Complex Infrastructure Projects Made Simple

The City of Tampa used a streamlined qualifications-based selection for a project management at risk with progressive design build (PDB) delivery of their critical-schedule, high-profile infrastructure projects. CH2MHILL was chosen as the design build program manager to contract for the design and construction of a $250 million water, sewer, and stormwater pipelines and pump station utility capital improvement project, known as UCAP. Forty miles of pipelines were designed and due to the economic downturn and the flexibility of the program contract the program was reduced to $105 million to date for the construction of 20 miles of pipelines and two pump stations. The program offered a single point of responsibility and accountability for all work associated with 25 high-profile individual projects, including eight pipeline projects that were under design and construction simultaneously, 6 miles of downtown business distribution water lines, 5 miles of 42 in. transmission water main in downtown areas, and 5 miles of 42-48 in. force main, two pump stations, and stormwater projects within urban residential and central commercial core of downtown Tampa. The paper will discuss the efficiencies of bringing the community-sensitive, critical-schedule projects into a program that has produced to date a program yielding $3 million in cost-effective construction solutions and $560,000 in sustainability practices. The contract required a transparent, open-book process of cost reimbursable with fee guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and a third-party CPA firm audit. This delivery method resulted in a return of more than $3 million in GMP savings to the City. The early engagement of a public outreach, information, and stakeholder involvement approach reduced public construction complaints by 94% when compared with similar projects in the Tampa area. This paper will discuss the effectiveness of the stakeholder involvement during the design and construction phases of the projects and the satisfaction of owner with the alternative delivery system chosen, which allowed a focused team approach to implement the needed infrastructure projects with the maximum efficiency and minimum amount of disruption to daily activities during construction to residential and commercial stakeholders.