Planning & Construction: Capital Improvement Program (CIP):

Swinerton Management & Consulting Inc. selected as Construction/Program Manager - August 2002

The District is in a major Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that includes new construction at each college, infrastructure repair, renovations and upgrade to existing buildings, athletic field and court renovations, and procurement of related fixtures, equipment and furniture. The funding sources for the CIP are comprised of:

• 2001 Measure C General Obligation Bond
• local redevelopment funds
• State Chancellor’s Office Facilities funding programs
• grants
• donations
• fees
• other miscellaneous sources

To implement and execute all aspects of the Capital Improvement Program, the District Facilities Planning & Operations department initiated selection of a firm to establish, manage, and operate a Capital Improvement Program Management Office. A number of required, comprehensive services were identified for an effective CIP. They can be categorized into the following three (3) major components:

1. Development of a Program Definition Document. This document will outline the scope, schedule and budgets of all projects comprising the CIP.

2. Program Management Services. Management of all aspects of the CIP including but not limited to reporting, procurement strategies, budget management, schedule management, scope management, public relations, communications, safety, and disruption mitigation.

3. Construction Management Services. Management of all aspects of each project from programming, design, bidding, contract award, construction, commissioning, turnover, and project closeout.

A qualifications request package and evaluation matrix were developed by the District’s Facilities staff. On April 22 and 29, the District advertised in the San Mateo County Times for Program Management (PM) firms to participate in the qualification process and sent notifications to 52 firms and 11 builders’ exchanges. In early May, a mandatory pre-qualification conference was held. Eighty (80) people attended the conference, representing fifty-nine (59) firms. On May 24, the District received Statements of Qualifications from twenty-two (22) construction and program management firms.

A selection committee, comprised of representatives from the Facilities Department and the District’s Facilities Master Planning firm, tBP Architecture, analyzed the Statements of Qualifications and ranked each of the twenty-two firms quantitatively based on the following selection criteria:

• demonstrated ability to work on a day-to-day basis with governing boards, faculty, staff, students, consultants, contractors and vendors in a community college setting;
• demonstrated ability to act as an “Owner’s Representative” in complex construction projects for public sector agencies;
• location relative to the District;
• experience in working on publicly funded projects;
• relevant employment experience of the proposed project team;
• a clear understanding of the District’s CIP and the work involved in executing the program; and
• commitment to a collaborative management style that demonstrates sensitive, respectful and effective communication with people who are diverse in their cultures, language groups and abilities.

In mid-July, the selection committee interviewed the six highest-rated firms. Based on the interviews and rigorous reference checking, two firms were invited to submit proposals. On August 23, the selection committee, along with the three College Presidents, conducted final interviews to identify the firm whose experience, reputation, style and proposal (including costs) best matched the requirements of the District’s Capital Improvement Program. While both firms are held in high regard by their customers (including Pierce College in the Los Angeles Community College system, the University of Southern California, and the Bay Meadows Development group in San Mateo) and by the industry in general, Swinerton best demonstrated successful, relevant experience and technical expertise.

Swinerton’s proposal met the requirements of the Capital Improvement Program. The firm also has a local office, expressed the importance of community involvement through websites, community meetings, potential internship programs, and coordination with the community and the Colleges during construction phases to mitigate potential conflicts.

"Facilities Excellence"