic surveys conducted if congestion is chronic.
Schedule trash removal during early morning or late night hours.
Use trash compactors when economical.
Litter clean-up is a must.
NIGHT DELIVERIESSIGNS
Signs should have a consistent format, color and size. Take a look at your signs; you may have a hodgepodge.
DLAR 4165.8 provides direction on DLA signs. HQ DLA-W controls waivers for exceptions.
Develop a sign master plan, including sign standards and enforce them.
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Recreation Area ^ SHoppetla ^Do not permit individual units to put up or paint signs. Symptoms of an out of control sign program are oversprays, wrong colors, poor spelling, and too many signs. (However, the installation sign plan should provide for input from the installation users.)
Establish a signage system which represents a hierarchy of information, giving priority to those destinations most often sought by people unfamiliar with the installation. Directional signs should be limited to major points required by visitors/ newcomers.
Don’t use buildings as billboards.
Use international symbols whenever possible.
Signs often remain in place even when outdated or not required. Get rid of them.DISPOSAL
We tend to retain buildings which have long surpassed their intended life, even after new facilities have been built to replace them. They are often energy inefficient, generally unsightly, and costly to maintain. Develop a disposal plan and stick to it.
People will struggle to hold on to these relics.
Resist and dispose of these outdated facilities.
It’s easier to keep a user out of a vacated structure than vacate the user, once established.
Remember, all proposed disposal actions require HQ processing and approval through DLA-W in order to insure concurrence of DLA-0 in the case of storage facilities general compatability with facility plans and agreement from Military Service owning real property.NEW FACILITIES
The techniques outlined for existing facilities are appl cable to new facilities as well. In addition, there are other concepts which should be considered.
Siting
Architectural compatibility Environmental effects Maintainability
YOUR NEW FACILITIESSITING
Determine the purpose of the facility, and site it accordingly.
Plan for expansion. Consider possible growth arising from mission changes.
Site new buildings to take advantage of wind and sun. Protect from water, including drainage, and resultant staining of walls.
Site similar facilities together, i.e., industrial, recreational, etc.Provide the installation with a focal or identity point. A sense of belonging can be given by some local design or development feature such as small park. Consider the regional or cultural characteristics of the local area as possible themes. Identify pedestrian traffic patterns and likely areas of congregation and consider their impact on facilities siting and exterior areas, i.e., housing areas, rec-creation areas, and other subareas of the installation.
Be sensitive to vehicular traffic and parking. Analyze traffic patterns as they affect location of facilities.Reflect the influence of regional and local architectural, social, cultural, and ethnic characteristics.
Create a sense of place. When one enters the housing area, the area’s function should be made clearly apparent by design, landscaping, and related features. The same goes for administrative, community center, industrial and recreation areas.
Similarly, relating buildings to each other further enhances a sense of location. Do not depart radically from an established style, color scheme, or landscaping theme.
Plan lor ExpansionProvide some continuity and uniformity but not monotony. Use a common thread throughout the installation. Simple use of paint color, sign type, or landscape idea can provide this thread.
Where possible, work at human scale. Large buildings should incorporate scale reducing features, such as step downs and canopies at entrances, to be inviting.
Reduce visual clutter. Dispose of buildings, signs, and fences that are unsightly and no longer maintainable.ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
Forests, open space, lakes, streams, steep grade and rocky areas are usually unsuitable for development. Use them for recreation, visual relief, local interest, and separation of building sites.
Preserve favorable features. They can make the difference between a sterile, industrial, unattractive installation and an installation which incorporates the best of the natural environment.
Enhance natural amenities. If a pond exists, stock it with fish and provide picnic facilities.Life cycle maintenance costs should be considered in all materials selections, for example: wall covering vs. painting.
Incorporate maintenance and operation requirements when considering siting and construction requirements.
Provide ready "hidden' access to utility and mechanical systems. An example is placing utility lines in vaults under sidewalks.
Have your Facilities Engineer consult with the experts - the craftsmen in the engineering shops -to ensure new designs do not repeat the mistakes of the past.The infrastructure provides the foundation for operation of an installation. It includes utilities and mechanical systems, structures and pavements. These systems are often hidden and therefore forgotten and taken for granted until they become inoperative. It is easy to overlook the infrastructure when balancing your Facility Improvement Plan. The result can be a "$10.00 horse with a $40.00 saddle.* Again, the best management tool is a well thought out, detailed plan which incrementally prioritizes your requirements. The infrastructure plan must consider the following:
Utilities/Mechanical Systems
Structures
PavementsTHE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
The plan should project maintenance and repair requirements for a minimum of 5 years; 15 years is more desirable.
Tailor infrastructure requirements to the mission.
Look ahead and plan utilities or pavements to meet future growth. Consider technological changes that can improve the infrastructure.
A detailed assessment of your infrastructure is needed to determine maintenance/replacement require ments, economic life, and resources required for system upgrade. This assessment will serve as a basis for determining the priorities and follow-on programming action.
Your Facilities Engineer and system operators can help in sizing up the physical condition and expected life of the infrastructure systems. The advice of civilian architect-engineer firms can be valuable.
The bottom line is that adequate attention to the installation infrastructure is essential to the success of your facilities improvement program.
A CYCLIC PLAN
REPAIR/REPLACE IN "]
1-1	YEAR (?
2-2	YEARS IL
3-3	YEARS
4-4	YEARS
5-5	YEARSYour Facilities Engineer and system operators can help in sizing up the physical condition and expected life of the infrastructure systems. The advice of civilian architect-engineer firms can be valuable.
The bottom line is that adequate attention to the base infrastructure is essential to the success of your facilities improvement program.UTILITIES/MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
Include the power production, electrical distribution, water, air conditioning, heating, steam distribution, waste disposal and other systems which keep your installation operational.
Save energy through use of state-of-the-art technology. Inefficient and improperly designed or maintained heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems are energy hogs. Make sure your Facilities Engineer has a positive program to work this problem.
Many utility systems are underground. Access to these systems is essential but can be hidden through screening and landscaping.
When planning for new construction or alteration projects, maximize use of underground distribution, particularly along major roads.
A/ter - Underground UtilitiesA regular inspection of structures will ensure maintenance/replacement requirements are identified. Your Facilities Engineer should have a facility survey program to accomplish this.
A common problem is with roofs: failure is not always apparent until it’s too late to maintain, making complete replacement necessary. Plan to replace/ repair roofs based on physical life expectancy, i.e., 20-year roof.
OUCHI!
\The appearance of structural surfaces such as foundations can often be improved through cleaning or sandblasting. Use painting as a last resort. Special paint and surface preparation are required to minimize maintenance.
Settling (a cracked wall) is a sign of trouble. The cause must be determined immediately to preclude structural failure.
Termite inspections must be accomplished and, when signs of termite infestation appear, remedial action taken.PAVEMENTS
Pavements must be properly maintained to counter the effects of weather, moisture, and traffic. They demand a lot of attention.
Ditto for streets and parking lots.
Special teams, such as 'pot-hole repair teams' provide a systematic approach to spring repairs. Have employees adapt a *1 own a pot-hole to fix* attitude.
Major failures must be repaired immediately to preclude further damage.
Street cleaning operations should be accomplished during off-peak hours, if possible.
Use sidewalks and curbs to help improve appearance, curbs also reduce pavement breakage.
Install curbs at heavy traffic locations first (main gate and community areas.)
Locate sidewalks to accommodate people. Make them wide enough for pedestrian flow. Ensure proper sidewalk distance from trees to prevent damage from root growth. Sidewalk material should complement architectural treatment of buildings.There are three primary ways to accomplish facility
improvements---contract, in-house forces, or self-help.
Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages and
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in implementing your important to weigh
each can play an important role Facility Improvement Plan. It is capabilities inherent in each method and incorporate them into your balanced plan. Innovation and initiative come to play here, your Facility Engineer can provide advice on how to best approach any given project. Each method of Facility Improvement is reviewed:
Contracts
In-house
3s >'-* *u'vy.,.Military Construction Program
These are big dollar projects, often with long lead times.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or Naval Facilities Engineering Command are the DOD design and construction agents.
Insist on quality design, workmanship, and design compatibility with installation facilities as they will be when the plan is implemented (not necessarily as they are now).Different categories of work involve variable funding approval limits. Have your Facilities Engineer stay on top of this and avoid big problems.
As with all facility projects, make sure the user is in the loop during early stages of planning and design.
Your Facilities Engineer is responsible for ensuring quality construction.
Contracting Officer and Facilities Engineer must work closely to ensure we get what we pay for.
Projects must balance quality of life, mission support and modernization/upgrade.
Avoid mid-course changes after construction is underway.Contract must be well written and properly administered, again requiring close cooperation between the Facilities Engineer and Contracting Officer.
A poor contract or contractor can cause facilities, new or old, to become a mess, with obvious implication for occupants comfort/morale and subsequent Operations and Maintenance costs to remedy the situation.IN-HOUSE
Facilities Engineering Division (Maintenance Personnel) can be a major contributor to implementing your Facilities Improvement Plan.
This in-house work force provides a variety of skills and, in most cases, a pool of experienced craftsmen capable of completing small to medium scale projects, particularly those involving maintenance and repair of existing facilities. That portion of the work force available for installation improvement can have a great deal of impact if managed with flexibility and imagination.
Remember that the Facilities Engineer must reserve a considerable portion of this in-house capability to attend to the needs of the installation infrastructure.Facilities improvement cannot supersede operations and maintenance of existing utilities systems, roads and grounds, buildings, mechanical systems, etc.
Once again, proper balance in resource allocation is required.
Control work requests to ensure that projects fit into your overall improvement plan. Insist on sticking to established priorities and eliminate 'gold watches.’
Expand your in-house capability by using overhires, summer help, on-call employees, and Guard/Reserve forces when possible. Divert idle or underused skills to shops which are overextended. Rent equipment from outside of the installation if required to get the job done. Consider approving overtime to take advantage of favorable weather and daylight hours.SELF-HELP
This is a good way to initiate grass-roots interest and involvement in the overall Facilities Improvement Plan. It is also a great way to build organizational pride. Self-help can be a force-multiplier if properly planned and controlled.
Improper control and supervision can make self-help counterproductive to your overall goals and objectives. Facility Engineer (or his designee) approval of all self-help work is a must.
Project approval should be quick and easy but the Facilities Engineer must ensure compliance with safety, building codes, and project cost approval limits.
Insist on quality. Once work begins, proper surveillance and technical support will keep it on track.Successful programs are under implementation from within our Government. Learn from their experience. They can point you in the right direction.
Consider potential help from the civilian sector. Universities or colleges offering courses in architecture, engineering, and interior design often look for 'real world’ projects for their students to tackle as part of their curricula. Maybe they will take some as part of your program.
Youth groups, such as Scouts, 4-H, and Future Farmers of America, may enjoy the opportunity to become involved in a community improvement program. Ditto for adult groups.
Incentive award programs promote pride, encourage participation, and provide excellent publicity.
Examples are Family Housing Yard-of-the-Month, and Self-help Recognition Programs.Any effort to upgrade, fix-up, enhance, beautify, or otherwise improve installation facilities must be tempered with common sense and good management. There is potential for fraud, waste, and abuse accusations. As you provide new facilities, renovate older ones, or perform required cyclic maintenance such as painting, proceed with intelligent planning and innovation so the end result is aesthetically pleasing and functional. This approach promotes worker efficiency, productivity, and resource conservation. Don’t beautify for beauty's sake. Instead, build and maintain with purpose.
There are specific areas which you need to watch:
Project approval limits Project changes Resource allocation
Regulatory programsThere are limits established by HQ DLA, Department of Defense and Congress.
Your Facilities Engineer must keep you aware of these limits and the Installation Commander should insist on compliance.
Limits change. Appeals and variances may be sought when needed. Be sure you are working with current information.Most changes can be avoided through good planning and coordination between the Facilities Engineer and user.
Changes made during the design stage become most costly after design is about 35% complete.
Changes made during construction are particularly undesirable, since they are very expensive and project funding thresholds might be exceeded. This creates all kinds of problems in terms of congressional concern and appropriation of additional funds.
Frequent changes can jeopardize the entire plan’s credibility, thus detracting from the support of HQ DLA, OSD and Congress for follow-on projects.RESOURCE ALLOCATION
Remember the key...balance.
Capitalize on the strengths of your in-house work force and be aware of its limitations.
Involve key commanders and staff in the resource allocation process, i.e., prioritization, timing, etc.
If you need HQ DLA assistance, call for it. DLA-has an organization chartered to support the field activities.REGULATORY PROGRAMS
Failure to observe can be very costly.
Occupational Safety and Health Act Facility access for the handicapped Fire safety codes
Other building codes and standards Historic Preservation laws
National Environmental Protection Act and other laws affecting environment protection and management of natural resources.The ideas and suggestions in this guide should help you develop and implement a comprehensive Facility Improvement Plan for your installation. Some of the suggestions are probably 'old news’ to you. Hopefully, others will give you new insight into the facilities improvement arena. Many are nothing more than good common sense. The key reminders are:
Facility Improvements enhance productivity and convey a message that ’someone cares.’
A comprehensive plan is a must for success of any concerted effort to improve installation appearance and facility conditions.The plan should specify goals and objectives, priorities, balance between the infrastructure and other improvements, and design and improvement concepts.
Your Facilities Engineer is the keeper of the plan. Success requires installation-wide participation.
Provide a dedicated commitment of resources.
Practice sound architectural concepts when developing your plan. Follow through.
Steady but patient progress produces the best results. Balance contract, in-house, and self-help efforts.
Watch project cost approval limitations and eliminate potential for fraud, waste, and abuse.
Occupant involvement results in better care.
ADVERTISE YOUR PROGRAM.