Spring Break
URI goes to bid again
Chloe Thompson
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News
09/04/08 - A reworking of state regulations on construction projects is delaying the building of the University of Rhode Island's new pharmacy building, and could add as much as $2 million to the project.
The method under question, construction management at risk, is one the university uses in less than 5 percent of its projects, Vice President of Administration Robert Weygand said earlier this week. Although A.F. Lusi Construction of Smithfield is suing the state administrative department, not the university, the lawsuit still affects URI, and its future construction projects.
"This isn't about Lusi and URI, this is about how the state procures construction for buildings," Jonathan Flynn, spokesman for the construction company, said earlier this week. "It is our feeling that if you're going to deviate from the traditional preferred method that you should have real reasons for it."
The new pharmacy building was scheduled to be finished in 2010, but is now targeted for 2011, nearly six months after the expected date, because it is using the construction management at risk method for the bidding process.
The main difference between construction management at risk and the more traditional "design-bid-build" method is that there is a greater equality between the consumer and the employees. In design-bid-build, the project is designed, the contract goes out for companies to bid on, and the company that best fits the needs of the employer is granted the bid. The project is then built, and additional costs are discussed as the project moves along.
In construction management at risk, a maximum price for the project is set before construction even begins, and an incentive is given if the project is completed ahead of time. In addition, a monetary penalty is given if the employees fail to meet scheduling requirements, which are also set before construction begins. The contractor is responsible for finding additional staff for menial tasks such as putting in floors and drywall.
The method under question, construction management at risk, is one the university uses in less than 5 percent of its projects, Vice President of Administration Robert Weygand said earlier this week. Although A.F. Lusi Construction of Smithfield is suing the state administrative department, not the university, the lawsuit still affects URI, and its future construction projects.
"This isn't about Lusi and URI, this is about how the state procures construction for buildings," Jonathan Flynn, spokesman for the construction company, said earlier this week. "It is our feeling that if you're going to deviate from the traditional preferred method that you should have real reasons for it."
The new pharmacy building was scheduled to be finished in 2010, but is now targeted for 2011, nearly six months after the expected date, because it is using the construction management at risk method for the bidding process.
The main difference between construction management at risk and the more traditional "design-bid-build" method is that there is a greater equality between the consumer and the employees. In design-bid-build, the project is designed, the contract goes out for companies to bid on, and the company that best fits the needs of the employer is granted the bid. The project is then built, and additional costs are discussed as the project moves along.
In construction management at risk, a maximum price for the project is set before construction even begins, and an incentive is given if the project is completed ahead of time. In addition, a monetary penalty is given if the employees fail to meet scheduling requirements, which are also set before construction begins. The contractor is responsible for finding additional staff for menial tasks such as putting in floors and drywall.
