AUTEC Berthing Renovations

Project Scope and Purpose

Martinez Construction was awarded this project as a single task order on a SATOC to provide renovations to two Coast Guard Ready Crew Berthing (RCB) Units and to upgrade and install a new tensile fabric helicopter shelter.  The RCB renovations were performed as a design/build and the helicopter shelter was design/bid/build.  The project was at the Coast Guard Forward Operations Base at the Atlantic Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on Andros Island in the Bahamas. 

Our contract included providing all labor material, equipment and supervision which was complicated by the logistical challenges of working in the Bahamas and the need to barge all materials and equipment, including trucks and an office trailer, to the Island.  Andros Island is very remote so we had to ensure everything we needed for the duration of the project was transported on the barge.

Specific Work Details

The Design/Bid/Build portion of the new tensile fabric helicopter hanger consisted of removing sections of the existing slab and building a new deeper and wider reinforced concrete foundation which we tied into the remaining existing slab.  We provided an electrical upgrade necessary for operation and maintenance of the new helicopter shelter.  The upgrade included a new feeder, new concrete pole, main distribution panel and lighting, and a complete grounding system and lightning protection.  We also coordinated barge transportation of the tensile fabric material and equipment required for installation (forklift, scissor lift, boom lift and generator). 

The Design/Build portion included full renovation of 2 RCB units.  Each berthing unit is approximately 1,080 SF of prefabricated concrete units with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, and common area.  We provided a complete interior and exterior renovation.  Exterior work consisted of roofing, painting, replacement of condensing units, gutters, downspouts, and grading. 

Interior work consisted of new flooring, new gypsum wall board, new kitchen cabinets, sink and faucets, new bathroom cabinets, sink, faucet, toilet, and shower, all associated plumbing, electric, air conditioning and painting.  We worked closely with Alpha MRC as our design partner to ensure the upgrades and renovations met all applicable codes and standards including wind uplift requirements for the roofing system.  We also coordinated with local utility providers for water, fire protection, sanitary sewer, and storm drainage ensuring our design met all applicable permit regulations.

The greatest challenge to this project was that it was awarded in November 2019 with the intent of having design finished to mobilize in March 2020.  When the COVID pandemic started the Bahamas enforced strict regulations and closed the base.  This created a logistical challenge to coordinate with the Navy, Coast Guard, and a foreign government when all parties were unsure of policy and requirements.  When we were finally given the clearance to mobilize many things were different.  When the island opened back up every contractor and project that had been delayed for almost two years was trying to get barges unloaded on the island at the same time. 

Instead of passing responsibility to solve this problem, we remained actively engaged with not only our client, but the other contractors on the base as well.  We were able to mobilize and finish the contract in roughly the same amount of time we had originally scheduled despite the many changes that had occurred on the island.  In addition to logistics, the delay also caused a mold problem in the RCB units.  Our contract originally called for abatement in one unit, but we ended up having to do additional work as well as abate mold in the 2nd unit as well.  Similar to the logistics, we worked closely with the Navy to come up with options to keep the work on track and within budget and still be able to abate the mold in both units.