AF announces basing criteria for Installation, Mission Support Center HQ

9/16/2014 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force released the criteria it will use to select candidate bases for the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC) Headquarters Sept. 15.

The Air Force will use its strategic basing process to identify a location that best serves the mission of AFIMSC.

The secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force approved basing criteria that includes mission, capacity, environmental and cost factors.

AFIMSC, which will report to Air Force Materiel Command, will consolidate installation management functions currently being performed at every major command and will serve as the single intermediate-level headquarters for the delivery of installation support capabilities.

"The new AFIMSC aligns Air Force-wide installation support authorities, responsibilities and resources to one accountable commander. The consolidation will drive standardized processes, eliminate overhead and drive down costs," said Timothy K. Bridges, the deputy assistant secretary for installations. "It makes good business sense to centralize installation support the way we already centralize other support functions such as science and technology, test and sustainment."

AFIMSC will also become the parent organization for several existing field operating agencies to include the Air Force Security Forces Center, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, Air Force Cost Accounting Agency/Financial Management Center of Expertise, Air Force Financial Services Center, and the Services Directorate of the Air Force Personnel Center.

All continental U.S.(CONUS)-based MAJCOM headquarters, any CONUS installation with an existing installation support FOA with more than 50 authorizations and the National Capital Region will be evaluated as potential candidates to host the AFIMSC Headquarters.

The 10 installations include Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; Hurlburt Field, Florida; Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; Peterson AFB, Colorado; Scott AFB, Illinois; Tyndall AFB, Florida; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

"The Air Force is committed to a deliberate and open process to address AFIMSC Headquarters basing," Bridges said. "As we progress through the basing process, we will share information so interested communities are aware of what to expect."

The Air Force will evaluate the 10 installations against the approved criteria and expects to identify candidate bases for the AFIMSC Headquarters in the fall of 2014. After the release of the candidate bases, the Air Force will conduct site surveys at each candidate base. Site survey teams will use a range of operational and facility requirements to assess each location. Based on the results of these efforts, the Air Force plans to announce AFIMSC Headquarters preferred and reasonable alternatives and begin the Environmental Impact Analysis Process in early 2015.