March 28--A Robins Air Force Base contractor will be shutting down at the end of May, putting nearly 300 people out of work.
"We were notified by our customer, the U.S. Air Force, that they have decided not to exercise an option on our contract that we have there," said Ashley Burke, vice president of communications for Falls Church, Va.-based DynCorp International Inc.
That brings the company's work in Warner Robins to an end on May 31, and all DynCorp employees will be let go, she said.
The company began its one-year contract in May 2012 to provide maintenance support on U.S. Air Force aircraft, including the C-130, C-117, C-5 and F-15, Burke said.
"We were awarded in May a contract written for one base year, and it had a one one-year option," she said. "So the government, after one year, can say it wants to exercise that option or not. The people working there understand that."
A source familiar with the situation said the decision not to exercise the option was based on federal funding limitations.
The Georgia Department of Labor will offer to help workers, said Jane Simpson, manager of the Houston County Career Center.
"Anytime there is a large layoff we offer our services," Simpson said. "Of course we'll file the unemployment claims, and we will go beyond that to do what we can to help people get back to work and provide placement services.
"We just got the notice Tuesday, so nothing is in place yet."
Burke said she didn't know if any affected employees could be relocated within DynCorp.
"We love to find positions for all of the skilled workers we have around the world whenever possible," she said. "But this specific program has come to a close, unfortunately, so those positions are no longer available."
DynCorp is a government services contractor focused on aviation, logistics and base operations, she said.
To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223.
Copyright 2013 - The Macon Telegraph
