• REALS report published by Dec. 31, 2024.
• Doing Business With CAM, Tuesday | Jan. 14 |  3 to 4 p.m.
• CAM Listens: ITAM focus |Tuesday, Jan. 28 |2 to 3 p.m.

As initial priority projects are getting off the ground across the Capitol Complex, our team is hard at work preparing the next round of OMES deferred maintenance plans for implementation. We have several priority projects in the design phase, and those are expected to go out to solicitation in February, March and April.

As of Dec. 26, we have three active, one complete and several upcoming projects. Our roofing contractors are currently working to replace the Will Rogers Building roof. In the week of Dec. 16, they completed the north side of the roof and have since moved to the south portion. The roofing project is expected to wrap up by the end of March.

Meanwhile, at the Transportation Building, contractors have just started on the replacement for air handler unit three, which is more than 50 years old. The electrical work was completed the week of Dec. 16, and next up is the block wall demolition expected to begin the first week of January. This project will increase energy efficiency in the building and bring the system up to code compliance.

The next projects on deck in phase one are for the Agriculture Building and the buildings of the Capitol Complex quad. At the Agriculture Building, the lighting, air handler unit and a piece of the heating, cooling and air conditioning control system will be replaced starting in mid-February. The entryway projects for the M.C. Connors, Oliver Hodge, Sequoyah and Will Rogers buildings will follow. These four projects had a manufacturing delay on essential equipment, including the doors for the entries, and are now expected to begin work in March 2025.

Additionally, work on the variable frequency drives (VFDs) was just completed in the Agriculture Laboratory. In the event of a failure of even one of these drives, the lab would be out of commission for an extended period.

We will provide additional information as these projects develop and as we prepare to initiate the next round of priority projects.

Surplus took on some big projects this year aimed at improving our team, our services and the way customers interact with Surplus. Some of these enhancements include facility renovations, increased turnaround times on GovDeals sales, in-house learning sessions for the Surplus team and the rollout of Assetworks.

Additionally, Surplus has completed full-time studies on our processes in order to keep developing the most productive, user-friendly Surplus we can. A couple of ways we've implemented our findings are by hosting on-site auctions, creating safety teams and building walks to address security concerns and bringing our facility up to code with new fire extinguishers and fire evacuation signs.

The scale of these improvements are wide-range, but even our small-scale advancements indicate our dedication to developing Surplus programs to function not just as they are intended to, but at their best.

• New security entrance installed.
• Wall built to increase electrical efficiencies.
• New breakroom kitchen.
• Full 5S program completed in warehouse to improve efficiency and safety.
• Safety team and building walks implemented to address safety concerns.
• Building brought up to code with new emergency equipment replacing outdated fixtures.

In November, Surplus hosted our first live, on-site auction of home, office and miscellaneous goods. We are working to host more public auctions on a regular schedule, so keep an eye out for more of these events in the new year!

As a reminder, Surplus can typically hold items sold at auction for one to two days after purchase. Following the grace period, Surplus charges $10 per day to store sold items left at our facilities after auctions.

OMES REALS and OMES Risk Management have collaborated to create a single, comprehensive 2025 Risk Management Property Survey that streamlines processes for our partner agencies.

You may have previously seen this survey referred to as the Real Property Survey. This new survey will launch on Jan. 8 and close on Jan. 22. This consolidated survey eliminates the need for agencies to complete two separate OMES property surveys each year.

Risk Management will email the survey link to the designated agency contact for completion. The survey contains all necessary fields for both Risk Management and REALS for the 2025 Annual Real Property Asset Report. The additional data that agencies submit will provide a more robust and efficient data collection experience.

REALS and Risk Management are available to assist with any questions you may have in completing the survey. For REALS inquiries, please reach out to Kristie Wallace, and for Risk inquiries, please reach out to Cody Merryfield.

The Annual Real Property Asset Report is a statutorily mandated report first published by OMES in 2012, and is put together by OMES Real Estate and Leasing Services (REALS). The report is published no later than Dec. 31 each year, and a link to all previous publications can be found on our website.

In addition to listing all properties owned and leased by agencies, boards, commissions and public trusts with the State of Oklahoma, REALS also analyzes the data received in our Real Property Survey to provide data summaries. This report contains an analysis of information on owned and leased real property by agency and county, as well as highlights of selected state-owned properties and the purposes those properties serve.

Focused attention on this project has substantially increased the number of properties included in the annual report due to discrepancies in data revealed by a thorough reconciliation process.

We would like to thank our agency partners for their efforts over the past several months to assist REALS in fully reconciling reports to create a single, more robust inventory of real property owned and leased by the State of Oklahoma. The success of this collaboration elevates all agencies to a new level of efficiency and transparency in collecting and reporting this vital information.

OMES IT Asset Management (ITAM) invites you to the first CAM listening session of 2025. On Jan. 28, we will host CAM Listens: ITAM focus.

This is an opportunity to get to know the ITAM team and address any questions or concerns you may have regarding ITAM's services. 

If you did not receive an invitation but would like to attend, please reach out to your OMES account manager.

Be sure to fill out the RSVP form in advance of the session to let us know how you will attend, and ask any questions or concerns you would like us to address.

As 2024 comes to a close, don't forget our ITAM team is available to fulfill requests for cords, accessories and peripherals. ITAM can check our warehouse and excess IT inventory to supply your technology needs and save taxpayer dollars.

As a reminder, our new ServiceNow catalog items launched Dec. 23 will make it easier than ever to get the services you need faster. We wish you a joyful holiday season and look forward to an exciting 2025!

• OMES Office of Facilities Management (OFM) strives to meet our energy goals and reduce occupant risk, so we are asking for your help in limiting the use of space heaters in our buildings.
• Space heaters add excessive loads to electrical circuits which increases the risk of breakers tripping. Additionally, space heaters present an increased fire risk if left unattended.
• Our campus-wide temperature setpoints target 68 degree heating in the winter and 72 degree cooling in the summer. If temperatures in your area are out of this range, submit a work ticket through your agency liaison for investigation and repair.
• OFM strives to provide the most comfortable workplace possible while effectively limiting utility costs to ensure taxpayer moneys are used responsibly. Maintaining these temperature standards ensures that OFM operates our buildings as efficiently as possible.

OFM maintains procedures to ensure proper care for and operations of OMES-managed properties during harsh winter weather. Our responsibilities include clearing sidewalks, ramps and stairways into our buildings.

In partnership, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is responsible for parking lot care and maintenance, including snow and ice removal during inclement weather. 

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your building management team and we will help coordinate with ODOT to ensure the building entrances and parking lots are as safe as possible during inclement weather events.

Phase one of our Keyosk installation is complete and we have been utilizing this new tool for customer key distribution.

Phase two of implementation is slated to begin in February. This phase will provide automated reservations and unattended vehicle pickup and return.

Some employee badges may not be compatible with Keyosk, and will need to be updated to a new format ID card.

Permissions and access to Keyosk will be established with each agency director and the Fleet administrator.

Vehicle availability is driven by use and demand.

ONWARD Fleet has expanded support for Fleet Management projects beyond just Geotab. ONWARD is assisting Fleet Management with project management so we can better support our agencies. Some of the services ONWARD offers include:  

• Geotab account set up and data reconciliation.
• Geotab device troubleshooting to get non-reporting units back online.
• Geotab installations in new vehicles and removals in retired vehicles.
• Account management, training, reporting and dashboard utilization.

Construction at our Stiles Avenue location is complete. We are excited to announce our long-awaited restroom addition and remodel is operational.

Fleet Management welcomes this addition for our customers who may be returning vehicles to our facility after a long road trip.

To access the restroom, take the short hallway to the left upon entering the M.C. Connors Building pedestrian tower. 

This year, Fleet Management initiated several process improvement projects while maintaining our operations of the state's fleet vehicles. In addition to fleet rightsizing, utilization and efficiency, improvements continue in support of the governor's executive order.

Fleet sold a total of 667 vehicles through Surplus in 2024, and brought Geotab implementation to its final stages with only 15% of vehicles outstanding. Proper vehicle mileage utilization monitoring shows that, at the agency level, Fleet vehicles average 1000 miles driven per month. We look forward to finding new avenues to improve your experience driving with us in 2025.

As part of our training series: Doing Business With CAM, we invite you to join the Construction and Properties team at our Jan. 14 session focused on CAP processes and workflows. You will also have the opportunity to provide feedback and help us improve how our office works with you.

If you did not receive an invitation but would like to attend, please reach out to your OMES account manager.

In advance of the session, be sure to RSVP and suggest any topics of interest or questions you have related to our systems, processes or your experience working with CAP.

We are excited to share that Buildings 100, 300 and 400 at the Sallisaw Veterans Home have reached the targeted construction stage that makes them available for staff training by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA).

Building 200 will be available for training in January 2025, and ODVA is in the midst of preparing all buildings to have the necessary materials for trainings to take place.

Construction at the Sallisaw Veterans Home is on time and on budget, and we look forward to keeping you updated as this project reaches its final stages.

On Thursday, Dec. 19, the State of Oklahoma held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the 45th Division National Guard Arch and Park on the State Capitol grounds. Created by House Bill 4012 during the 2024 legislative session, this project aims to honor the bravery and sacrifice of Oklahoma’s National Guard service members and provide a space of remembrance for visitors.

Standing 30 feet tall and 60 feet wide, the arch will be constructed just south of the Capitol visitors’ parking lot. The monument will feature carvings of the American flag, the Oklahoma state seal and the Thunderbird emblem, a salute to the legendary Thunderbirds of the 45th Infantry Division. 

The surrounding area will be transformed into a small park, featuring an amphitheater for military and public events, as well as walking paths and dedicated spaces for statues and other monuments recognizing service members and veterans.

The project was made possible by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, and former Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, who authored HB 4012. Signed into law by Gov. Stitt, the bill allocated money from the Legacy Capital Financing Fund for the construction of the arch and park and established a revolving fund for ongoing maintenance. Both authors spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony, joined by the Gov. Stitt, Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino and Rep. Ty Burns, R-Morrison, who was a member of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

On Dec. 4, the oversight committee received affirmation to proceed with additional awards of scope for bid packages 13-56. The replacement of historic windows at the Jim Thorpe Building is underway with plans to continue the installations through March 2025. Window openings have been prepared on floors four through six, and permanent windows are currently being installed.

Further coordination between the project’s design team and the state’s security and I.T. teams is needed to plan and decide on appropriate audio-visual furnishings, fixtures and equipment to meet the building’s needs.

Mechanical ducting is currently being installed at the basement and ground levels, as well as steel bracing systems through vertical mechanical shafts to enhance the building’s integrity. The basement slab is also being sawcut and removed so new underfloor plumbing systems can be installed. The start of interior framing is upcoming.

Existing vegetation at former planting beds has been removed, and existing mature trees have received boundary fencing and trunk protection to ensure their safety in the construction process. Site demolition is nearly complete as pavement, sidewalks and areaway slabs have been removed in preparation for underground utilities.

We are currently on schedule to complete the project by August 2026.

Progress is moving along smoothly, and we’re excited to report everything remains on schedule. Our architect, REES, has completed the 50% construction document set of plans, all of which have been thoroughly reviewed by the project team to ensure the requirements are addressed. REES is on track to finalize the construction documents by mid-January. Once completed, Flintco will proceed with the bidding process for the plans and specifications.

The construction timeline remains unchanged, with work set to begin in early 2025.

We’ll continue to keep you informed as this exciting project moves forward!

The OMES, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Manhattan and REES teams met in early December to review project scope, budget and schedule. Scope planning diagrams have been finalized for approval by the OMES and ODL teams. At this time, scope focuses on the following three areas: deferred maintenance, life safety, and accessibility compliance. Manhattan has provided a proposed budget range for the scope of $19.6-$21.3 million dollars.

The project schedule continues to be refined with a targeted design completion in the summer of 2025. Feedback and adjustments are being processed and will be provided as a part of the final report to OMES for approval of the pre-design effort.

Current open action items:

1. Incorporate OMES and ODL's feedback into executive summary, budget and schedule.
2. Provide final pre-design deliverable to OMES for approval and Notice to Proceed to schematic design.
3. Develop a more detailed project schedule for the design stage.
4. Scope alignment of design phase based upon approval of the pre-design study.
5. Refine and coordinate the archive relocation strategy.

This month, we are pleased to highlight Tammy McDaniel in our employee spotlight. McDaniel has dedicated 17 years of service to the state and been with OMES since 2009.

As administrative assistant to CAM Administrator Nathan Wald, McDaniel works diligently behind the scenes to make CAM a great, successful place to work. Wald describes McDaniel as the go-to for historical knowledge and contacts, an invaluable resource for new hires and current employees and says that, "without her I would be a little lost in my day-to-day. I don't think you will find someone in CAM that doesn't have a story about how Tammy has helped them."

McDaniel coworkers credit her with driving CAM's improvement in all areas from administrative tasks to maintaining a welcoming culture for the entire team. Not only is McDaniel responsible for organizing strenuous scheduling challenges, but the CAM team also values her for what she offers as a knowledge base for any and all questions. Considered an invaluable resource to the entire team, we thank McDaniel for her dedication to making CAM a great place to work.