New armed forces center at Stewart

In addition to a new hotel, cargo hangars and a helicopter school, Stewart International Airport will soon be home to the $20 million Stewart-Newburgh Armed Forces Reserve Center, scheduled to break ground in March 2008.

The facility will comprise a 74,000-square-foot Reserve center, a 14,000-square-foot

The U.S. Army selected two Connecticut-based companies to build the center: Diversified Technology Consultants in North Haven and O&G Industries of Torrington.

Col. Charles M. Faro of the 105th Airlift Wing, based next to Stewart, said he welcomes the new addition to the airport. While the training center will not be associated with his Air National Guard Base, Faro said the idea is to consolidate several Army Reserve and Army Guard units located in various towns throughout the Hudson Valley. It will also provide modern training facilities, as opposed to the century-old state armories many units drill at. It's certainly nice to see federal money coming to New York and the valley," Faro wrote in an e-mail.

Joel Miller, spokesperson for Diversified Technology, said the joint venture with O&G will be the pair's first in the New York area. The two companies beat out 11 other bids for the U.S. Department of Defense contract.

The new center is part of the base realignment and closure (BRAG) effort conducted by the federal government. "We have been in the process since October 2006," said Miller. "Although we have not actually received a notice to proceed as of yet, we were awarded the project."

Miller said nearly 98 percent of the design-and-build company's work is government contracts. "It's become our bailiwick. And the government is a big fan of design-build; they see it as a way of streamlining operations. The opportunities for architects and engineers are becoming increasingly limited, so we're encouraged to work together. When 'lumped' together as a team, it is more efficient and attractive."

The two-phase solicitation process started last fall, with Diversified Technology and O&G ending up on the "shortlist" by March 2007. "The military provides the design," said Miller. "We went through our technical evaluation, went through all our design narratives and our technical approach to the project. Once you are placed on the `shortlist,' whoever comes in with the lowest bid is chosen. It's called 'best value.' Traditionally, that's the way it works with government."

Miller said getting work from the government is a demanding process, one his company began several years ago. Today, the bulk of its business is working for the military.

Leela Atluru is Diversified Technology's CEO and owner. Atluru was joined in the business by her son, Shay, who started out doing professional services for the army, primarily environmental work for bases around the nation. The pair segued into construction in 1998.

Diversified Technology has been working exclusively for the Army Corps of Engineers over the past six years, said Miller. "Once you get your foot in the door, you have more opportunity. Working for the government can be a massive undertaking but it is worth it if you can manage to wade through the process and be able to provide what is needed in the most-effective manner without cutting quality."

The co-venture with O&G was strategic to being awarded the contract. "They are one of the largest commercial and institutional contractors in the region," said Miller. "They have not participated in the military sector, so this will be a first for them. We have worked on a lot of local projects together, and they are a great firm to work with."