Description
Organization: NAVFAC, MCAS Yuma
Team Name: Southwest Division NAVFAC and Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma Contracting Team
Related Acquisition Topic(s): Commercial Practices, Integrated Product Teams (IPT), Partnering
Description:
Southwest Division of NAVFAC and the Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizonia, negotiated an agreement with Harper Construction company and Nielsen Dillingham Builders, a joint venture, for the design and construction of MILCON Projects P410 and P415, utilizing an existing Multiple Award contract. This action resulted in an award of a delivery order for the design and construction of a new facility with a value of $18.6 million to house 712 marines in modern living units. The completed project will greatly enhance the quality of life of these Marines assigned to the new BEQ, as well as enhance the surrounding areas for the entire community.
The Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, AZ, is the largest tactical aviation training range utilized by the Marine Corps. Besides the permanent troops stationed at MCASY, units are deployed each year to MCAS, Yuma, for a time period ranging from a few days to weeks, bringing 13,000 personnel and 1,000 aircraft annually. The high volume of personnel transitioning through MCASY brings unique complexities the integrated team considered during the acquisition planning. Those complexities include: an increase in material durability, low maintenance requirements over the life of the contract, and the need to meet the expectation of Quality of Life and remain within the budget. The team's intent is to deliver a functional BEQ that meet the congressionally approved budget while satisfying customer requirements. All living spaces and common areas are considered relative to their role, in creating the highest and best Quality of Life architecture. The solutions for site improvements and architecture are found to be within acceptable latitude for planning new construction projets given the lack of sufficient quality quarters, ever shrinking resources and diminsihing funds for maintenance, and deteriorating conditions of exisiting BEQs. While there was certain latitude for flexibility in the design, the team was not to exceed the budget or fail to meet the program requirements and project schedule.
The Navy/Marine Corps Team overcame these constraints by issuing an innovative Request For Proposal (RFP). This included beginning with a Design Build process (vice the standard Design Bid Build). The flexibility of this process allowed the contractor to proceed without limiting his ingenuity, while still providing the government a quality product. Part of this Design Build project's success is the Partnering that occurred early in the process, laying the foundation of open communication and coordination between the government and the contractor. As a result, a cost savings to the government of approximately $2 million has been realized. Additionlly, the fast track aspect of this project, issuing partial notice to proceed, assisted in realizing an early completion date of at least six months ahead of schedule.
The benefits to the Government include: higher customer satisfaction by accelerated design, construction, and early occupancy; hands on participation of government staff with design and construction team; access to cost impact of design decisions; lower maintenance costs over life of structure by using durable and low maintenance materials; energy efficient buildings which reduce life cycle cost; lower risk and lower cost in change orders for design errors and omissions; a sense of ownership provided by partnering with contractor; commitment and results in high customer satisfaction; and selection of contractor based on best value, not low bidder.
These contract actions were the result of cooperative negotiations to the mutual benefit of all parties. The Navy/Marine Corps team met the Design Build technical requirements, stayed within budget and exceeded the customer's requirements.
