Vanir CR and Estimating DRAFT

Construction Management, Inc.
Constructability Review
and Cost Estimating Services

About Us
Vanir Construction Management, Inc. (Vanir) is an award-winning, minority, and womanowned
construction management firm operating strategically throughout the western United
States. For the past 38 years, Vanir has specialized in providing high quality project, program,
and construction management services to our public agency partners. Never losing focus
on achieving set goals for cost, schedule, and quality; we combine seasoned personnel,
specialized expertise, and state-of-the-art management information systems to determine
our client’s needs and ensure that their interests are protected. We tailor our services and
teams to meet our client’s needs and budgets, providing the highest level of service in the
most efficient manner.
Vanir’s Corporate Office is located in Sacramento California with additional area offices
throughout the states of Texas, California, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, and Louisiana.
Vanir has provided professional services for program, project and construction management
in the Texas area for over seven years, specializing in education, and public works markets.
We have substantial depth in supporting our client’s needs from pre-construction through
commissioning and start-up services. Additionally, we have specialists in technical services
that support our teams in Texas and throughout the western US.
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Our Key Expertise
Our core technical services includes Constructability Review and Estimating. Cost estimators
are widely used by architects during the design phases of a project to provide preliminary
cost estimates. These estimates should begin at the conceptual design phase and prepared
at regular intervals through the construction document phase.
An accurate estimate is a vital communication tool as well as a project roadmap from the
budgeting phase through the completion of construction documents. Vanir Construction
Management’s estimating team has significant experience in: cost control, design estimating,
construction estimating, building evaluations/constructability review, budgeting, project
scheduling, cost management, value engineering, and change order evaluations.
Conceptual Estimating
Vanir can prepare a detailed conceptual estimate from a sketch or concept. Using our decades
of experience in estimating, we can put together a cost on any concept an architect comes
up with. After all, an Architect shouldn’t recommend a design concept that far exceeds the
client’s budget.
Preliminary Estimating
Vanir can continue to develop the estimate using the conceptual estimate for costs and
adjusting as the plans are developed. Doing so during this stage can help keep the project in
budget by allowing the Architect better design to budget. This can help prevent large budget
discrepancies during or in the latter part of the design phase of the project.
Pre-Bid Estimates
Vanir can prepare a complete pre-bid budget utilizing complete takeoffs and pricing from
cost data. This will help an architect understand where their design should be priced prior
to bid day. It will also help prevent a major price variance and a potential rift between the
architect and their client.
Contact Information
Main Contacts:
Gloria Barrera, Vice President
T: (555) 555-5555
E: gloria.barrera@vanir.com
Dave Funk, Business Development Manager
T: (555) 555-5555
E: dave.funk@vanir.com
Texas Area Office
20445 State Highway 249, Suite 295
Houston, Texas 77070
T (281) 205-2200
Central Texas Office
1250 Capital of Texas Highway, South
Building III, Suite 400
Austin, Texas 78746
T (512) 329-2176
North Texas Office
320 Decker Drive, Suite 108
Irving, Texas 75062
T (972) 719-2605
Website
www.vanir.com
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Constructability Review
Vanir is the top constructability review firm in California. Headquartered in Sacramento,
California, Vanir maintains offices in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, and Washington.
Although our constructability reviews will primarily be performed in Sacramento, our
constructability review department is supported by local resources that travel to sites, meet
with stakeholders, and support the review at no additional cost for travel. We have regional
resources that stretch to our area offices nation-wide, and are available when needed.
Vanir has maintained a Constructability Review (CR) Department with specific constructability
review responsibilities since 1999. Between then and now, we have performed hundreds of
effective constructability reviews, reconciliation meetings and back checks.
Vanir has a team of experienced constructability reviewers comprised of licensed architects,
licensed professional engineers, licensed contractors, building information modeling (BIM)
experts, CASp certified accessibility reviewers, fire/life safety experts, sustainability specialists,
ICC licensed inspectors, and ICC licensed plans examiners. Many of the members have been
with the group since 1999. The depth of our staff enables us to be responsive to the needs
and schedules of your projects.
Our Constructability Review staff understands, and has a working knowledge of multiple
states Building Standards Code (BSC), including all amendments issued to the states approval
agency. We understand the importance of implementing the code throughout the design
process to select the appropriate building type and to make the most effective and costconscious
use of area separations.
Quick Overview
Vanir’s CR online program increases the
quality and success of a project by reducing
costs and saving time for the entire team.
• Database checklist optimizes efficiency
• Online process enhances communication
• Designers may pick up corrections
instantly and avoid waiting for a final
written report
• Increased owner control in the design
process
• Construction documents are clear and
biddable
• RFIs, change orders, and claims are
significantly reduced
Vanir Statement
The Constructability Review Team’s vision is
to utilize the Constructability Review as an
essential tool in the design process, bringing
clarity, consistency, and coordination to
construction documents.
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Constructability Review Process
Orientation Phase
• Schedule “Kick-Off “ Meeting
• Meet with Owner and A/E Team
--
Review project scope
--
Discuss the Constructability Review process
--
Review Constructability Review budget, schedule,
and deliverables
Site Visit
• Verify existing site conditions
• Identify site constraints
• Interact with site personnel
Technical Review
• Compile all pertinent documents
• Divide work among all A/E disciplines
• Follow systematic, structured approach
• Perform inter-disciplinary coordination
• Integrate Specification Review with Plan Review
Building Information Modeling
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) can be
incorporated into the Constructability Review
process
• Complex building assemblies can be
modeled to illustrate constructability issues
Prior to the start of any review, Vanir’s CR Team, and stakeholder reviewers, agree to the
timeline and methodology. Reviews are performed in parallel using real time documents.
Review comments are added directly to the documents and automatically picked up in
a comment log. In this way, repeat comments are reduced. Each reviewer understands
their timeline and our dedicated CR Team reviews their active progress. We follow up with
reviewers if they appear to be falling behind.
Once all comments are received per the review comment cutoff, our team will perform
a quality check to ensure comments are understandable, relevant, and not duplicative.
All activities have been anticipated in a constructability review schedule. Vanir similarly
manages the reconciliation and back-check process. We pride ourselves on completing
constructability reviews on-time. We are confident in our consistent on-time results for our
client’s constructability reviews.
Construction
Documents ready
for permits and
advertisement
for bid
Online Program
• During review process, post comments to
www.constructabilityonline.com
• Provide access to Owner and Design Team
for “real-time” review and response
• Present clear, concise, substantive comments
Communication
• Meet with Owner and Design Team to
review constructability issues
• Address, discuss, and reconcile comment
disagreements
Back Check of Comments
• Verify valid comments have been
incorporated into bid documents
• Generate “Outstanding Issues” Report
• Address, discuss, and reconcile
“Outstanding Issues”
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What Our Clients Are Saying
“ It has been a pleasure to work
directly with Vanir...I personally
recommend Vanir for exemplary
consideration of any and all
construction projects. I believe
that you will not find a more
professional and competent
company.”
—Brian Brank, MBA, CFE, Fire Chief
Killeen Fire Department
“ Most of the credit for achieving the
success of this project belongs to
Vanir...our Commissioner’s Court
truly feels that we would not have
achieved the positive cost and schedule
[constructability review] results if Vanir
had not been representing the County. “
—Mark Stroeher
Gillespie County Judge
“The Constructability Review was
thorough, demonstrating real
knowledge of the building design.
The results were well-organized,
easy to review and implement.”
—Steven Williams
McGraw/Baldwin Architects, San Diego
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Cost Estimating
Our team of over 14 estimators bring over 25 years of experience working with owners,
designers, contractors and/or sub-contractors, enabling us to easily identify items that will
impact cost. Most of Vanir’s team has engineering degrees, and six are certified professional
estimators (CPE). Our team has the expertise and experience in developing and reviewing
budget models, and project specific estimates starting with concept estimates through
construction document estimates. Our team has representation in all construction trades to
prepare a complete budget or estimate in-house with short notice. Our team has performed
estimates on projects ranging from $1 million to $668 million on a variety of projects that
range from convention center renovations to concept estimates on an 80,000 seat capacity
NFL stadium to detailed construction document estimates on other higher education and
public buildings.
Process for Completing Cost Estimates
The cost component of a project is the most visible, if not the most important aspect of
a construction program. For a credible and successful project, budget development and
compliance is a basic necessity. Vanir staff works closely with the design team to develop
complete, accurate budgets. Since any established budget is a meaningless number if it is not
accompanied by a project scope definition, we view it as our specific responsibility to identify
the project scope upon which the budget is based. When the project scope is defined, the
budget is established based on current market pricing. With our daily experience in local
market prices and in bidding building components and systems, our input into the budgeting
process can be invaluable. On a regular basis, Vanir updates the status of the project budget
and provides the owner with a monthly updated cash flow report.
Quick Overview
For a credible and successful project,
budget development and compliance is
a basic necessity. Vanir staff works closely
with the design team to develop complete,
accurate budgets. In addition to developing
complete project estimates, our cost
estimating services includes:
• Reviewing cost-loaded CPM schedules
and proposed major change orders
• Evaluating value engineering proposals
• Preparing independent cost evaluations
on selected change orders and assisting
with change order negotiations, if
necessary
Vanir Statement
Vanir promises to deliver on time, on
budget and in a cost-effective manner.
We will do this with open communication,
professionalism and a commitment to
excellence.
In addition to developing complete project estimates, our cost estimating services includes
reviewing cost-loaded CPM schedules and proposed major change orders; evaluating value
engineering proposals; preparing independent cost evaluations on selected change orders
and assisting with change order negotiations, if necessary.
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Construction Estimating Process
Figure 1.E. Ability to Influence Cost Over Project Life
CHANGE
Ability to
Influence
Bid Day
Cost of
Change
Developing a Cost Model and Estimate
A cost model is an organized breakdown of the project budget into logical, identifiable and
trackable components. Typically cost models can be defined by areas, building systems, CSI
divisions, funding source or any combination of these.
Developing cost models by a combination of categories will help to evaluate a project in
various ways. This provides proper perspective in our overall cost management efforts. The
model can break the budget into very small components. In case of budget noncompliance,
it is then easier for the project manager to identify the reason for noncompliance:
• By identifying the area with cost overruns, or
• By identifying the system with cost overruns and the specific system or systems within
a specific area or areas that are the causes of the budget overrun.
Isolation of the budget problem can help resolve it efficiently. It can help avoid cutting costs
in the wrong place or make up for a budget overrun, and the original goal and intent of the
project can be maintained.
At the end of each phase of design, Vanir can provide an independent cost estimate or
verification of the architect’s cost estimate. A written report detailing the estimate and
delineating all variances with the original budget will be submitted to the owner.
Conceptual Estimate
A conceptual estimate is utilized during the master planning, programming or budgeting
stage of new facilities construction. For the master planning, programming phase, estimators
review the program, site conditions and use the cost models, construction cost of similar
facilities, to prepare the estimate. Estimate level is general and based on cost per building
square foot.
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TIME
Design Team Partnering Construction Team
For conceptual budgeting, estimators will use the space plan program, available sketches,
site plan, floor plan, elevation sections, and outline specifications to prepare the estimate.
The estimate level is somehow detailed with some quantities defined and some cost per
square foot units. The estimate format can be in either CSI or building system, typically at
this stage the System format is preferred.

Schematic Design Estimate
A schematic design estimate is prepared from schematic documents and is more detailed and
quantitative than conceptual estimates. Most of the quantities are developed from plans and
specifications. The rest of the quantities are based on the estimator’s assumptions. Based on
the level of documents, estimate/design contingencies will be revised. CSI and/or System format
are used at this level. Vanir recommends that the estimates should be prepared and sorted in
both formats.
Design Development Estimate
The design development estimate is prepared from design development documents. Plans and
specifications should be detailed enough that all of the quantities can be developed from them.
Therefore, the estimate is more detailed and quantitative than the schematic design estimate.
Use of cost per unit is minimal and detailed material, labor, equipment unit costs are used for
most items. Based on the level of documents, estimate/design contingencies may be reduced.
CSI format is preferred at this level of estimating.
Construction Documents Estimate
If construction documents are being revised before bid or addendum being issued during the
bidding phase, an estimate update or review of the changes, with potential cost impact, is
recommended.
Vanir has developed a Project Cost Model (PCM) database that is used in budgeting and
conceptual estimates. As mentioned earlier, PCM includes the actual bid results of recent and
past projects, updated on a regular basis. Additionally, for detailed estimates, Vanir subscribes
to Trade Services and uses “Traser-Pro Pricing” system which update hundreds of thousands of
mechanical and electrical material prices weekly. We update our Prevailing Wage Rate database
twice a year with updated published wage rates by Labor Division of Department of Industrial
Relations. These tools not only enable us to prepare accurate and reliable estimates, it is vital
in review and negotiation of change orders.
Houston ISD - Furr High School
City of Killeen - Community Center Renovation
City of Killeen - Community Center Renovation
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Vanir Construction Management, Inc.
20445 State Highway 249, Suite 295
Houston, Texas 77070
T (281) 205-2200
F (916) 575-8887