Building 544 is a research and development facility for Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Panama City Division, which was severely damaged during Hurricane Michael in 2018.
“The damage caused by the hurricane included water intrusion through the roof, making 80% of the building unusable,” said Facilities Engineering Acquisition Division, Director Lt. Maria Beltre. “This project will provide specialized office spaces for approximately 100 NSWC engineers and scientists, who have been relocated to temporary spaces across NSA Panama City.”
The project includes demolition of select interior partitions, removal and replacement of exterior doors, and storefront entrances. The interior drywall will be replaced, along with adding a new acoustic ceiling grid with LED lighting. Some of the alterations include new wall and floor finishes. The old sprinkler system will be removed and replaced with a new fire alarm system.
The project’s estimated completion date is set for September 2022.
Small businesses play a vital role in the American economy - employing half of our country's workforce, creating nearly two out of every three new American jobs, and often being the source of the next great American innovation. NAVFAC Southeast strives to meet its goals and build on its successes by providing contract opportunities to these businesses.
“NAVFAC Southeast invests in small businesses to support our national defense,” said John Bazylewicz, NAVFAC Southeast assistant deputy director for Small Business. “Small businesses fuel the American dream, which grows the local and federal economies that ultimately strengthen the warfighter.”
Bazylewicz explained that small businesses provide construction, professional and supported services expertise that support the Navy’s mission and the men and women in uniform. It is through strong policy and sound business processes that NAVFAC is able to develop capabilities based strategies that consider program risks, cost, schedule and technical requirements that help meet the expectations of supported commanders while supporting public policy objectives.
Each year NAVFAC establishes target goals for Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone Small Business (HUBZONE), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business categories. Utilizing these small business concerns to the maximum extent practicable is a matter of National interest with both social and economic benefits.