Iraqi Police to get new multi-million dollar National Police Sustainment Brigade Complex

By LaDonna Davis, Gulf Region DistrictJuly 13, 2010

Looking over progress
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – USACE GRD Commander, Col. Dan Anninos along with Douglas Leite the Chief of Engineering and Construction Division, overlook progress on the National Police Sustainment Brigade Complex in Salman Pak, Baghdad, Iraq during a routine site visit. The comp... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Aerial view
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Progress inspection
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SALMAN PAK, Iraq -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) motto is "Building Strong". In Iraq, the USACE mission is to build strong the country and its people through solid infrastructure and design that will help sustain and strengthen the Iraqis for generations to come.

The USACE, Gulf Region District (GRD) is helping the Iraqis by managing a multi-million dollar National Police Sustainment Brigade Complex that will help strengthen the Iraqi police force so they can better secure and protect their own country.

The $64 million complex, in Salman Pak district of southern Baghdad, will include a $44 million compound for the Federal Police, a $10 million explosive ordnance disposal headquarters and training center, and a $10 million vehicle maintenance facility. The complex will also provide billeting to accommodate more than 2,000 Iraqi Police members.

"The current federal police forces have maxed out their existing facilities to where any expansion can't happen," said Maj. Daniel Harvala, an engineer project manager with U.S. Forces-Iraq. "That's why we're building this complex, so the Iraqis can build up their brigade and build up their police capabilities."

Though the NPSB Complex is on track and scheduled to be complete on time, it has not been met without its challenges, mainly, working with three different contractors simultaneously who all share one project site.

"The project involves three separate construction contracts with three different contractors on one compound," said Douglas Leite, Chief of Engineering and Construction Division for GRD. "The co-location of the facilities provides a benefit to the government of Iraq but it presents great challenges in the coordination of construction activities among the three contractors who also share common utilities for water, electric and sewer."

The 124-acre complex will support 4,050 Iraqi employees and police officers. The EOD complex will be able to accommodate a daily student load of 264 individuals while the Vehicle Maintenance Facility will be manned by 100 personnel. The complex will include a vehicle fueling station, laundry units, sanitation and sewer system, an explosive storage bunker, covered parking and dining facility.

"The whole complex is really self-sustaining," Harvala said. "It has everything the Iraqis would need to sustain their force. Our goal is for the Iraqis to become self-sufficient in sustaining their nation; building this complex ties in to meeting that goal."

Contractor Almco Limited is responsible for the vehicle maintenance facility, contractor Saeh Al-Sahra Group is responsible for the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Headquarters and Training Complex and contractor Areeb of East Company for Trade is responsible for the Federal Police Sustainment Brigade Complex.

The complex is scheduled to be complete in the summer of 2011.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq has completed thousands of reconstruction projects in partnership with the U.S. Government and the Government of Iraq. Since 2004, USACE has completed more than 4,800 projects throughout Iraq valued at more than $7.8 billion, and has more than 250 projects ongoing. The overall reconstruction effort in Iraq currently provides jobs for more than 20,000 Iraqis.

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For high resolution photos: www.grd.usace.army.mil/news/releases/index.asp

Note: LaDonna Davis is a public affairs specialist with the Gulf Region District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iraq. For more information, contact LaDonna Davis at (540) 678-2963 or e-mail requests to LaDonna.S.Davis@usace.army.mil. For more information on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq, visit www.grd.usace.army.mil <http://www.grd.usace.army.mil/> .

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The Gulf Region District, headquartered in Baghdad, is a joint effort comprising Civilians, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Contractors. GRD provides quality and sustainable engineering in support of civil/military construction in Iraq. GRD and its Iraqi partners are building a strong foundation for Iraq's future.

BUILDING STRONG® is the official slogan of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.