The Department of Energy (DOE), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) consolidated their space requirements in the vicinity of Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB) in Albuquerque, NM. The DOE Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is assisting the FAA with the Airworthiness Assurance Nondestructive Inspection Validation Center (AANC), which provides scientific expertise in inspection, maintenance, and repair of aging aircraft. SNL needed approximately 50,000 square feet of hangar, laboratory, and office support space for this AANC effort. About the same time, an organization that support DOE’s operations in Albuquerque needed to replace approximately 140,000 square feet of light industrial and office space. Kirtland AFB was also in the process of relocating its fire department that provides emergency response for civilian and military aviation. As part of their missions, all three organizations needed space with flight line access at Kirtland AFB.
An initial assessment revealed that no existing facility could meet the needs of either the DOE or USAF. Both agencies, with the FAA, decided to participate in a joint real estate plan that would address their immediate space needs. The real estate plan identified a consolidated site that met the requirements of all organizations.
The coordination of all parties was able to improve efficiencies and reduce the project development time. The cost of the project was also reduced since the facility was situated so it could use existing runway, taxiway, and flight lane ramps at Kirtland AFB. And once the AANC project was completed, either the USAF or the Albuquerque International Airport, which shares runways with Kirtland AFB, could acquire the hangar and associated support space in the new facility.
For more information, contact Ms. Deborah Garcia-Sanchez at (505) 845-5460 or via e-mail at dgarcia-sanchez@doeal.gov
