Working closely with owners, NIS’s preconstruction specialists use advanced technology, tools, and analysis to get projects off to a strong start. Our preconstruction services include: site analysis, cost-saving analysis, scheduling, estimating, and budgeting. We are collaborative, proactive, and look holistically at projects from cost, schedule, and constructability perspectives.
Cost/Budget Analysis
Cost savings analysis considers short and long-term maintenance costs, life-cycle costs, engineering costs, labor and material availability, technology, and alternative products and systems. NIS will identify the most timely and cost-effective solutions to meet project goals.
Target Value Design
Target Value Design begins with the estimate – not with the design. The initial estimate is based on data from similar building types and regional metrics to generate a baseline estimate for the project where the owner and NIS team will accommodate the project nuances. Once the basics are understood, the overall budget is broken down into typical building components which might include up to a dozen different segments for budget allocation such as: envelope, site, structure, wet side mechanical, dry side mechanical, electrical, low voltage, interior, and process systems. Once the money is allocated for each component, the NIS team begins designing each component of the building without exceeding the budget of each individual component.
Constructability Reviews
Prior to issuing bidding documents, constructability reviews will take place to help correct conflicts and clarify bidding requirements for potential subcontractors. During a constructability review, documents including draft plans, technical specifications, and the proposed bid schedule are analyzed for potential misunderstandings during and after the bidding process.
Subcontractor Bid Management and Selection
The subcontractor bid management process involves the completion of pre-qualification questionnaires and invitations to bid – documents specifically created to evaluate and commission the most suitable supplier to deliver a contract. Bid management begins even before the release of a potential contract in order to guarantee the strongest possible bid once the official bid process is live.
Subcontractor selection is part of the procurement function. The primary goals of the subcontractor selection process are to reduce project risk, optimize quality, and build and maintain good relations between project parties Selecting high-quality subcontractors also promotes the overall quality of projects.
Determining the subcontractor selection specifications involves detailing the product requirements, process requirements, customer requirements, communication, functionality, standards, drawings, and level of technology to be used. Selecting high quality subcontractors promotes the overall quality of projects.
Procurement of Construction Materials, Process Equipment, and Instrumentation
NIS will prepare specifications for all construction materials, equipment, and instrumentation involved in the project, and where appropriate, will obtain competitive bids for these items. Bid information would also be presented to the client to allow a coordinated selection of the best equipment and materials’ suppliers. NIS will prepare all purchase orders for equipment and materials and manage the expediting process as part of the overall contract.
Permitting
Key NIS team members for each of the required trades are professional engineers and designers who have significant real-life experience incorporating code requirements into design. Once the design reaches a level suitable for permit submittal, NIS will submit a package to the city/town while more detailed design is starting. This allows the authorities having jurisdiction to complete their reviews of the project drawings and the client and NIS to attend any required meetings while detail design is being completed. This means the construction phase can essentially start at the end of the detail design phase.
Project Scheduling
NIS starts each project by defining the project’s goals with the owner from a cost and schedule point of view. This allows us to formulate a milestone schedule working backward from the required facility completion date.
Weekly project coordination meetings are held with the owner and all involved design disciplines. This meeting functions as a clearing house for the latest design developments, as well as a project management tool for identifying and resolving design issues and conflicts.
Logistics Planning
NIS provides the technical expertise surrounding the proposed logistics of the site and how improvements can be made to help secure planning and ensure the safe and successful movement of people and materials around site during the construction phase. We work with clients to analyze the project plans, designs, and programs to develop a tailored logistics plan that matches the needs of the project, while minimizing disruption to the local community and surrounding areas.