“OK, so what’s this going to cost?” That’s the multi-million-dollar question we all want to know when starting out on any progressive design-build venture. It’s followed closely by “When will we know?” With the proper team in place, cost certainty can be achieved early in the progressive design-build process.
Read More →
For any business or organization (public or private) to be successful, risks must be proactively evaluated and addressed with mitigation plans. Risks, by their very nature, can sometimes produce undesirable consequences. This is especially true in construction where slim margins dictate risk identification and mitigation plans are used to protect those slim margins and enable businesses to be profitable. In public organizations, the public’s money needs to be responsibly spent and part of that responsibility is properly managing and allocating risks.
Read More →
Owners considering collaborative delivery frequently reach out to experienced owners and practitioners to gain information about best practices. This sharing of knowledge contributes to an increased probability of success and helps get a project started on the right track. While questions and input are wide and varied, I always start with the basics of collaborative delivery and what is most important for a successful project based on my experience.
Read More →
A savvy design-builder once said you should avoid giving a price for a project with an undefined scope of work. The critical success factors that all design-builders consider are a well-defined scope of work, manageable schedule, fair allocation of risks, and strong collaborative relationship between the owners and the design-build team.
Read More →
If the process control system is the nerve center of a water or wastewater treatment plant, the electrical system is the heart. To keep a treatment plant’s core mission a priority, process control system and electrical services engineers and integrators must cooperate as system infrastructure is installed, upgraded, or replaced. This demand for a higher level of collaboration and integration is compelling utilities to select design-build project delivery.
Read More →
The term “Best Value,” typically applied when procuring a fixed-price design-build project, is a process for owners to obtain services from design-build firms and contractors, where price is not the only criteria for selection.
Read More →
As I sit at the airport in Minneapolis reflecting on the week’s events at the DBIA Water/Wastewater conference, I can’t help but think about how much fun we have as an industry. It is always a wonderful experience to spend time with business partners, competitors and owners, learning more about what makes our industry tick, and more importantly, learning more about what makes us as individuals tick.
Read More →
Achieving a successful design-build project requires a collaborative environment that begins with the owner’s commitment to be the leader of internal preparations. Before initiating the procurement process or identifying the delivery method to be used, key decisions need to be made by the owner.
Read More →
Thirty-five years ago, I studied water treatment systems in college, and I’ve been captivated ever since. I feel fortunate to work in a field where I feel like I make a difference every single day.
Read More →
In working on water infrastructure projects in the collaborative delivery industry, it is important to understand the value of involving local businesses. When a design-build firm begins a project in a new locality that may not be within their normal geographic area, there are not only differences to be encountered, but more importantly, there are fabulous opportunities.
Read More →
