Session Descriptions

Adjust, Adapt, Act: Winning Stories From the Post-2007 Construction Industry

The current construction crunch is now in its fourth year, and the economy remains in limbo, with analysts now forecasting a double dip in 2012. Numerous contractors, ranging from small to large, are struggling to grab a foothold in this new environment, and many are losing key staff and clients in the process. In contrast, other construction companies are gaining traction, building a backlog, running very profitably and moving up within what are often new areas of specialization. So what is their secret? Why are some companies doing really well while others are just barely surviving? This session will present several case studies and distill the key factors that make these companies unique and successful. The session will also provide insight from senior FMI strategy experts on success strategies that have become crucial in running a profitable construction business, as well as common mistakes, which can lead to failure in today’s cutthroat environment. Learning objectives include:
• Learn the key business imperatives for a volatile economy
• Understand the common mistakes contractors make
• What you can do to build a company fit for the next challenge


Proven Techniques for Improving Construction Productivity

Now that you cut your staff to the bone, you are trying to manage projects efficiently to get the job done and still make some money. Learn techniques and processes from the FMI experts to enhance the performance of your operations management team and make sure they are being as productive as possible.
• Know the keys to successful implementation, understand leadership’s role in implementing the changes
• Use measurement to drive consistency
• Leverage earned value as a best practice for measuring productivity
• Use job cost and production feedback processes to support productivity improvement
• Understand and use measurement dashboards with both upstream and downstream measurements

Deconstructing the Construction Industry

Over the last three years, the U.S. Department of Labor has significantly increased its enforcement activity in the construction industry.   Compliance is not just about OSHA anymore.  Rather, DOL’s Wage and Hour Division has asserted that general contractors are joint employers with their subcontractors and thus jointly liable for FLSA violations by subcontractors; increased investigations challenging classification of construction workers as independent contractors; and aggressively pursued the harshest penalties available for violations of the Davis-Bacon Act.  In this program, a former head of DOL’s Wage & Hour Division will discuss DOL’s initiatives in the construction industry, the types of violations DOL is looking for, and steps construction employers can take to ensure compliance with the FLSA and DBA. 

Managing & Controlling Your Project Through the Contract Documents

In the construction industry, most disputes and/or project losses are a result of ill-prepared and/or uninformed project management. This seminar will address the major pitfalls, and put project management in position to make informed and wiser decisions. The seminar will help you rethink your means & methods of construction administration, which will put you in charge of the construction project, resulting in better administration and risk management which leads to increased profits and satisfied customers.

SEMINAR TOPICS
• Defining a Contractor, introduction to the Construction Contract Documents
• Contract delivery methods, phases of construction, schematic design package
• The Contract between the Owner and Contractor
• General, supplementary and special conditions of the Contract
• Contract between the Contractor and Subcontractors, Purchase Orders
• Privity of Contract, flow-down provisions, assignment of subcontracts
• Construction methods, industry standards, trade customs
• Aesthetics, quality standards, shop drawings, scheduling
• Communication, ambiguous documents, order of precedence, dispute resolution provision
• Unforeseen conditions, consequential damages, code & regulations
• Delay provisions, damages for delay, time extensions clauses, time is of the essence clause
• Notice requirements, disclaimer & exculpatory clauses
• Suspension, supplementation & termination clauses, dealing with contract default.
• Payment & remedies provisions, provisions for changes in work
• Stored materials, notice to proceed
• Partial use or occupancy, substantial & final completion, liquidated damages
• Contract Documents are complementary, Warranty of Design




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The above-ground, off-stream reservoir is a vital component of Tampa Bay Water's surface water system. The reservoir came on line in 2005, but in December 2006, cracks began to form in the soil cement interior face of the facility's erosion control structure. Over time, the cracks became larger than expected and appeared in several areas on the reservoir's interior face.

To ensure long-term reliability and functionality of the facility, Tampa Bay Water’s Board of Directors approved procuring a permanent fix for the reservoir’s soil cement erosion control layer. A permanent fix is required for the facility to be used at its intended fill and drawdown rates.

The agency selected the Design-Build-Maintain procurement option for its Reservoir Renovation Project because the maintenance component provides value on short- and long-term maintenance. It also ensures the successful contractor stands behind its work until the fix is deemed successful.

Three design-build teams were pre-qualified to participate in the reservoir renovation procurement process. Each team submitted a base proposal to renovate the facility so that it performs as originally intended as well as an alternate proposal for 3 billion gallons of additional storage.
Those teams were:
Granite Construction Company
Kiewit Infrastructure South
Skanska USA Civil Southeast

The proposal stage took a "best value" approach to securing the best long-term fix at the right prices. It is not a low-bid procurement.

Proposals were evaluated and scored on technical criteria as well as long-term cost. The technical portion of the scoring comprised 60 percent of the evaluation and cost comprised 40 percent. On August 22, 2011 Tampa Bay Water's board of directors approved a $162 million contract with design-builder Kiewit Infrastructure South to renovate the regional reservoir and increase the facility's storage by 3 billion gallons. The contract formalizes Kiewit's technical solution to meet Tampa Bay Water objectives of long-term reliability, long-term performance and lowest long-term cost.

Kiewit's solution addresses the underlying cause of the soil cement cracking with a proposed design that prevents water from being trapped behind the soil cement. Kiewit's solution removes and reclaims the flat-plat soil cement and soil wedge; removes the geomembrane; and adds embankment fill, a drainage system, a new geomembrane and stair-step soil cement around the entire interior face.

Stair-step soil cement is a robust facing that can withstand frequent drain and fill cycles, wave action and storms. Litigation regarding the original design and construction of the project was authorized in the fall of 2008, and is ongoing but the procurement and implementation of the renovation project is not dependent on the schedule or the outcome of that litigation.