Construction (military).

• Author: Gallagher, Timothy
• Position: 2006 Alaska Forecast

The next three fiscal years will be even bigger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, than the recently completed record-breaking fiscal year. In its biggest program ever, the district awarded $792.7 million in contracts in FY05. Of that total, 93.8 percent was awarded to Alaska businesses with 62 percent going to small business and 58 percent to small disadvantaged business.

Projections for FY06 and FY07 estimate that each of these years will total close to $800 million. FY08 could possibly be more. These figures include military construction, civil works projects, environmental projects, and operations and maintenance of existing projects, as well as administrative services.

Military projects to support Army Transformation and Air Force realignments and re-stationing account for the largest increase in the Corps' construction program.

To keep up with the rapid influx of soldiers, the Corps completed $48.3 million of temporary modular housing on Fort Richardson and awarded a similar $9.8 million project for Fort Wainwright. Permanent facilities to replace this housing will follow in fiscal years '07, '08, '09 and '10.

The Corps continues building permanent housing on...