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Capital Projects Program
Overview
Public Works is involved in managing the planning, programming, design, and construction of capital improvement projects with a total project value of approximately $3.6 billion as part of the County’s Capital Improvement Program. Capital improvement projects include repair, renovation, and/or expansion of existing building facilities and construction of new building facilities for many County Departments, including among others Animal Care and Control, Beaches and Harbors, Fire, Health Services, Mental Health, Parks and Recreation, Probation, Public Health, and Sheriff.
Because of the diversity of projects for which Public Works is responsible, we utilize a variety of project delivery methods to complete capital improvement projects, including design-build, job order contracts, and design-bid-build. In evaluating options for delivery of projects, we work in conjunction with the Chief Executive Office and the client department to define the parameters of the project and select the most appropriate project delivery method that best enables the County to meet the established project goals and objectives. Public Works is committed to finding new and innovative ways to provide outstanding value and service in the delivery of capital improvement projects.
Design-Bid-Build
The Department continues to use the traditional design-bid-build approach for delivery of capital improvement projects. Plans and specifications are prepared for individual projects by architectural/engineering in-house staff and/or outside consultants, which then the County adopts and advertises for construction bids. Construction contracts are awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidders in accordance with the State Public Contract Code.
Design-Build
In January 2006 the County of Los Angeles became part of an increasing number of public agencies in California to gain authority to use design-build as an alternative method for delivery of eligible capital improvement projects with a value over $2.5 million.
The Department’s primary objective in utilizing the design-build approach is to bring the best available designers and contractors together to address the unique challenges of a project in collaboration with the County to successfully deliver projects that fully meet the County’s established criteria.
Design-build contracts are awarded on the basis of a best value selection process in accordance with Public Contract Section 20133. A two part Request for Proposals process is used for individual projects to prequalify, shortlist, and select design builders.
Job Order Contracting
The Job Order Contracting (JOC) process is a flexible, cost-effective unit price contracting method used by the Department to complete maintenance, repair, and refurbishment of County infrastructure and building facilities. JOCs are publicly advertised for competitive bidding and awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidders in accordance with the State Public Contracting Code. The use of JOCs is a straightforward contracting process that provides accelerated project delivery, reduces administrative costs, and lowers direct construction costs while meeting all Federal, State, and County procurement requirements. Each JOC contract is for a duration of one year and is limited to a $4.9 million contract value and may increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index.
JOC utilizes a published Construction Task Catalog (CTC) also referred to as the “unit price book” that includes various task items with established unit prices for various trades. All established unit prices include current local labor, material, and equipment costs. The contractors’ bid factor is applied to the unit prices for each of the selected task items used from the CTC.
After award of the contract, work is authorized by issuing individual work orders on an as-needed basis. The contractor, under the JOC contract, furnishes management, labor, materials, equipment, and engineering support needed to perform the work. Plans and other details of work to be performed are issued to the contractor as part of the work order process.
Civic Art Policy
The County’s Civic Art Policy (Policy) was first adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2008. The goal of the Policy is to improve the quality of life of County residents through the creation of an improved physical and cultural environment. This is done through the integration of high-quality Civic Art in the design and construction of County capital projects. The Policy mandates that eligible County capital projects allocate 1 percent of design and construction fees to the Civic Art Program. The funding is used for the design, construction, integration, acquisition, delivery, and conservation of the Civic Art. The Civic Art may include sculptures; murals on buildings; multimedia installations; one of a kind fixtures, such as street lights and fences created by an artist; exhibits; performance space and performance art; and the restoration or replication of historic building features.