by Ed Rivera
FORT WORTH, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District awarded a $648 million contract January 29, to Clark McCarthy Healthcare Partners II for the construction of the Fort Bliss Replacement Hospital.
The new 1,132,000 square-foot facility will replace the existing William Beaumont Army Medical Center to accommodate the increased troop presence and dependent care resulting from the recent Fort Bliss expansion program.
The facility will consists of a main hospital, two outpatient clinics, administrative building, research facility, central utility plant, two access control points, and surface parking. The design effort adopts guiding principles of Evidence Based Design and patient and family centered care concepts, which are esthetically pleasing and in cultural harmony with Fort Bliss and El Paso communities. The new medical center design incorporated numerous sustainable initiatives with the goal of receiving LEED Silver certification.
The design is divided into eight contracts including opportunities for Small Business participation. Remaining project awards and small business opportunities include separate contracts for landscaping, parking, access control points, and a helipad. The new hospital is expected to open in 2017.
“We congratulate Clark McCarthy Healthcare Partners II on their selection as the prime contractor for this important project for healthcare of our Soldiers, retirees and family members,” said Col. Charles H. Klinge, commander, Fort Worth District. “We look forward to our continued partnerships as part of Team Bliss and with the El Paso community.”