Contract award for new 4th MSG building Published Oct. 1, 2009 By Kenneth Fine Wright Times editor SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- By next summer, construction is expected to begin on a $10 million facility that will house the 4th Fighter Wing's Mission Support Group, thanks to a contract recently awarded to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Savannah District. The state-of-the-art, 43,500 square foot facility will house the wing's contracting squadron, comptroller squadron, legal office and Force Support Squadron -- and will display a vintage P-51 Mustang suspended from the ceiling in the building's atrium, officials said. "It's basically a one-stop shop for airmen inprocessing and outprocessing the base," said Col. William Thomas, 4th MSG commander. "From personnel to finance and contracting, all manpower will be in the new building." Duke Construction Company LP of Morrisville was awarded the contract under the Corps of Engineers' best value acquisition process which allows for award to a contractor with the best combination of technical qualifications and price, a news release from the Corps said, adding that the Savannah District is expected to issue a "notice-to-proceed" to the company early this month, at which time, 540 calendar days will be given for completion of design and construction work. The facility, to be located on Andrews Avenue just across from the current 4th MSG headquarters, will be constructed to satisfy Gold-level criteria established by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. All buildings constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers must meet LEED Silver criteria. "The Savannah District is proud to support the airmen at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base with a facility that will provide them the finest quality work space and a place to display the historic P-51 Mustang," said Col. Ed Kertis, commander of the Savannah District. "The building's design will provide comfort and energy efficiency."