Laserfiche WebLink
42SOUTH BEND, INDIANA GSC <br />BUDGETING <br />On the surface, wastewater projects such as yours appear to be about the nuts and bolts of collecting a waste stream for processing and treatment. But when you consider that the funds for the project come from ratepayers, this project is really about guaranteeing the success and longevity of South Bend residents, businesses, and industries. Developing the budget, which we do in the preconstruction phase, is about delivering the Operator’s and Engineer’s vision for the system improvements at the most cost-effective point. Section 6 Financial Approach presents our methodology for generating the Guaranteed Maximum Price and guaranteeing no Contractor-initiated change orders. <br />While the major emphasis is on the cost of construction, we take extra precautions to ensure <br />the long-term sustainability of the system. As an experienced General Contractor, we know <br />what materials have the staying power to stand up to the environment at your plant and <br />distribution system. Knowing which materials can last for ten years and which ones cannot, <br />has a direct impact on your utility’s capital and maintenance plan budgets. <br />Through the preconstruction period, we will support the design offering options that can save <br />buried costs and minimize the need for follow-up construction in a few years. The following <br />are just a few examples of where our participation during preconstruction lowered the GMP <br />without sacrificing process operations: <br /> h Evansville West WWTP Storage Basin: we worked with the Structural Engineer to select the tank wall cross-section that was the most cost-effective to build <br /> h Syracuse Oxidation Ditch Improvements: we worked with the Design Engineer to evaluate concrete vs. fiberglass methods of constructing a turning vane in a space with limited access <br /> h Decatur East Water Treatment Plant: we worked with the Design Engineer to simplify the building profile, eliminating the corners and wings that added cost without value <br /> h Decatur Winchester Water Treatment Plant: we worked with the city and Designer to price the cost of rehabilitating the existing 1960s era plant versus building a new plant immediately adjacent <br /> h Angola Hires Lift Station Improvements: we worked with the city and Designer to evaluate the cost of converting from a wet pit / dry pit configuration to a submersible versus the cost of upgrading the current arrangement <br /> h Plymouth WWTP Improvements: we worked with the plant and the Designer to modify a pipe alignment that enabled a new tank to be constructed without use of sheeting <br />COMMUNICATION <br />As we mentioned previously, Communication is the all-important glue that binds Safety, Quality, Scoping, Scheduling, and Budgeting together into a successful project. Good communication eliminates surprise and confusion, minimizes the time to solutions, lowers stress levels, and improves safety, quality, scope, schedule, and budget management. Our role-based approach streamlines the process by placing the right questions and information, in front of the right people, at the right time.