consultant utility coordination robert l. clemens, jr. vice president
TRANSCRIPT
Consultant Utility Coordination
Robert L. Clemens, Jr.Vice President
What is Utility Coordination?
• Calling One-Call and collecting data?
• Meetings?
• Preparing utility schedules/plans?
• Shuffling papers?
• Staying on the phone most of the day?
• Field reviews?
• ALL OF THE ABOVE!
Consultant Utility Coordination
Consultant Utility Coordination Services
• Kick-off meeting• Identify existing utilities• Make utility contacts• Exception coordination• Preliminary utility meeting• Individual utility/field meetings• Collect and review plans and data from
utility owners
Consultant Utility Coordination Services
• Subordination of easements coordination
• Utility design meeting
• Review utility markups/schedules and process
• Utility Coordination/follow-up
• Utility constructability review
• Additional utility services
Consultant Utility Coordination Services
• Processing utility work by Highway Contractor Agreements
• Contract plans to utility owners
• Certification/close-out
Utility Coordination Consultant’s Role
• Subconsultant to the prime on project specifics/Design-Build projects
• State/District-wide consultant
• On-premises consultant
Subconsultant to the Prime
• The client is the prime consultant• The prime’s client is the DOT• Adds level to organization but prime can
hire a firm with an expertise in Utility Coordination
• Handle all aspects of Utility Coordination as specified in the “Scope of Services”
• DOT liaison at State/District level• Multiple clients/projects
State/District-Wide Consultant
• Client is State/District Utility Office
• Master contract for Utility Coordination services
• Usually multi-year contract (standard is 1-3 years)
• Negotiated rates
• Task assignments per project
• Scope and hours per project (negotiated) = fee
• Projects on an as-needed basis
On-Premises Consultant
• Client is State/District Utility Office/Design-Build Consortium
• Master contract for Utility Coordination services• Multi-year contract (usually 1-3 years)• Negotiated rates• Task assignments per time period (i.e. 1-3 months)• Employees tied to that office solely• Employees take direction from DOT (an extension of
their staff)• On-premises staff can work on multiple assignments
Pros and Cons of Consultant Utility Coordination
• Reduced workload of DOT staff
• Cost effective (negotiated rates and scope)
• Oversight responsibilities only
• Can use multiple consultants if necessary
Pros:
• Multiple firms to track• If consultant firm fails, DOT work will
more than double (Hire someone who can do the job and do it well!)
• Loss of direct control
Cons:
Pros and Cons of Consultant Utility Coordination/Design-Build Consortium
• Dedicated personnel working only on your projects
• Staff without overhead costs• If employee does not work out,
ask for another• If work increases/decreases,
staff level can change• Full control of work assignments
Pros:
• Need enough work to keep them busy for 40 hours a week
• Loss of identity for employee (Am I DOT or Company ABC?)
• Employee loses tie to parent firm
Cons:
Pros and Cons of Consultant Utility Coordination
• If they are used to DOT coordinating, it will take time to adjust
• DOT must be willing to cut the ties and give to consultant (utility owners will follow suit)
• If DOT keeps interceding, consultant’s responsibility/authority will be undermined
• When utility owners see the consultant acting on DOT’s behalf (with DOT’s support), it will then be business as usual
DOT’s use of Consultant Utility Coordination
• On-premises: IL, FL• State/District-wide: IN, MI, IL, MD, PA, DE, NH, NY,
AZ, NM, FL, GA, NC• Subconsultant to prime: IN, MI, IL, MD, PA, DE, NH,
NY, AZ, NM,FL, GA, NC, SC• Design-Build projects: MN, MO, VA, TX (on-
premises)
Questions and Answers
THANK YOU!
For questions regarding this presentation, feel free to contact:
Robert L. Clemens, Jr.
Vice President
Cardno TBE
Phone: (317) 585-3540
Cell: (317) 491-5716