February 2024

With only a few months left before the end of the fiscal year, our team is sprinting to get all FY 2025 projects under contract.

This month, solicitations for construction managers closed for a few upcoming projects including those located in the Denver Davison and Transportation buildings. Meanwhile, construction began at the M.C. Connors, Oliver Hodge and the Agriculture buildings.  

Additionally, two projects completed construction this month at Will Rogers Building. The newly replaced mechanical room panels and roof will provide superior protection from the elements for the next 20-30 years.

Many of the other projects in Phase 1 of the eight-year plan are working their way through the design phase to ensure safety, cost efficiency and optimized functionality.

We will continue to provide updates as projects progress. View the Dashboard for real-time updates and details for all FY 2025 deferred maintenance projects.

REALS' continued efforts to improve spaces and efficiencies to better utilize spaces and maximize value investment.

On Dec. 18, 2024, Governor Kevin Stitt issued an executive order directing state agencies to return full-time employees to in-office work environments by Feb. 1, 2025. 

As your agencies navigate compliance with EO 2024-29, REALS will be here to help should your agency need to acquire new space. If you have a need for space, submit a ServiceNow ticket to REALS and attach a complete Space Acquisition Request form. 

Our department receives a lot of excess technology items, including monitors, cords, keyboards, mice and more. We always test the excess tech pieces we receive to see what items are suitable for redeployment and are currently in the process of setting up an online tech store for you to order from ITAM's surplus collection. In the meantime, contact ITAM when you have a technology/gear need, and we will check our stock to see if we can fulfill the need!

One year ago, ITAM partnered with Mender, a global IT Asset Disposition company, to safely and responsibly dispose of state-owned IT assets. Since this program's inception, ITAM has strategically located areas of IT waste in the state to create solutions that secure sensitive data, while keeping IT waste out of Oklahoma's landfills and waterways.

Some of our program highlights include:

• 46% increase in return on investment (ROI) from last year.
• 30,868 audited items.
• 73,473 lbs. of equipment reused.
• 99,754 lbs. of equipment recycled.
• 164,792 lbs. of commodities recycled.

In one year, ITAM has doubled the weight of our trailer loads that are transported to Mender's facility, maxing out the amount of assets a single load can carry. The growth of this program signifies the viability of ITAD in Oklahoma, positioning the state on the cutting edge of cybersecurity and good stewardship of the land.

As state employees make the transition to in-person office environments, OFM would like to remind you where employees can find parking at the Capitol Complex. 

If the parking lot outside your building is full, you can refer to this map to find the next closest lot.

Overflow parking can be found outside the OMES Fleet Management Daily Rentals office located on Northeast 27th St. and North Stiles Ave. The skybridge connected to the Daily Rentals office building will allow you to safely cross the highway and enter the M.C. Connors Building.

With questions about parking, reach out to Dustin Greenberg.

Part of our daily rental process prioritizes timely return of vehicles to minimize impact to customers waiting for vehicles. Please help OMES Fleet Management maintain our rental schedule by being mindful of scheduled return days and times. 

Fleet's efforts toward a fully functional Traka box (Keyosk) are ongoing. We continue to collaborate with Geotab, Onward, Fleetster and Traka to integrate all systems, and we also rely on OMES Information Services to assist in securing compatibility between employee badges and Workday@OK functions.

Last month marked the completion of the final construction documents at the Kelley Building. This month, careful preparations for construction continue.

Although construction has not yet begun, the project is on schedule as project bids were sent out on Thursday, Feb. 20. 

The historic window swap at the Jim Thorpe Building continues with window installation complete on levels three through six, and removal and prep active on level two. This process will continue through March.

Miscellaneous structural repairs throughout the building are complete with mechanical ducting largely complete on the basement and first floor as well as ongoing ducting installation.

Various piping, draining and framing projects are in progress throughout the building, and waterproofing of the basement will begin soon. Project completion is projected for August 2026, and is currently on schedule.

We are excited to share that construction on the Sallisaw Veterans Home is officially complete. On Monday, Feb. 10, the fire marshal approved the Certificate of Occupancy, and though there are a few more closeout projects to complete, the project is on schedule and a dedication/ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Friday, Feb. 21, in Sallisaw. 

The health department's inspection schedule is making progress, and other final milestones for this project include a punch list completion and employee training in March, resident move-ins in April and the federal Veterans Affairs inspection slated for late April or May.

The OMES, Department of Libraries, Manhattan, Alvine, ZFI and REES teams had an initial schematic design meeting in late January to discuss interior space planning and review preliminary concepts for the building façade. The ODL and REES teams met in February to discuss interior planning for the layout of collections spaces, office spaces and spaces for public use. The project team met in mid-February to discuss the next draft of interior planning and to finalize a concept for the building façade.

Meetings are planned for the ODL, OMES and Rees teams to tour other library and office spaces to determine space planning and furniture elements that would work best for the Allen Wright Memorial Library. The next steps for the schematic design phase are for the REES team to incorporate feedback from the OMES and ODL teams into the finalized interior planning and exterior façade design.

Current open action items include scheduling site visits to other libraries, office and state buildings, coordination on the schedule for temporary worksite relocation, and REES and Manhattan's development of schematic design pricing for relocation and storage of library collections during construction.

This month, we're shining a spotlight on a truly invaluable member of our team, Dennis Pence. His supervisor and the CAP director, Michael Shuck, shared about Pence:

"Dennis is the kind of person who embodies the adage 'still waters run deep.' He possesses a quiet strength and a wealth of experience that makes him a go-to resource for his CAP colleagues. Dennis has a remarkable ability to observe and listen, carefully considering the situation before offering his insights. When he does speak, everyone knows to pay attention. His words are thoughtful, insightful and often precisely what's needed to move forward. He draws from a diverse background, giving him a unique perspective on virtually any challenge.

He brings a calm, balanced demeanor to every situation, offering advice that is both practical and empathetic. This makes him an excellent sounding board for colleagues grappling with difficult issues.

Dennis also possesses a significant amount of technical expertise. His experience managing computer inventory systems in warehouses, along with his deep understanding of various other computer systems, makes him an invaluable asset. He's the staff's go-to guy for navigating complex charts, tables and data analysis. If you're wrestling with a complicated spreadsheet or trying to decipher a confusing graph, Dennis is the person to see.

His dedication to his work is truly commendable. A real hard worker, he's consistently the first one in and the last one out and is always willing to put in the extra effort. He readily accepts any assignment that will benefit his team and CAP as a whole, demonstrating a true commitment to helping others succeed.

Dennis Pence is more than an employee, he's a mentor, a problem-solver and a source of wisdom for all of us. We are incredibly fortunate to have him on our team."

Thank you, Dennis, for your continued service to CAM and the CAP team!