Improving the Design Quality of Federal Buildings (1989) / Chapter Skim
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3 A Workshop on Opportunities for Improving Quality of Design
3 A Workshop on Opportunities for Improving Quality of Design
Pages 9-22
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From page 9... ...
O A/E selection is accomplished through a process that varies from agency to agency but conforms generally to a uniform framework intended to assure that designers are selected on the bases of qualifications rather than price, while assuring that all qualified firms are given opportunities to undertake federal design projects.ll replanning, programming, and budgeting activities occur throughout design development. As used in this report, pre-design plans, programs, and budgets are based on strategic assumptions and estimates by agencies, and include relatively little physical design information.
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From page 10... ...
development of alternative plans for each scenario, using existing or modified facilities and/or new construction. A successful master plan contains an integrated series of documents that present in graphic, narrative, and tabular form the present situation and the plan for an orderly and comprehensive solution to anticipated future problems.
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To be effective, management plans should be developed in advance of, or at least concurrent with, the project programming process and with the same care devoted to various technical aspects. Because of their dynamic nature, they also should be revised as needed during the programming process.
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A "cost variation" occurs when an acceptable low bid for a specific project exceeds the Congressional authorization by a specified percentage or dollar amount, and such a variation often attracts congressional scrutiny. The workshop participants observed that there is excessive Congressional involvement in project decision-making, or "micro-management," resulting in delays, scope changes or redesigns that can affect the quality of a project.
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From page 13... ...
The single most important factor in achieving quality of design in federal buildings is often the selection of the A/E firm that will develop the design. The selection process -- carried out within the framework established by the Brooks Act -- generally begins with the posting of a notice in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD)
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The workshop participants concluded that there is some value in the fact that various agencies have a procurement system unique and responsive to their mission, and rejected completely measures that would attempt to standardize or centralize A/E selection without regard to the specific needs of each project or agency. However, the participants suggested that the agencies are not always particularly effective in their individual selection processes and noted mixed results in quality of selections, not only among agencies, but also among projects within a single agency.
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Appropriate compensation may be the single most important incentive for an A/E firm to consider federal work. Some workshop participants believed that the current statutory limitation that design fees not exceed six percent of project construction cost may be counter-productive in terms of both attracting reputable firms and providing fair and reasonable incentives for quality work.
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From page 16... ...
If the design team is called upon to perform other services such as geotechnical exploration, materials testing, or background research, the total fees received by an A/E firm may exceed six percent of the construction cost. PARTICIPATION IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Workshop participants noted that the A/E called upon to design federal facilities responds directly to the guidance from agency personnel participating in the selection and technical management process.
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If not clearly articulated in the appropriate program document or agency design guidelines, the A/E should be invited to work with the agency staff and the end-user to define the level of quality desired. The expectations of the agency and the end-user must be explicit if the design team is to perform at an optimal level.
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From page 18... ...
Participants at the Woods Hole workshop identified several actions preparatory to or during construction that could directly contribute to maintaining or enhancing quality of design: · Individual agencies should be given authority to pre-qualify construction contractors and major subcontractors, at least on selected projects. Federal agencies should cooperate in maintaining and sharing performance data on contractors.
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The fields of building diagnostics and post-occupancy evaluation provide two of the most direct means of assessing design quality of federal buildings. Upon completion, the building may be analyzed in relation to its performance (operating costs, indoor air quality, noise elimination or 19
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The Woods Hole workshop participants also examined the role that various design awards programs might have on improving design quality. It was noted that federal buildings seldom receive recognition through established design awards programs operated under the auspices of the national professional societies at either regional and national levels.
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From page 21... ...
At a broader level, workshop participants noted that there is currently no agency or individual within the federal government whose exclusive job it is to act as an advocate for quality of design in federal buildings. No single entity provides direction or assistance related to design quality to the various agencies directly involved in building design and construction.
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From page 22... ...
Through these activities and ongoing advocacy the council would seek to ensure a basic commitment to quality of federal design. 17Precedents for "supervising architects" and a centralized design advocacy may be cited in past federal building practice.
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