WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Enterprise Sourcing Group's Civil Engineering Commodity Council awarded their first LED taxiway lighting multiple-award last month -- the first contract awarded by the organization since their activation here on Oct 28, 2010.
The two contract awards were made to ADB Airfield Solutions, Columbus, Ohio, and DME Corporation, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for light-emitting diode taxiway lighting fixtures that will replace the current incandescent fixtures on all continental United States Air Force Airfields.
"This initiative will definitely help reduce the cost to the Air Force to procure these items, as well as generate a significant reduction in energy and maintenance costs," said J. D. Clark, CECC Flight chief.
The council worked closely with the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, Air Force Materiel Command and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base during the process.
From an energy consumption perspective, the current incandescent lamps used in most Air Force taxiway lighting systems are typically rated at 30-45 watts. Replacing the old fixtures with 5-watt LEDs will substantially reduce energy consumption for the Air Force, said AFCESA's Joanie Campbell, the Air Force subject matter expert for airfield lighting, .
"The LED lights have an average life expectancy of more than 100,000 hours, compared to the 1,000 hours provided by the current incandescent fixtures," she said.
The initiative will not only help save the Air Force money but will provide standardization across the board, making future orders easier to process.
"This is definitely a step in the right direction for strategic sourcing within the Air Force," said Lt. Col. Michael E. Knipper, 771st Enterprise Sourcing Squadron commander.