SUBASE marks IGSA success with pedestrian tunnel ribbon cutting

ByMC2MaxwellHiggins

Subase New London Public Affairs

GROTON Conn. Naval Submarine

Base New London marked the completionamuchanticipated,pedestriantunnel restoration project with a ribbon cutting, Monday, July 10

SUBASE Commanding Officer Capt.

Kenneth M. Curtin Jr joined Finance Officer Tracey Malenfant and Program Manager Kimberly Bona, of the Capitol RegionCouncilofGovernments(CRCOG), and representatives from the base Public WorksDepartmenttocelebratethesuccess of this first SUBASE completed project resulting from a new Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA)

SUBASE signed three IGSAs in April 2022 establishing new partnerships with the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, Groton Utilities and the CRCOG to enhance operational efficiencies and economies of scale in areas beneficial to base infrastructure support.

The realized cost savings of the pedestriantunnel restorationprojectisaperfect example of the benefits of IGSAs noted Curtin at the event.

“Each year approximately 26,000 people pass through this tunnel connecting upper basetothehighersecurityzoneoflowerbase,” said Curtin. “When I took command of the base, I noted the poor condition of this vital access way and challenged our Public Works teamtoseewhattheycoulddoaboutit.”

A key obstacle in restoration of the tunnel was the lead paint common in many pre-WWII era facilities on the base While a small project in the scope of the many Public Works efforts significant to base operations, initial estimates to abate and repaint the tunnel were upward of $250,000 Through the IGSA, SUBASE Public Works was able to take advantage of existing CRCOG contracting to pursue and reimbursetheCouncilforworkperformed by State of Connecticut approved, vetted vendors.Thesignificantsavingsincontract overheadandworkallowedSUBASEPublic Works and HAZ-PROS Inc., of West Hartford, Conn., to complete the restoration at a reduced cost of only $133,596

Moreover, SUBASE Public Works, in collaboration with the SUBASE Safety Office, was able to get the project selected to receive funding from the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command’s MishapPreventionandHazardAbatement Program (MPHA).

“SUBASEhasalongtraditionofbeingthe ‘FirstandFinest,’soit’strulyfittingthatthis project was not only the first IGSA project completed on SUBASE, but also the first SUBASE MPHA funded project,” highlighted Curtin Malenfant and Bona relayed CRCOG’s pleasure in being able to support SUBASE through the IGSA.

“We are all excited to see what’s next, said Bona.