Tinker AFB nears completion of bids for overhaul

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Tinker Air Force Base is nearing completion of a bidding process on a $500 million contract to overhaul operations at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center. <br/><br/>Base officials

Saturday, January 29th 2005, 2:55 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Tinker Air Force Base is nearing completion of a bidding process on a $500 million contract to overhaul operations at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center.

Base officials expect a final decision on the contract March 31.

The contract will go to either the Ohio-based technology, research and development company Battelle, or IBM Business Consulting Services of Fairfax, Va.

The companies are hoping to win the chance to carry out what base officials term a ``lean transformation.''

Base officials say the goal of the transformation is to improve efficiency and productivity by eliminating wasted space, time and energy.

``It's the right resources at the right place at the right time,'' said Maj. Melinda Morgan, director of public affairs. ``They (military forces) don't have what they need if we don't deliver it on time. That's what lean transformation is all about.''

The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center handles maintenance and repair duties for a number of U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft and several engine types, among other responsibilities.