Whether you have worked with the National Joint Powers Alliance (NPJA) or are brand new to the community, you have probably noticed that it has undergone some major changes over the last year. NJPA is now Sourcewell, and they are celebrating 40 years of partnerships by making sure you know exactly who they are and how they contribute to this industry. 

Many times, the traditional bid process results in accepting the lowest bid and not getting the quality you want and need for your project. Additionally, it almost always takes much longer than anticipated to get a project completed. The concept behind Sourcewell is to act as a bridge between government, education, and nonprofit agencies and organizations that offer solutions, such as:

• Construction and landscape companies
• Food and food equipment services
• Fleet management services
• Outdoor equipment retailers
• Inventory management companies 
• Information Technology services
• AV equipment services for classrooms
• Office and home supplies distributors

With Sourcewell, there is a better way to buy the quality you need without the extra expenses and time delays you don’t need. State and local government agencies, educational institutions and school districts, and nonprofits can get quality construction without having to go through the low bid process. Sourcewell is a national cooperative purchasing organization that has done all the hard work for you. 

As a government agency, Sourcewell satisfies the bid requirement through its legislative authority for members across the country. They manage the competitive bid process, qualify all the bids, and award the successful bidder, all while maintaining the entire paperwork trail for each member. Sourcewell ensures its members get a best-value solution for quality products and services under a fixed price. They vet each and every vendor to ensure the best possible matches are recommended and taking the competition out of the solicitation process. 

After completing the competitive bid process for their Sourcewell contract, ACI’s partner, BlueScope Construction®, was successfully awarded their second design-build, turnkey construction contract. BlueScope Construction holds the Sourcewell contract and partners with ACI to supply the Butler® building factory-direct at a discount while ensuring the work is performed by local designers, subcontractors, and vendors. School Superintendent Virginia D. Potter at Bethel Local Schools in Ohio explains how buying construction through Sourcewell worked for her: 

Recently, I was confronted with the need to add a 3-bay addition to our district’s bus barn. Realizing that it was going to be a costly venture, I cringed at just the thought of starting the bidding process! I was on a time constraint and knew how long that process could take. It was at that time I was introduced to BlueScope Construction, a general contractor that specializes in commercial and government facilities. They offered complete planning and budgeting from project conception to completion. Unlike other companies, BlueScope Construction was part of Sourcewell, a national cooperative contract company. Sourcewell creates cooperative contract purchasing solutions on behalf of their members which include all government, education and nonprofit agencies nationwide. As a result of this alliance, I was able to forego the bidding process and start my project in half the time!

As someone who considers time a precious commodity, I readily encourage other district Superintendents to consider companies who are part of the Sourcewell process. Not only was their pricing competitive nationwide but also their ability to save time and, of course, some of the headaches that come with any sizable building project!

With over 67,000 member agencies nationwide, I’ve discovered that many of our local government entities are already Sourcewell members. Membership is free and there are no obligations for any government, education or nonprofit entity. These organizations use Sourcewell for their supplies, services, equipment, and construction for their facility needs. Whether you need a new building or an expansion to an existing building, ACI can help with a quality design-build solution. 

As the community grows, Sourcewell is also becoming an essential partner for vendor contracts, with a catalog of the most qualified companies to choose from based on needs and geography. Once you qualify to be listed as a Sourcewell-approved vendor, potential project partners are more likely to look at your offerings with a sense of trust because of Sourcewell’s extensive vetting process. Sourcewell offers both cooperative purchasing and solicitation services.

Contact an expert at ACI today to learn more about how Sourcewell contributes to alleviating the anxiety many organizations and vendors deal with during the traditional bid process, or to discuss how ACI, BlueScope, and Sourcewell can make your next construction project simple and successful.

 

 

When entering any kind of project, many details, steps and parties are involved. From compensation specifics, materials needed, timeline and much more, having as much detail and information written and agreed upon before the project begins is key. There are many benefits to having an established contract prior to the start of a new job. They are a crucial part of any job, no matter what size, because it binds each party to the agreed upon terms for the duration of the project.

What’s in a Contract?

There are many different types of contracts in the construction industry, which include many different specifications, depending on the project. Construction contracts clearly define both parties obligations, expectations and risks, they provide a road map for many of the questions often asked such as payment terms, completion dates, insurance requirements and scope of work. The contract should be made up of the following sections:

• Project overview and description
• Contract Price
• Payment terms
• Construction schedule
• Construction conditions and responsibilities

How contracts prevent problems down the road

The contract should be written up and agreed upon before any work begins. This way, no matter what the circumstances are, there is a plan already in place. Some common issues that contracts should also address are:

Time constraints: Having an agreed upon plan of action in case there is a disruption in the timeline ensures that work will still be completed in a timely manner. This also helps to keep the project flowing smoothly. 

Weather damage: When unforeseen circumstances arise, like a severe storm or flooding, have a plan for handling work delays and potential damage to the site. ACI always ensures builders risk insurance is held during all projects from start to finish. Builders risk insurance protects insurable interest in materials, fixtures, and/or equipment during the construction or renovation of your project. Some policies also cover theft, vandalism and damage to construction materials, fencing, scaffolding and landscaping. 

Unexpected work conditions: Sometimes it’s impossible to foresee problems that can occur out of the blue. Under most circumstances, the contractor assumes responsibility for this and figures out a solution, even if its at a cost to the client. Have a plan for which party will take on the responsibility for addressing and handling the problem.

American Institute of Architects (AIA) Standards

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a standard in the industry. AIA and its members are committed to the highest ethical standards and full compliance with all laws and regulations, including federal and state antitrust laws.  Here at ACI, we utilize standard AIA contracts. We follow their guidelines and documentation to ensure we are providing the most comprehensive information, legal protection and fair terms to our clients. We also use AIA Sub-contractor agreements as well. This ties our Sub-contractors into the same terms and conditions we are subject too. 

We stand by our word

Having a well written, thorough contract in place prior to the start of a construction project is critical. It ensures all parties are on the same page and know who is responsible for what. It’s the assurance that you need to know that we are going to follow through and stand by what we promised you from the beginning. To learn more about contracts and how we can help you achieve your goals, contact a specialist at Associated Contracts Inc. today!

 

Before beginning any project, laying the groundwork is crucial. The groundwork, also known as preconstruction, helps generate and coordinate the entire project and all resources required. Many individuals are involved and work cohesively to create a thorough plan that will prepare the client and the construction team for a successful project.

Preconstruction takes time. And, if the time is well-spent upfront, these initial efforts can pave the way and mitigate issues throughout the construction process. Learn more about who is involved, what is established and why designating ample time for preconstruction matters up front and in the long run.

Who is involved in Preconstruction?

At Associated Contractors, the preconstruction planning process begins with comprehensive communication between the client and our project management team. Our team meets with  the client to learn about their definitive objective and answer any questions they may have. This line of open communication ensures that we are fulfilling the client’s vision.

Once the client’s vision is communicated, we can then implement our systems and determine the most effective way to navigate through the project. In this phase, we will also work with an architect and several of our top subcontractors. By using our established systems we are able to guide the client through every step of the process and provide detailed information to make informed decisions. This communication remains consistent throughout the duration of the project.

What does Preconstruction entail?

After speaking with the client, and reaching a comprehensive understanding of their vision, we can then begin to address the cost, scope, and schedule for the project. Creating this transparent communication assists with time management and saves resources throughout the duration of the project.

The preconstruction phase allows the contractor to also address the following:

• Identify potential problems and determine solutions

• Design a preliminary schematic

• Define a realistic budget

• Recommend and determine material and equipment

• Establish green buildingoptions

• Evaluate land conditions and existing utilities

Why is Preconstruction necessary?

At ACI, we pride ourselves on attention to detail in our preconstruction process. A thorough evaluation of the task at hand and everything needed to complete it helps ensure the task can be accomplished within the client’s timeframe and budget. The preconstruction phase provides a smooth beginning and overall process for the construction phase. Planning ahead helps to mitigate potential problems, wasted money and time.

ACI works diligently to plan ahead and prepare in the preconstruction phase for each individual project. Contact us to learn how we can start planning for you!

When embarking on a new building project, selecting a design-build firm is the first, most pivotal step toward building a trusting partnership for design and construction. Once you choose your partner for this project, the next important move you will make is your initial meeting. This is everyone’s opportunity to establish expectations, and align on all aspects of the project. Preparing for this first meeting can be overwhelming, so here are five things we recommend having prepared so that you can gain the most from this encounter.

Do your location homework.

Scout out the area you plan on placing the structure and gather any important information your design-build partner would need to know up front. If there are surveys available, any known utility locations, or any other glaring things about the land and its surroundings, be sure to bring those details with you. If the design-build firm can familiarize themselves with the area, then their initial to-do list can be ironed out earlier in the process.

 

Come with a clear vision.

Are you adding on an extra space for a new process, or creating a brand new corporate structure? Either way, come to the meeting prepared with a vision of exactly how you see the finished product. Be ready to discuss the details of what you have in mind, from size requirements to the number of loading docks, and exactly how you plan on using this new space. The more your design-build firm understands your end goal from the beginning, the smoother the journey will be. Inspirational photos are always a plus.

 

Deliver any existing drawings.

As a companion to scouting out the project’s location, it’s helpful to provide any drawings available of an existing structure. If you are constructing an addition or renovation to a building, your firm will want to learn as much as they can about the foundation with which they are working.

 

Decide on major budget details.

The budget is one of the most vital parts of a project that needs to be set it stone as early as possible. Align with your design-firm on the details of what your must-have qualities are, and bring a wish list with you that you can prioritize together. If you have numbers in mind when you come to the meeting, your design-build firm can help you iron out the quality levels of specific elements that are available within your budget.

 

Research special requirements.

Speaking of budgets, make sure you have prepared any special requirements you would like to add to your project that might affect your bottom line and impact the timeline of the project. If you intend on developing a green building, make sure to mention this to your design-build team as material selections and pricing of said materials will impact your budget. Additional specialty items such as cranes, machine bases, or particular lighting and sound levels should also be communicated at this initial meeting so that you and your design-build partner can plan them together.

For more information on the design-build process, or to speak with an expert about your next project, contact George Ray at Associated Contractors, Inc. today.