Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) Headquarters

Located at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) has been in operation since 1989 when the Reagan administration tasked the Department of Defense (DoD) to create a Joint Task Force to enforce its anti-drug enforcement policy. Since then, JIATF-S has earned the reputation as the “gold standard” in interagency cooperation. Conducting detection and monitoring (D&M) operations in support of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), JIATF-S HQ facilitates the interdiction of illicit drug and human trafficking in support of national and partner nation security.

RS&H, as lead partner in a joint venture, planned and programmed the facility and executed a 35% design and DD1391 to obtain HQ USACE support and funding. During the programming process, the team prepared a cost-neutral CSRA, developed a validated parametric MCACES MII cost estimate, and completed an Army MILCON Parametric Design Report – Lite, ensuring design solutions balanced mission performance, durability, and total ownership cost.

The design team developed the PDR-Lite, DD Form 1391 validation and all components of a certified 35% design on a tight 11-month schedule, enabling the project to compete for Army MILCON funding. NAVFAC SE received the design package three weeks early, allowing sufficient time to review and prepare the work products for submittal to HQ USACE.

The same RS&H team then led the 35-100% full Title I MILCON design for the five-story JIATF-S Headquarters at Truman Annex, Florida. The design includes an operations area that includes special use space for a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), Operations Center (OC), and Network Operations Center (NOC), and an administrative area divided into specified security zones.

In addition, the JIATF-S Headquarters complex was designed to provide enhanced resilience against the environmental, climatic, and natural hazard risks unique to Key West, Florida. In full compliance with UFC 1-200-02 , the design team delivered a facility capable of withstanding Category 5 hurricane wind speeds and anticipated ocean storm surge.

Sustainability and energy enhancement measures were included. By prioritizing simple, robust, and energy-efficient systems, the design meets baseline energy demand while maintaining operational performance. Additionally, the strict environmental restrictions for Key West were identified to minimize the project’s impact on the sensitive ecological diversity of the island.

Other services included a beta-test Project Management Agreement (PMA), which will become a future SECDEF requirement for large DoD MILCONs. Leveraging the trust, close government- industry collaboration and communications, the team moved aggressively into the full design and delivered the design within budget and on-schedule. The construction is pending solicitation.

Public Resources:

• JIATFS building 5-story headquarters – NewsBreak 
• SAM.gov