Tips for success for your next Design/Build BHS Project

Incomplete design and absence of coordination between engineering disciplines in 30% design/build construction document packages leads to delays in project completion and increased project costs. Swanson Rink's experience indicates the 30% package, which is often used in Design-Build projects to solicit competitive bids from the Baggage Handling contractor, typically does not contain the required level of detail necessary to receive accurate and complete bids. Not only does the lack of quality in the BHS bidding documents impact the construction project, it precludes receiving the best value proposal from the design/build teams.

The term "30% design" is interpreted differently throughout the industry. It is important that the design solution and the design/build documents are biddable, constructible, and meet TSA's latest Planning Guidelines and Design Standards. Here are our tips for ensuring a 30% design results in a successful design/build project.

Completion of the pre-design and schematic design phases of the project. Often the methodology used to determine the basis of design cannot be justified because of inflated growth rates and incorrect flight schedules that don't represent the ADPM. An inaccurate basis of design will result in a design year peak hour baggage volume that results in the incorrect quantity of EDS and ETD equipment (high or low) which can result in a total redesign of the project.
Completion of the 30% detailed design documents need to be spatially accurate, fully coordinated with other architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical systems. The design-build approach does not mean the design team is allowed to produce documents of lesser quality and completeness than those produced for a design-bid-build project. This is especially true if those documents are used for competitive bidding or guaranteed maximum pricing by the various subcontractors. If true coordination between disciplines is not accomplished, the team cannot assure that the designed solution can truly be constructed. If the CBIS is in a highly congested existing facility then the use of 3D scans in critical areas to ensure accurate background drawings should be considered. This tool has been used on several projects to with great success.
Define the project scope. Project scope must be completely defined in the documents, including the BHS and mechanical control systems. In addition to general arrangement drawings, the BHS drawing set should contain a Bill of Materials or motor manifest which identifies each conveyor, its drive type and belt speed. Control (sub-) system drawing sets, at a minimum, should contain an overall control system architecture diagram for each discipline which describes the relationship between the various subsystem equipment, controllers, system servers, etc. Detailed project specifications and written sequences of operation should also accompany the drawings.