Contracting Airmen ensure worksite standards met for IEA projects Published Nov. 15, 2011 By Senior Airman Natasha Stannard 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- One billion dollars - wait, it's actually a million dollars. While this isn't enough to take over the world, it can support projects that enhance the quality of life for Saber Airmen and their families. Spangdahlem earned $1 million for winning the Commander-In Chief's Installation Excellence award and was given the "check" in May. This money is currently funding 10 IEA projects. "You can do all kinds of planning, but if you don't do a contract to award the project to be completed, you'll never get anything done," said Monika Craft, 52nd Contracting Squadron contract administrator. "We do all the preparation to make sure the government gets a good deal and make sure the is customer satisfied with what they envisioned." The 52nd CONS is in charge of overseeing the contracts for the construction of two of the projects -- renovating the base chapel kitchen and improving Eifel Lanes Bowling Center. The contracting squadron has tabs on projects like these because they are constructed by contractors outside of the Air Force. They also see that work is completed correctly by communicating what the customer wants to civil engineers, inspecting construction sites, conducting performance reviews on the contractors and ensuring contract adherence. "We do this to make sure contractors are performing to standards the Air Force requires," she said. Ensuring contractors perform up to standards not only guarantees the job gets done, but that it's completed safely. Making sure work is performed safely and correctly are contracting's number-one priorities, she said. This is accomplished by inspecting the sites and making sure that overall construction meets standards. Thanks to the 52nd CONS, the construction of the now complete chapel kitchen met those standards. The chapel kitchen can now serve more patrons with their new six-plate stove top, two warmers, commercial sized oven, inside grill, and increased counter and storage space. "It's important to give patrons of the chapel enough kitchen space to prepare meals, especially for the holiday season," Craft said. "A bigger, commercialized kitchen is better for all the upcoming events for Airmen and their families." According to Birgitt Schuh, 52nd Fighter Wing chaplain corps executive advisor, various squadrons use the chapel kitchen for squadron holiday dinners. The chapel also uses this kitchen every Tuesday night to prepare dinner before their weekly Bible study. Additionally, squadrons can request to use the kitchen for events as it can accommodate many. Schuh said, chapel staff is happy with the final outcome of their kitchen. "[The chapel kitchen] is so much nicer," she added. "There's much more space here. It's still the same size, but the way they remodeled it gave us more room. We have large groups using the kitchen, so this will better accommodate them." The 52nd CONS IEA work is not done just because the chapel kitchen is complete. Currently, they are hard at work overseeing construction at the Eifel Lanes Bowling Center. The bowling center's new kid's play zone, office space, customer-service counter and adult slot machine area are scheduled for completion by January. "The areas will be more individualized now," Craft said. "The office space is more structured, and the kids play zone is in a separate area from the bowling lanes and slot machines. This will better serve customers, because it's more structured. Customer service will be quicker, because the new customer service counter will be more accessible. More people will be able work behind the counter where all their resources will be centrally located." Even though construction at the bowling alley is not complete, it is still open; however, areas under construction will be blocked off as improvements occur. While people can't yet experience the bowling alley's enhancements, they can see the quality of work ensured by 52nd CONS at the chapel kitchen. Editor's note: This story is part one of three in an on-going series featuring Spangdahlem Air Base squadron's involved in completing IEA projects. According to AFI 36-2831, the IEA recognizes the "outstanding efforts of the professionals who operate and maintain Department of Defense installations."