Arsenal awards largest electrical contract in a generation

By John B. Snyder, Watervliet Arsenal Public AffairsOctober 20, 2014

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WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. (Oct. 21, 2014) -- The arsenal announced this month that it has awarded a $4.2 million contract to a New York construction company to upgrade the arsenal's main power substation.

"This will be the largest and most important electrical project the arsenal has undertaken in nearly 30 years," said Benjamin Dedjoe, the arsenal's electrical engineer who helped design the project. "We have been working on the design for this power station for more than two years and it comes none too soon as the current power station is more than 50 years old."

Oddo Construction Services LLC, from Amherst, N.Y., will provide all labor, material, parts and equipment to upgrade the arsenal's main power distribution substation, Dedjoe said.

Although this project is ripe with challenges, one of the toughest challenges, according to Dedjoe, is how to ensure that power is maintained to arsenal manufacturing during the removal of the existing transformers.

"Our top priorities will be to ensure continuous power to our operations while not impacting the electrical supply to the local community," Dedjoe said. "But after two years of planning and coordination, I firmly believe we have a solid plan and the right construction company to make this work."

Given the shear scope and complexity of this project, Dedjoe said he was pleased the award for the contract went to Oddo Construction, which has a proven track record with the arsenal. And, Oddo seems to ready for this challenge.

"Through our demonstrated hard work and sense of dedication to each arsenal project, we have been very fortunate over the past few years to be considered an arsenal partner," said Yongmi "Amy" Oddo, President of Oddo Construction. "We are very excited about continuing this partnership with all the outstanding contracting, engineering, public works, and other government personnel at the arsenal."

The project will begin in the spring of 2015 and should be completed by late fall 2015.

Oddo is a certified 8(a), minority woman-owned firm that specializes in general building construction and site work. The company has done extensive work for the arsenal in the past and is a proven performer, said Matthew Pember, an arsenal contract specialist.

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Watervliet Arsenal

-The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned-and-operated manufacturing facility and is the oldest, continuously operating arsenal in the United States, having begun operations during the War of 1812. It celebrated its 200th anniversary in July 2013.

-Today's arsenal is relied upon by U.S. and foreign militaries to produce the most advanced, high-tech, high-powered weaponry for cannon, howitzer, and mortar systems. This National Historic Registered Landmark has an annual economic benefit to the local community in excess of $90 million.

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