Description
Organization: NAVFAC, OICC Naples Italy
Team Name: Naples Improvement Initiative Team
Related Acquisition Topic(s): Acquisition Practices Streamlining, Paperless Contracting, Paperless Program Office, Partnering, Total System Performance Responsibility
Description:
OICC Naples Italy is responsible for the management and execution of the largest and most complex facilities acquisition program underway in the Navy today. The Naples Improvement Initiative (NII) is a comprehensive design/construction/lease/maintenance program aimed at the total re-capitalization of the Navy Community in Naples, Italy. Program Objectives to improve Life Safety, Quality of Life, Security, and Operations, and control escalating lease costs are being accomplished through a combination of over $650 million in Lease Construction and MILCON at two site approximately 20 km apart in the Naples area.
The successful execution of this vitally needed re-capitalization project is remarkable in itself. Considering the high visibility, with top political and Military interest; complex lease/design/construction facilities and infrastructure; state-of–the-art seismic standards; extremely time/cost critical nature associated with existing leases; unparalleled archeological constraints; and demanding overseas environment with language and cultural differences, the successes of this program are monumental.
The $260M MILCON program at Capodicino includes construction of the operationally critical C41 Admin Building, Gymnasium and Recreational Facilities, Exchange Facilities, Child Development Center, Barracks, Dispensary, Library and Chapel. On a confined site, adjacent to the Naples Italy Airport, this work has progressed successfully in-spite of major technical and administrative problems, including a number of contracts that had to be terminated for non-performance and re-procured. It has been a remarkable achievement, largely a result of innovative contracting and the construction management skills of the individuals assigned to these contracts, that projects were successfully accomplished to meet operational schedules to support critical NII milestones.
Key to this success were acquisition strategies that packaged projects of different fiscal years with pre-priced options in a single contract, source selection procedures and use of design-build concepts. Each contributed to assuring “best-value” acquisitions, reducing risk, economizing on overhead and mobilization, attracting more capable quality-driven Italian contractors and faster delivery of facilities. These processes delivered facilities that were of consistently high quality, integrated with common materials and systems and assuring a uniform standard and appearance throughout the installation.
The Support Site construction program totals $420M with it’s enormous success predicated upon some uniquely different but equally difficult challenges than the Capo MILCON program. It is the largest undertaking of facilities development through a lease/design/construct acquisition process ever undertaken by the Navy, if not the Department of Defense. Constructed on private land in the small Comune of Gricignano, the entire lease construction program is privately financed by the developers selected through four separate source selection processes. Execution of this program has been impacted by: numerous challenges to the procurement process; legal challenges to the Italian land-expropriation process; and archeology findings that have delayed construction and required the re-siting of a number of structures. Because of the extent and unique nature of the archeological discoveries, numerous 4500 year old, bronze age agricultural settlements, the site has been reclassified as a protected area by the Italian Ministry of Culture and Environment, requiring a far more complex and time consuming site clearance process.
Similar to Capodichino, the acquisition planning and execution were essential elements in the successful build-out of the Support Site. The capital investment by the U.S. Government was essentially zero, funding only administrative costs, with the developers providing all required financing for the design and construction efforts. Again these procurements used source selection and contract packaging strategies that preserved competition and assured “best-value” contracting. Additionally, the lease contracts include options for facility maintenance and buyout options for the purchase of any facility or group of facilities, that could be effected if economically beneficial and support for MILCON can be obtained.
The Support Site Construction program is approximately 50% complete as of January 2000, having completed 550 housing units, elementary and high schools, child development center, security and telephone support buildings and extensive infrastucture. When complete the site will contain a community environment of over 120 different buildings, providing administrative support, a medical/dental facility, and retail and recreation facilities in addition to the schools and housing.
Concurrently with the execution of this program, OICC has implemented an automated Construction management and Lease administration process that greatly increases the effectiveness of the office, significantly reduces the paper generated and most importantly improves the intercommunications with our customer, headquarters, claimants and the developers, contractors and consultants involved in this program. Project information ranging from public relations and general project status to building plans and specifications and other contract information are available to varying degrees through web based technology. OICC has established a new standard for information and contract administration throughout the Command.
The success of the Naples Improvement Initiative is the result of an intense dedication of the individuals identified above. All obstacles, from the archeological challenges to cultural and language differences, have been opportunities to learn from and adapt to. Most impressive has been the team approach that predominates the day to day relationships between the OICC, the customer, the developers, Italian officials and numerous consultants and subcontractors contributing to the program execution.
Bottom line, OICC has used innovative acquisition practices to deliver world class facilities and unparalleled improvements to the Quality of Life of our sailors and their families.
