Engineering and Environmental Services

Case Study:

Los Angeles Air Force Base

PRIDE Industries Reduced Operating Costs by More Than 65 Percent

The Los Angeles Air Force Base (LA AFB) is home to the Space System Command Center (formerly the Space and Missile Systems Center), a subordinate unit of the United States Space Force. It is the center of technical excellence for research, development, and the acquisition of military space systems. The center is responsible for on-orbit checkout, testing, sustainment, and maintenance of military satellite constellations and other space systems. The installation spans six locations: the Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, CA; Fort MacArthur, Pacific Heights and Pacific Crest in San Pedro, CA; Camp Parks Communication Annex in Dublin, CA; and the Defense Contract Maintenance Agency in Carson, CA.

Situation

In 2007, when the leadership of L.A. Air Force Base was seeking a contractor to perform repairs and implement a comprehensive maintenance program, they turned to a facilities management provider who was up to the challenge—PRIDE Industries.

At the start of the contract, PRIDE Industries focused on the most critical repairs: large air handlers which had corroded; landscaping that was not drought-tolerant; a base pool which had been closed due to safety issues; and upgrading the grounds at the Child Development Center, where outdoor gravel posed a choking hazard for children.

The base also needed support in its environmental and engineering departments, including coordination with regulatory agencies, design layout, inspection, real property management, and base-asset tracking. To ensure the smooth operation of these and other maintenance functions at the base, PRIDE Industries devised new management processes and timetables.

Solution

In PRIDE Industries, the Los Angeles Air Force Base found a partner that could meet their rigorous maintenance requirements in operations, engineering, and environmental services. Since 2007, our excellent work has resulted in completion of critical repairs, implementation of optimal maintenance processes and timetables, the meeting of engineering and environmental requirements, and four contract renewals. Our work has included:

Replacing the rusted air handlers with updated models that are designed to withstand local conditions
Xeriscaping the grounds throughout the base, replacing green areas with desert-friendly flora
Repairing and refurbishing the pool to make it safe and fully operational
Replacing the gravel around the Child Development Center with large stones rated as safe for children
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) asset tracking
Real property management
Regulatory compliance assurance with federal, state, and local entities
End-to-end project development, including design, implementation, and inspection
Vibrational analyses on critical equipment
Ongoing preventative maintenance

Services Provided

Building manager programs
CADD Services
Community planning
Grounds and landscaping
Construction design review
Construction management and inspection
Energy management
Environmental compliance
Estimating
Fire chief services
GIS database management
IT support services
Maintenance engineering services
Pest control services
Project budgeting and programming
Real property management
Recycling services
Reliability-centered maintenance
Roads and grounds maintenance
Space allocation
Utility system services
Warranty program services

Results

Since 2007, our contract with LA AFB has been renewed multiple times.
The scope of the original contract work has expanded by more than 100%.
In 2013, the Defense Contracting Management Agency (DCMA) facility in nearby Carson was added to our service area.
In 2015, we began providing engineering and environmental services to the 61st Civil Engineer and Logistics Squadron, which is responsible for all engineering design, construction, renovation, pollution prevention, environmental restoration, compliance, and conservation programs.
PRIDE Industries now provides landscaping and facilities management services for 40 acres and 68 buildings at the LA AFB, including two communication centers, two department stores, and a grocery store.
Since 2007, our year-over-year completion rate is 99% for preventive maintenance projects.
PRIDE Industries supports the regional economy by subcontracting to businesses that are owned by local residents, including women, service-disabled veterans, and other underrepresented groups.

Highlights

buildings maintained

acres maintained

65%

reduction in operating costs since initial contract

99%

completion rate for preventive maintenance year-over-year

“PRIDE Industries is a true partner of the Los Angeles Air Force Base. Their team works hard for the Air Force on a daily basis. Their dedication to the Preventative Maintenance program at LA has saved U.S. taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. I appreciate the PRIDE team and their dedication to our mission at LA Air Force Base.”

— Deputy Base Civil Engineer, LA AFB

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Providing Integrated Facilities Management services for military bases across the country, PRIDE Industries’ employees are well equipped to manage several different scenarios to help our customers protect their facilities and allow our country’s troops to best conduct their training and operations.

The Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker) Army Installation, located in southern Alabama, serves as a primary training base for Army Aviation; since 2013, PRIDE Industries has performed repair and maintenance for their facilities and grounds. PRIDE’s team faced a unique challenge there in November 2018 when the automatic shut-off system failed during the fueling of an aircraft at the Molinelli Airfield, releasing 6,000 gallons of jet propellant fuel (JPH). An estimated 350 to 400 gallons of jet fuel also hit the grounds around the secondary containment.

A Fast Response from PRIDE’s Facility Management Services

The Fort Novosel Environmental Department contacted PRIDE Fort Novosel Environmental and Health Services (EHS) Director, Walter Calloway, to request immediate assistance from the specially-trained PRIDE Oil Spill Team, consisting of Tommy Dixon (Safety Manager), David Warmouth (Facilities Manager), Scotty McCart (Lead Heavy Equipment Operator), Richard Henderson (Heavy Equipment Operator), Brad Dawkins (General Maintenance Worker) and Michael Beavers (Truck Driver).

Within 45 minutes, the PRIDE EHS team arrived. They worked along with the Fort Novosel Environmental Director on a plan to quickly contain the incident. Once the area was clear, they completed an evaluation to determine the extent of the spill. The PRIDE Oil Spill Team then tested the area, per the government request, by potholing the spill area to determine the depth and how much soil removal was required. Due to the hard-packed clay soil, PRIDE needed to remove 8 to 12 inches total.

The PRIDE Oil Spill Team worked for seven hours to remove all the contaminated soil and place it in an approved Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) land field. Next, PRIDE set a fuel barrier cloth with rocks on the ground and restored the landscape to its original state. After the ordeal, the team received the following feedback from the Fort Novosel Army Installation:

“Thank you for all of the support and quick response; the PRIDE employees who performed the clean-up operations were exceptional. Their attention to detail and efforts to ensure that the site was returned to the original (if not better) condition, was appreciated.”

Partner with us

When it comes to integrated facility management services, it’s vital to choose a team you can trust. PRIDE Industries will provide you the same high standards for service that we provide Fort Rucker. Partner with us to keep your facility operations running smoothly and safely.

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“Thank you for all of the support and quick response; the PRIDE employees who performed the clean-up operations were exceptional.”

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Since July 2010, PRIDE Industries has been providing facility operations and maintenance services at Joint Base MDL in Fort Dix, New Jersey. It is one of PRIDE’s 45 contract sites across the country.

In July, two staff members at the base noticed a family of Canadian Geese while performing a routine site inspection of the surface water pumping station. One of the geese became trapped. The employees’ quick action saved the life of the goose, reunited its family, and prevented a potential disaster by protecting the public water supply for JB MDL-Fort Dix—which has a population of approximately 40 thousand and an additional 60 thousand retirees within a 50-mile radius.

Facility Operations Employees Going Above and Beyond

The following is a transcription of the event:

“The Water Utility crew arrived at the remote pump station to find a family of Canadian Geese consisting of an adult male and female with several juvenile geese loitering on the concrete retaining wall above the water intake structure for the water pump station. The family of geese became startled as the PRIDE employees entered the pump station and jumped into the creek below. Unbeknown to Sean and Ian, one of the adults landed inside the water intake structure.

Sean and Ian returned to the surface water pump station the next day. While inspecting the pump station, Sean discovered that one of the adult geese, believed to be the male, was trapped inside the intake structure and was unable to get out. It was obvious that the goose was becoming exhausted from his many attempts to free himself by climbing out of the water intake.

Sean began to make phone calls to find someone to rescue the goose. The first call was to the PRIDE Industries Service Order Desk at JB MDL for Pest Control. Pest Control informed the Service Order Desk that performing animal rescue was not possible.

Sean then attempted to contact local animal wildlife organization. Each entity that Sean spoke to was not able to respond.

Realizing the goose was not likely to survive if it remained trapped and the hazard that this posed to the potable water supply for the base, Sean and Ian took matters into their own hands. Using a pool skimmer (from one of the two JB MDL pools that the water utility department maintains) and a long handle water sampling dipper, Sean and Ian were able to reach down and lift the goose up and over the wall of the water intake.

The male goose quickly swam to the far bank of the creek all the while calling out to his goose family. After a few minutes, the adult female goose followed by the goslings appeared from upstream and reunited with the male.”

PRIDE Industries Facility Operations and Other Services

When you partner with PRIDE Industries, it is our goal to provide the level of initiative and service that Sam and Ian demonstrated. Along with offering a wide range of operating support and maintenance services, PRIDE creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including veterans with service-related disabilities. PRIDE’s contract creates 111 direct labor jobs. Fifty-seven of these employees have significant disabilities and 13 are veterans.

In the New Jersey area, PRIDE also offers scholarship funds for students with disabilities at Rutgers-Camden University. Partnering with PRIDE means supporting our mission to help people at all skill levels to reach their professional goals.

Need help with your facility operations?

PRIDE Industries can help you with facility operations, custodial and maintenance services, job assistance, and other services.

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