Any facilities director or CFO who has been involved in a construction project has concerns about cost overruns and budget pressures. When performed independently, the disconnect between design and construction can often lead to schedule delays and change-orders. Fortunately, we have seen an increasing trend of owners, facilities professionals and public agencies getting specialized expertise involved early in the scope and RFP (Request for Proposal) development process, which helps define the scope appropriately, and in doing so, reduce the potential for cost overruns. Read More
While many owners and contractors are familiar with pre-bid meetings, pre-bid conferences are less common… but have the potential to be even more important to the ultimate success of a project. Read More
Central utility plant construction involves the installation or modification of mission-critical systems that must continue to perform during buildout. Boilers, chillers, cooling towers and similar infrastructure can occasionally go off-line for planned maintenance, but certainly not for the extended time periods required in new construction. Unfortunately, in many cases a new plant must occupy the existing footprint, adding to the planning required and increasing the potential for service interruptions or complications. Read More
Evaluating bids for a central plant construction project is a complex endeavor for any facilities director or selection committee. There are a number of criteria being reviewed, including costs, equipment and materials, and the competing firms themselves. One of the areas where we feel project stakeholders should spend time is identifying the successful experience of those submitting bids. Read More
For many organizations contemplating a central utility plant, boiler upgrade or similar infrastructure project, an invitation to bid appears to be the best option to find the right price/value. Unfortunately, the invitation to bid process often leaves building owners with a poor construction experience. Read More