30 



BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES 



(a) A request of $1 0, 000,000 for the modernization of facilities at the 

 BeUsville Agricultural Research Center. BeUsville. Maryland. 



Need for Change . The BeUsville Agricultural Research Center 

 (BARC) was established in 1910. Current land resources total 7,000 

 acres and accommodate more than 800 buildings and structures in 

 support of the full spectrum of ARS research programs, including: 

 natural resources and environmental sciences, plant and animal 

 productivity, product quality, and human nutrition studies. The ARS 

 staff at BeUsville totals about 1,500, including 400 scientists. 



BARC is the largest research center in ARS and is the largest 

 agricultural research center in the world in terms of program scope 

 and concentration of scientists. BARC has long enjoyed a worldwide 

 image of preeminence in the agricultural scientific community because 

 of its long history of research quality, contributions to 

 agriculture, and prominent scientific expertise. It is the 

 headquarters for ARS' national program leadership. In addition, 18 

 Federal agencies such as FDA, EPA, FGIS, and APHIS have offices or 

 laboratories at BARC or facilities next to the Center. 



However, most of the major ARS facilities and utility support systems 

 at BARC were built in the 1930's and 1940's. Deterioration and 

 obsolescence of these 50-year-old facilities are hampering both the 

 scientific research and the image of BARC as the preeminent 

 agricultural research center of the USOA. An architectural- 

 engineering consultant which completed a comprehensive study on BARC 

 in the late 1980's produced a modernization plan with cost estimates 

 of $205 million for the total facility modernization of the Center, 

 phased over an 11-year period. 



ARS is currently implementing the BARC modernization plan which 

 specifies the necessity to incorporate a mix of construction of new 

 structures and renovation of existing facilities, including the 

 demolition of over 200 outmoded structures. 



The FY 1993 appropriation included funds of J13.5 million for BARC 

 modernization. These funds are being utilized for the construction 

 of the BARC -West Wastewater Treatment Plant, construction of Phases 

 2, 3 and 4 of the Range 2 Greenhouse modernization, design of the 

 BARC -East Water Distribution System, design of a new controlled 

 environmental facility for use as plant growth chambers, and funding 

 for miscellaneous projects. 



Nature of Change . Incremental funds of $10 million are needed in 

 1994 to continue with the vigorous implementation of the BARC 

 modernization plan. The following modernization projects will 

 require funding in FY 1994: 



BARC -WEST Electrical Upgrade . The existing electrical 

 distribution system at BARC -WEST is in need of major renovation/ 

 replacement based on a study conducted in FY 1992 to investigate 

 the condition of the system. Based on the results of that study, 

 a design was initiated in FY 1993. Construction, which is 

 estimated at $2.2 million, is scheduled for award in FY 1994. 



