{"id":61313,"date":"2018-03-12T10:51:32","date_gmt":"2018-03-12T10:51:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=61313"},"modified":"2018-03-12T10:52:30","modified_gmt":"2018-03-12T10:52:30","slug":"ribbon-cutting-marks-completion-of-construction-on-cbp-san-juan-laboratory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=61313","title":{"rendered":"Ribbon-Cutting Marks Completion Of Construction On CBP San Juan Laboratory"},"content":{"rendered":"

A ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico marked completion of construction on a build-out project to relocate the U.S. Customs and Border Protection\u2019s (CBP)\u00a0San Juan Laboratory.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

According to CBP, the completed project provides a full-service analytical laboratory equipped with the latest state of the art scientific equipment and capabilities, serving\u00a0<\/span>CBP operations in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, as well as support for law enforcement partners in the Caribbean.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe updated lab provides the much-needed improvements to the operational areas for various lab activities by isolating each of those required needs in different, clearly defined areas within the lab,\u201d said Francis \u201cFritz\u201d Dutch, director of CBP\u2019s Facilities, Management and Engineering Division.<\/span><\/p>\n

Several distinguished guests attended the Mar. 7 ceremony and participated in the ribbon-cutting, including Eduardo Arosemena, Puerto Rico Deputy Secretary of State; Dr. James D. Sweet, Acting Director of Laboratory & Scientific Services; and\u00a0Linda Jacksta<\/a>\u00a0CBP\u2019s Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Operations Support.<\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. General Services Administration managed the build-out of approximately 13,000 usable square feet of space in the GSA Federal Center according to its mission to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology and other mission-support services for the federal government.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe take great pride in our mission, because it allows our customers like Customs and Border Protection, to focus on their mission to protect the public from dangerous people and materials, said GSA\u2019s Northeast and Caribbean Regional Administrator John A. Sarcone III. \u201cLaboratories like this one are critical to CBP\u2019S mission to help facilitate the free flow of goods into Puerto Rico and provide the safety and security the people of Puerto Rico expect and deserve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The San Juan Laboratory facility was previously located at the historic Customs House in Old San Juan. The nearly $6 million build-out project at the GSA Federal Center began in May 2016 and was completed in February 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe lab includes exterior upgrades to the fa\u00e7ade and electrical service system, as well as construction of administrative spaces and a state of the art laboratory space for microscopy, digital forensics, drug analysis, latent print processing, petroleum analysis, material conditioning, and organic and inorganic analysis. This new space optimizes CBP\u2019s ability to service Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with this forensic support, Weapons of Mass Destruction interdiction, and trade enforcement,\u201d Dutch said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional features of the new laboratory include:<\/span><\/p>\n