BJC Job Shows Subs Brave New World
Date Posted: August 21, 2014
Posted In: News, Projects,
By Tom Finan, Executive Director, Construction Forum STL
St. Louis subcontractors found themselves staring straight into the face of the future Wednesday night. Its name was Washington University Medical Center Campus Renewal Project. From paperless project document management to exacting safety standards, this definitely isn’t your father’s construction project.
Representatives of the ACW Alliance (click here for a PDF of the team list), a joint venture of Alberici, Clayco, and S. M. Wilson which is CM on the project, and other members of the Campus Renewal Project team presented project parameters to members and guests of the Midwest Council, American Subcontractors Association. A larger-than-usual attendance of 200 filled the room at Syberg’s on Dorsett Road for the council’s monthly membership meeting.
The project, which team members declined to put a value on, but was originally announced at $1 billion, is currently focusing on the north end of the site at Kingshighway and Forest Park. Demolition has been completed and secant walls are being installed. MEP and foundation packages have been released. Pier drilling is expected to begin in November or December.
The other members of the team on the project are Jacobs, program manager; HOK executive architect, with various consultant firms; BR+A, engineer; and Marks and Associates, diversity consultant.
Valerie Larkin, who is representing Jacobs on the project, was also the lead for Jacobs on BJC’s Campus Integration Project from 1997-2001. Clayco’s Bob Fritz said that working with her for the past few months has been refreshing. Rick Ottolino, principal of OWH, which is embedded with HOK to provide document and drawing reviews, said that Larkin is “a tough project manager, but fair.”
Larkin, a woman of few words, displayed a crusty sense of humor when one person in the audience asked if there would be liquidated damages for project delays. “If you’re late, we’re just going to bury you in the piers,” she quipped.
No Dead Trees Here
The project team from ACW walked subs through the manner in which the job will operate and in which bids will be submitted and reviewed. First on the agenda was the mandate that the project operate on a paperless document system. Someone in the audience asked if that was dictated by BJC or ACW.
“Yes,” the lead project representatives said in chorus.
Every subcontractor bidding on the project will be expected to have two iPads and lead employees must have working email addresses. BIM is being used very significantly, including REVIT and some Autocad, Lennel Hunter, virtual design and construction manager said. “Everyone must produce their own models and do clash coordination,” Hunter said. “The goal of the project is to go as paperless as possible.”
Autoworks’ Navisworks and BIM 360 Glue will be used to provide simulations and clash avoidance. Subs who do not have that capability in house will be able to obtain assistance from ACW.
In addition to delivering documents to lead team members on iPads, there will be “technology gang boxes” on site, where crews can check drawings. Clayco’s Fritz said that the paperless system takes a little getting used to but is a much easier way to work.
“You look at a drawing and tell you can tell whether it’s current or not. We like it, the designers like it and the subs who have used it like it.”
Buttoned Down Safety
The requirements for safety on the campus renewal site will be more familiar to contractors working on big industrial projects than on hospital construction. All new hires on site will be required to complete a 2-3 hour intake orientation, which will be conducted offsite at Barnes care at 5000 Manchester Ave. They must pass a drug test; a Breathalyzer; and must perform a “fit for duty” mobility and flexibility evaluation, which will be videotaped.
The project has been designated as an OSHA partnership job. This means that inspectors will be welcomed on the site for regular visits. Workers must have 10-hour OSHA training and supervisors must have 30-hour training, completed no earlier than January of 2013. Everyone on site must wear gloves and hard-toed boots all the time in addition to regular PPE. Tie-off is required on all work over six feet high.
National Labor Agreement
Another similarity to industrial projects is the fact that the project will operate under the National Maintenance Agreements (NMA). Subs will have to purchase a site extension and pay a fee for each craft they wish to hire. The project will operate under two shifts: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., with premium pay for the late shift.
Insurance and Bidding
The project is insured through an Owner Controlled Insurance Program, which does not cover offsite work or equipment or errors and omissions on subcontractor-generated documents. Subcontractors are prequalified through the SmartBidNet, but are not required to be part of the BJC Toolbox in order to submit a bid.
All bidders must complete a diversity compliance rubric which includes a good faith effort validation, statement of MBE and WBE utilization, and workforce inclusion plan. At the end of the project the sub will be evaluated for compliance with the submitted plan. Non-compliance will result in a deduction of one-twentieth of one percent from the contractor’s fee.
Larkin said that the GCs would be paid in 20 days and indicated that she would make sure that subs got paid within 30 days.
When the presentation was completed there were very few questions. The subs had met the future head on, and there was a lot to chew on.