Municipalities of Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division oversees construction in this area of operation. Recent natural disasters on the islands have increased requirements in the civil works, military construction, inter-agency, international support and environment programs. The construction program has drastically grown in terms of the number of projects and funding.
Congress passed supplemental funding bills (BBA 18, DRSAA, and BIL) between 2018 and 2022 that provided new appropriations throughout USACE.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division commander, Brig. Gen. Daniel Hibner and Puerto Rico Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon made the announcement of TF VIPR establishment during a recent press conference.
Municipios de Virgin Islands en de Puerto Rico.
Projects include all PR and USVI Civil Works projects in the Construction appropriation, plus IIS projects that are similar in scope to the CW mission (Guajataca Dam). These projects are incredibly complex, many having life safety implications, and include massive construction efforts in urban, coastal, riverine, and seismically active environments all threatened frequently by tropical storms and hurricanes. Additionally, TF VIPR is responsible for construction management for ALL USACE projects in PR and USVI to include MIL/IIS.
Existing positions currently fully dedicated to supporting Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands projects will be reassigned to the new Task Force organization. Reassignments will be coordinated with all parties involved before execution of the personnel actions.
The new approach of establishing TF VIPR is unprecedented in two main areas. A first for a commander with the rank of colonel will command a district-size task force on the island of Puerto Rico and the program has more projects and more funding now than in the entire history of USACE engagement in Puerto Rico.
“I welcome this Task Force and I vow to continue to work closely with them so that our people can be safe in the face of natural disasters,” said Gonzalez. “The Corps of Engineers has created an exclusive work group to attend reconstruction here in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands and we are happy, and the volume of projects and budget is such that Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands needed a dedicated team to attend the workload, and therefore Task Force VIPR has been created.”
TF VIPR leadership structure will focus on all current and future civil projects in their area of operation.
Since 2017, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - South Atlantic Division’s portfolio of programs has increased enormously in terms of number of projects and overall scheduled obligations each fiscal year. These increases resulted from natural disasters as well as requirements growth across Civil Works (CW), Military Construction (MILCON), Interagency & International Support (IIS) and Environmental programs.
The TF VIPR will carry out works in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, including the following work planned for Puerto Rico:
San Juan - Flood Risk Management Project Río Puerto Nuevo - $1.5 billion
San Juan- Improvements to San Juan Harbor- $45.5 million
San Juan- Ecosystem Restoration Project-Caño Martín Peña-$163.2 million
San Juan- Army Reserve Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP) Puerto Nuevo $9.6 million
San Juan -construction of FDA facility $10 million
Dorado, Toa Baja y Toa Alta- Flood Risk Management Project Río de La Plata- - $485.2 million
Arecibo - Flood Risk Management Project Río Grande de Arecibo- $174.1 million
Gurabo y Caguas -Río Grande de Loíza – FY24 Expressed Capability
Aguada y Aguadilla - Flood Risk Management Project Río Culebrinas -$26.4 million
Ciales- Flood Risk Management Project Río Grande de Manatí - $14.8 million
Guayanilla- Flood Risk Management Project Río Guayanilla -$60.6 million
Aibonito- Río Aibonito- $50,000 for studies
Santa Isabel-Rio Descalabrado- pending.
Guaynabo – 4 proyectos de reconstrucción en el Fuerte Buchanan-$63 million
Salinas- Army Reserve National Guard Joint Training Center -$291 million
Salinas- Río Nigua - $47.8 million
Mayagüez -Río Guanajibo- $107.1 million
Quebradillas- reconstruction of the Guajataca Dam- pending.
Since 2017 USACE has completed the following projects:
Fort Buchanan Access Control Point - $10,274,721.12
Fort Buchanan Apparatus Building- $2,191,640.38
Fort Buchanan Physical Fitness Annex - $1,717,442.38
Aguadilla Army Reserve Center- $19,674,589.07
Rio Puerto Nuevo Cont 2D Walls-$24,059,396.00
East Levee Repair (Barceloneta)-$3,219,090.99
Guajataca Dam Stage 2 Risk Reduction Measure- $5,815,005.41
Guajataca Dam Sluice Gate Stem Replacement- $787,504.50
Guajatca Dam Spillway Channel Reinforcement-$17,804,766.14
Rio Yauco Temporary Levee Repair- $2,283,888.39
Guajatca Dam Hydraulic System Replacement- $1,106,467.55
Salud Creek Streambank Protection- $1,059,800.90
Loiza Shoreline Protection- $3,586,866.55
Arecibo Harbor & Mayaguez Harbor O&M- $6,548,412.00
Rio Anton Ruiz Restoration- $3,782,216.29
On 14 April 2023, the Chief of Engineers approved the South Atlantic Division’s (SAD) proposal to establish Task Force Virgin Islands Puerto Rico (VIPR) to provide leadership, oversight, and support for USACE Civil Works and public infrastructure projects in US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and to provide construction management of all construction activities. This proposal was developed by the SAD Commander’s Workload Management Tiger Team in coordination with HQUSACE in response to the fast growing, highly complex programs across the South Atlantic Division region, but in particular in the Jacksonville AOR. The Task Force will recruit and employ a USACE team of program, project, and technical experts that focuses on safely delivering infrastructure programs and projects to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on time and within budget.
En Abril de 2023, el Jefe de Ingenieros aprobó la propuesta de la División del Atlántico Sur (SAD) para establecer el Grupo de Trabajo Islas Vírgenes de Puerto Rico (VIPR) para brindar liderazgo, supervisión y apoyo a los proyectos de obras civiles e infraestructura pública del USACE en las Islas Vírgenes de EE. UU. y Puerto Rico. Rico, y para proporcionar la dirección de obra de todas las actividades de construcción. Esta propuesta fue desarrollada por el Equipo Tigre de Gestión de la Carga de Trabajo del Comandante de SAD en coordinación con HQUSACE en respuesta a los programas altamente complejos y de rápido crecimiento en toda la región de la División del Atlántico Sur, pero en particular en el AOR de Jacksonville. El grupo de trabajo reclutará y empleará un equipo de USACE de expertos en programas, proyectos y técnicos que se centre en la entrega segura de programas y proyectos de infraestructura a las Islas Vírgenes de EE. UU. y Puerto Rico a tiempo y dentro del presupuesto.
Frequent Asked Questions
Q: What is the Timeline for implementation?
A: Task Force VIPR will reach Initial Operating Capability (IOC) and assume command of the Civil Works mission in PR and USVI once all realignments of existing personnal are complete and high-priority positions are filled. IOC is anticipated to be achieved approximately 90 days from issuance of the SAD OPORD. Task Force VIPR is anticipated to reach Full Operational Capability, which entails having the vast majority of initial positions filled, approximately 210 days from issuance of the SAD OPORD.
The Jacksonville District, Antilles Area Office will continue to support Puerto Rico military and other projects however, TF VIPR will report directly to the South Atlantic Division Commander as part of the new structure, which accelerates decision making.
“I am excited that together we have the opportunity to take this great program and make it extraordinary.” Jackie Keiser , Deputy Project Management, USACE TF VIPR, said ”One team, one mission for Puerto Rico. Task Force VIPR will have one focus and that is all current and future Civil Works projects in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands”.
The Task Force is currently identifying and seeking professionals with expertise and skills for various engineering positions. This expertise with the addition of new and passionate leadership will fit the mission. There will be future job positions advertised and contractors announced to meet requirements.
Congress passed multiple supplemental funding bills (BBA 18, DRSAA and BIL) between 2018 and 2022 providing authorities and appropriations across USACE and particularly for SAD. The massive and rapid growth across the SAD Area of responsibility requires additional bandwidth for leadership, resources, and workload management to execute the program effectively and efficiently.