The program begins with quality furniture based upon a well-developed set of guidelines. The projects that have been executed show an immediate and tremendous opportunity for saving time and limited government funds. They also represent an incredible return on the small investment required to keep the reuse program running. With an initial $10,000 investment along with an additional $114,000 over a four-year period, the reuse program has established $1,453,018.79 in actual documented savings. These savings currently represent a 1,172% return on the government’s investment.
With a single Government point-of-contact, the program establishes a central place (contractor) to collect, repair/refinish, inventory and warehouse furnishings that meet current professional standards. The centralized collection of these items is available to all installation organizations and tenants, as well as, any Government organization in the local area.
Once a particular item has outlasted its usefulness with all local Government agencies, the Reuse program implements a legally approved alternative to DRMO dismantling and recycling of raw materials. Delivery and processing of discarded items through the DRMO process are costly and time consuming for contributing agencies. These costs are rarely within the limited budgets set aside for furniture procurement. Once no other Government agency can be located to take possession of the furnishings, they are classified as demolition items in conjunction with the new procurement installation and become the property of the reuse contractor. These items are then given a new life of usefulness among non-profit and/or charitable agencies in the local area. The cost savings and tax benefits established by the contractor in this process are relayed to the Government in the form of the removal of discarded items at “no cost” to the Government. Furniture items classified as broken or unusable are recycled through traditional DRMO procedures.
For more information, contact Mr. Jerry L. Sorensen at (719) 556-6278 or via e-mail at jerry.sorenesen@peterson.af.mil
