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Alternative Delivery Methods Go Public
By: Joe Lauer

Who hasn't lived through the six steps of a traditional hard bid project? For public agencies, it starts with enthusiasm for the first building funds to be approved since anyone can remember. They quickly become disillusioned when the simple solution to space and facility needs starts turning into a monument to the architect and the drawings don't get completed. Panic ensues when the low bidder is 10% over budget and 15% below the rest of the pack. The administrators begin their search for the guilty party as time continues to slip away and the design team submits their extra services to revise the scope to meet the budget. As soon as the apparent low GC gets his pickup out of the shop, he mobilizes on the site and punishment of the innocent subcontractors and the poor project staff begins. After the battle, the project team heads off to court and a grand ground-breaking ceremony lavishes praise and honor on the non-participants.

In Arizona, the Alliance for Construction Excellence (ACE) decided to work to improve the project delivery process. ACE is a public/private construction industry group working in association with the Engineering Department of Arizona State University. After nearly 2 years of groundwork and lobbying, House Bill 2340 was passed allowing performance-based selection of construction professionals for public projects.

In addition to Hard Bid, municipalities are now able to choose alternative project delivery methods such as Construction Management, Construction Management at Risk, Design-Build and Job Order Contracting. Construction services can now be awarded similar to design services. We get short-listed off of our Statement of Qualifications. Con-tractors are then selected based on the people, experience and abilities presented in interviews.

The qualifications of the Southwest Division have resulted in awards of the $35m Arizona State Hospital, $100m Plaza de Maricopa Headquarters, the $9m Chandler School, and the $10m Scottsdale School.

These alternative project delivery methods allow public owners to take advantage of the benefits we have traditionally afforded our private clients. Our clients are thrilled to be involved with a team of experienced builders with a proven history of completing their type of project on time and on budget. Disillusionment becomes enlightenment through preconstruction services. We perform logistical studies, procurement strategies, phasing plans and constructability reviews to guide the process.

Panic becomes peace of mind through the conceptual estimating. Continuous estimating, cost studies and a Guar-anteed Maximum Price provide comfort that the project will be delivered for the budget. There is no need to search for the guilty as partnerships are developed through a disciplined, qualifications-based subcontractor procurement process. Instructions to bidders describe an MEP coordination process, how to handle changes fairly and identify a peaceful resolution process.

Excellence is rewarded by construction professionals running a safe and productive project. In addition to praise for everyone, everyone earns a fair return on their people and has an opportunity to perform future work with each other.