Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota

Building officials from four state agencies addressed the impacts of the last bonding bill in meetings this fall with the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee (CICC) of Minnesota. Their presentations included reviews of currently funded and future projects.

The officials also shared desires to streamline processes in project management and budgeting, and designer and contractor selection. A task force committee convened by AIA Minnesota is currently reviewing designer selection methods.

Agencies and speaker representatives included:

MnSCU, Allan Johnson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities, and Bill Breyfogle, Director Construction and Support Services;

University of Minnesota, Michael J. Perkins, Associate Vice President Capital Planning and Project Management;

Minnesota Department of Administration, Heidi M. Myers AIA, Director and State Architect;

Capital Area Architectural and Planning Board, Nancy Stark, Executive Director. Appearing with Ms. Stark were: from Minnesota Department of Administration, Dana Badgerow, Commissioner and Linda Kane, architect; from Hammel, Green and Abrahamson Architects, Michael Bjomberg.

Scheduled for CICC's January 10th meeting is Tom Joachim, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

CICC has just published an extensively revised and updated version of its Blue Book that includes recommendations for construction documents and practices in Minnesota. It is available through AGC of Minnesota, 651-632-8929. It can also be seen on line at www.ciccbluebook.com.

CICC is composed of practicing professionals - architects, consulting engineers, specifiers, general contractors, specialty contractors, subcontractors and materials suppliers - appointed by twelve industry organizations* involved in building construction. Besides publishing the Blue Book, it serves as a forum for resolving current industry issues.

For more information, call Wallace Neal, consultant to the committee, at 952-884-1632.

* (Member organizations are: American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota; American Institute of Architects, Minnesota; Associated General Contractors of Minnesota; Builders Exchange of St. Paul; Minneapolis Builders Exchange; Building Owners and Managers Association, Minneapolis; Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter, Construction Specifications Institute; Minnesota Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors; Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association; National Electrical Contractors Association, Minneapolis Chapter; National Electrical Contractors Association, St. Paul Chapter; Sheet Metal, Air Conditioning, and Roofing Contractors Association of Minnesota.)

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CICC looks at current state of Building Information Modeling

DATE: May 24, 2006 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, committee consultant, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) brought into its May meeting several highly experienced users of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to discus the current state of these computer-based systems that see building plans in three dimensions. The Committee initiated the discussion because of the rapid growth in use of BIM systems in the construction industry.

Eric Keleny, Carrie Johnson and Dan Mehls of M.A.Mortenson Co., Mike Hnaschenko of Ellerbe Becket, Inc. and Steve Manlove of BWBR Architects explained how they are using BIM to visualize a project electronically to coordinate design and the interaction of building components. Among advantages, they said, was ability to see during the design phase clashes among elements such as plumbing, electrical and sheet metal work that would otherwise only be discovered later, on the job site, when resolving such conflicts is costly and likely to create delays.

The speakers pointed out that the BIM role is not a design method. It is a method of coordinating design with the details of constructing the Project and communicating the complexities to all stakeholders. Its biggest advantage is found in design/build projects. The system also can be utilized to model scheduling such as for equipment and scaffolding and to model components for estimating. They said that BIM systems are still evolving with some applications currently not fully developed.

CICC has just published an extensively revised and updated version of its Blue Book that includes recommendations for construction documents and practices in Minnesota. It is available from AGC of Minnesota, 651-632-8929. It can also be seen on line at www.ciccbluebook.com.

CICC is composed of practicing professionals � architects, consulting engineers, specifiers, general contractors, specialty contractors, subcontractors and materials suppliers � appointed by twelve industry organizations* involved in building construction. Besides publishing the Blue Book, it serves as a forum for resolving current industry issues.

For more information, call Wallace Neal, consultant to the committee, at 952-884-1632.

* (Member organizations are: American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota; American Institute of Architects, Minnesota; 0Associated General Contractors of Minnesota; Builders Exchange of St. Paul; Minneapolis Builders Exchange; Building Owners and Managers Association, Minneapolis; Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter, Construction Specifications Institute; Minnesota Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors; Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association; National Electrical Contractors Association, Minneapolis Chapter; National Electrical Contractors Association, St. Paul Chapter; Sheet Metal, Air Conditioning, and Roofing Contractors Association of Minnesota.)

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CICC publishes major revision of Blue Book of Recommendations

DATE: April 25, 2006 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, committee consultant, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) has just published an extensively revised and updated version of its Blue Book of Recommendations for the construction industry of Minnesota.

The 2006 edition updates Blue Book contents to reflect today�s industry practices, and reorganizes and reformats chapters. It adds two special reports analyzing recent industry issues: reverse auction bidding and project labor agreements.

Insurance industry advisors helped the committee make major revisions in the chapter on insurance, including updated recommended specifications. The chapter also adds a new recommendation for architects� insurance.

Changes elsewhere include revised and expanded text on methods of awarding contracts, on commissioning, and on recycling construction waste materials. It adds a recommendation on use of electronic drawings files. There is an important new recommendation on document retention.

An appendix lists the new division numbers and titles of CSI MasterFormat� 2004, and summarizes changes from the 1995 edition.

A printed version of the Blue Book 2006 edition, in three ring binder format, is being mailed to known holders of the previous edition, to the office of each sponsoring organization, and to appropriate state agencies. The new edition will soon be on line at www.ciccbluebook.com � the CICC website. The website includes information on how to order a copy of the printed version as well as other information about CICC, including copies of its news releases.

CICC will no longer maintain a list of registered Blue Book holders. Future revisions will be publicized in news releases and by sponsoring organizations.

The 2006 edition reflects more than a year of work by seven subcommittees, insurance advisors, editorial consultants Wallace Neal and Brad Neal, and legal consultant Ron Rasley of Curtin and Rasley. Denise Woods and Dave Semerad of AGC Minnesota provided staff assistance.

The CICC is composed of practicing professionals � architects, consulting engineers, specifiers, general contractors, specialty contractors, subcontractors and materials suppliers � appointed by twelve industry organizations* involved in building construction. Besides publishing The Blue Book, it serves as a forum for resolving current industry issues.

For more information, call Wallace Neal, consultant to the committee, at 952-884-1632.

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CICC receives national award at CSI annual convention

DATE: May 7, 2004 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) was awarded the Institute Citation Award by Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) at its recent annual convention in Chicago. The award, the only such award presented by CSI this year, was for "a single outstanding accomplishment in specification writing or another type of technical writing." (Click here to view a PDF of the Citation)

CSI honored the committee for its creation of The Blue Book, which includes recommendations for construction documents and practices in Minnesota. Dean McCarty, CCS, SCIP, who represents the Minneapolis-St. Paul chapter of CSI on the committee, accepted the award for CICC.

AIA Minnesota and AGC of Minnesota co-founded the committee in 1948. It expanded in 1966 to include representatives from twelve industry organizations* involved in building construction, including architects, engineers, contractors and owners. Besides publishing The Blue Book, it serves as a forum for resolving current industry issues.

CSI is a large national organization which works to enhance communication among all disciplines of nonresidential building design, including developing a common system of organizing and presenting construction information.

The Blue Book is available from AGC of Minnesota, phone 651-632-8929, and can also be seen on line at http://www.ciccbluebook.com.

CICC is a committee of practicing professionals appointed by twelve organizations* involved in building construction, including architects, engineers, contractors and owners. It serves as a forum for resolving current industry issues, and publishes the Blue Book, which includes recommendations for construction documents and practices in Minnesota. It is available from AGC of Minnesota, phone 651-632-8929, and can also be seen on line at ciccbluebook.com.

For more information, call Wallace Neal, consultant to the committee, at 952-884-1632.

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Major airport construction nearing end, CICC told

DATE: April 23, 2004 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

Major portions of the multi-year $2.6 billion expansion of the Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport are completed or nearing completion, Dennis Probst, AIA, director of landside development, Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) told members of the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) at its April meeting. The details:

The north-south runway project, delayed following the September 11, 2001 tragedy, re-started last year and has $150 million in contracts underway this year, with completion set for October 2005.

The north terminal expansion for concessions and office space, halted after 9/11, has just been reactivated with $29.5 million in work left to do. Documentation is completed for the baggage screening facility, now awaiting funding from TSA. Project estimate is $80 million, plus costs of the screening equipment.

Expansion and improvements at the Lindbergh terminal are virtually done, including concourse extensions, a tram, tunnel between A and B concourses, major parking ramp expansion, roadway changes, post office relocation, and added concessions space. The exterior people mover tram serving the C concourse is undergoing final testing and is expected to begin operation in early May.

The 1.5 mile light rail tunnel, which runs under the airport from near the north edge of airport property to the Humphrey terminal, has been completed on schedule and under its budget of $142 million, of which MAC's share is $87 million. Included in that is the mid-tunnel light rail station, 70 feet below grade and serving the terminal via escalators and elevators. It is expected to be completed in time for the planned December LRT start-up.

The new Humphrey terminal is done and has eight gates operating, another two built and ability to add six more. The initial phase parking ramp is open. Planned to start in 2006 is a parking ramp expansion.

For more information, call Wallace Neal, consultant to the committee, at 952-884-1632.

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CICC to get update on airport construction

DATE: April 5, 2004 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

Denny Probst, AIA, director of landside development, Metropolitan Airports Commission, will present an update on current design and construction work at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport at the April 14 meeting of Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota.

CICC members expect to learn the current status of contracts in the multi-year $2.6 billion airport expansion program, some of which were deferred two years ago because of lower revenues.

For more information, call Wallace Neal, consultant to the committee, at 952-884-1632.

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Perkins: U plans to reshape the way they build buildings

DATE: February 17, 2004 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The University of Minnesota is working to reshape the way they do building projects to get work from concept to construction much faster and less costly, says Michael J. Perkins, the university's Associate Vice President for Capital Planning and Project Management, who spoke at the February meeting of the Construction Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC).

A vigorous review and a two-day brainstorming session among his department's clients, service providers, etc. has so far led to 87 specific process improvements that they will implement over the next few years, he says. (These will be outlined in a project development manual.)

The university is requesting $188 million in bonding from the 2004 Minnesota legislature. Gov. Tim Pawlenty is recommending 76.6 million, which includes dropping three major building projects. Even assuming some hoped-for funding improvements in the final bonding bill, Perkins says, the university faces tight financial limits.

He is looking at alternative and less costly ways to build projects other than developing them internally -- for example, having student housing built by private developers.

While most projects have previously been design/bid/build, the university is increasingly looking at other project delivery methods. They are now using design/build on a number of smaller jobs to more fully evaluate this. They are also using construction-manager-at-risk for some projects -- they find that having a design and construction team involved at the start makes it much more likely that a project will stay within budget, he says.

For more information, call Wallace Neal, consultant to the committee, at 952-884-1632.

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U of M official to brief CICC on University facilities plans

DATE: January 26, 2004 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

University facilities bonding needs to be submitted to the 2004 Minnesota legislature will be outlined at the Construction Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) February 11 meeting by Michael J. Perkins, Associate Vice President for Capital Planning and Project Management.

Perkins will also review the University's views on expanded construction project delivery methods beyond design/bid/build, such as design/build, construction manager at risk, and job order contracting.

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State Architect Heidi Myers tells CICC of upcoming changes

DATE: December 4, 2003 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The State Architect's office is revising its basic service agreement for consultant services, will outsource more work to consultants, is seeking to fill two architect vacancies, and has scheduled its first open house for design professionals, State Architect Heidi Myers, AIA, told members of the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) at its November meeting.

The consultant services agreement will expand detail in the scope of services, and will directly incorporate into that its request for proposals document. Myers said her office will issue a copy to AIA Minnesota and ACECMN before it is implemented.

Due to budget cuts, all in-house design and drafting was eliminated two years ago, hence the need to outsource such work.

Requests from a number of design professionals to meet with her staff prompted her to arrange the November open house.

These and other changes are intended to streamline the process of helping state agencies get their buildings budgeted, designed and built.

Asked about use of the design/build process, Myers said they have only used it on two projects so far, because its use must be specially designated by the legislature. Her office follows state statute which defines a two-phase process for design/build: they request general proposals first, then detailed proposals, paying a stipend for the latter.

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CICC briefed on MnSCU'S capital needs for 2004-05

DATE: November 7, 2003 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) took a cut in funding this past legislative session. Enrollments are increasing. Tuitions rose this fall and are like to be raised again next year. Facilities staffs were cut to help offset the cuts.

This is the background as MnSCU's 2004-05 capital projects legislative proposal is now being prepared, Bill Breyfogle, director of construction and support services for MnSCU said in a briefing to the Construction Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) at its October meeting.

Since joining MnSCU in January, 2002 his office has made changes to improve management and control processes. Until recently, they provided project management for major capital funded projects and oversight for projects delegated to individual institutions. They now do detailed project management for fewer projects in order to increase oversight of the system's entire capital improvement program.

Breyfogle told the committee that they typically use design/bid/build for their work and will continue to do so, although they have entered into competitively bid construction management (CM) contracts for Southwest Minnesota State University and Bemidji State University. On those projects, construction managers act as agent and may not use their own forces for construction work.

He said that while under new legislation they are allowed to enter into design/build contracts, they have not yet done so. They may do so in the future on revenue funded projects (dormitories, cafeterias, student centers, etc.) where requirements differ from those for capital projects.

Breyfogle's office is doing long range forecasts for capital needs, for bonding needs for revenue projects, and for reducing the backlog of deferred maintenance and repair of facilities.

MnSCU facilities include more than 24 million square feet of space in more than 760 buildings in the system's 53 campuses, serving approximately 150,000 students, a number comparable to the enrollment in the University of Minnesota's campuses.

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CICC hears labor views in review of PLA draft report

DATE: January 28, 2003 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) heard the views of Richard Anfang, president of Minnesota State Building Trades, at the January CICC meeting, held to review its draft report on project labor agreements (PLA's).

Under a PLA an owner and a union or group of unions agree to establish union terms and conditions on a major building project, and in return promise no work stoppages, as a way to meet a critical project completion time.

If drafted properly, Anfang says, a PLA can benefit the critical large projects without having significant effects on project costs. He concedes that not all agree with that view, and that he is open to further dialogue.

Contractors are concerned that PLA's may hinder their ability to negotiate equitably when the trades won't face economic losses of an actual strike, and that in the long term these agreements may drive up labor costs and weaken good labor-management relationships.

The draft report describes PLA's as used in public construction, and outlines their effects on the various parties to a construction contract. When approved, the report will become one of more than 30 such recommendations included in CICC's Blue Book.

In addition to soliciting advice from labor representatives and owners, CICC is urging each of its participant organizations to gather opinions from their members. The committee asks that written suggestions be sent to committee consultant Wallace Neal, 8901 Lyndale Avenue S. -- Suite 202, Bloomington, MN 55420, or e-mail: nealx007@tc.umn.edu.

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CICC seeks labor views in review of PLA draft report

DATE: November 15, 2002 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) will seek viewpoints of labor representatives and building owners for its January 8 review of its draft report on project labor agreements (PLA's).

Under a PLA an owner agrees with a union or group of unions to require union forces and work terms on a major building project in return for no work stoppages and assurance the project will be completed on time.

Contractors are concerned that project labor agreements will hinder their ability to negotiate equitably when the trades aren't subject to the economic downside of an actual strike, and that in the long term these agreements will drive up labor costs.

CICC members learned recently that project labor agreements are used more in the Twin Cities metropolitan area than in any other metro area in the country.

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CICC issues statement on reverse auction bidding

DATE: September 10, 2002 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

A paper that addresses advantages and disadvantages of reverse auction bidding of construction projects has been adopted by the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC). It will now appear in CICC's Blue Book as one of more than 30 such recommendations.

A relatively new development in purchasing of goods and services, a reverse auction obtains competitive bids, posts them and then takes re-bids on the internet. Committee members found that many industry groups are concerned that the practice is incompatible with the unique nature of construction work, and that it would discourage cooperative partnering among parties to a project.

The paper provides details on the use of reverse auction bidding in construction and sets forth in a pro and con format whether savings occur, a comparison with bid shopping and whether quality, safety, and partnering benefits are maintained. The paper neither advocates nor denounces the practice.

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CICC seeks member views on project labor agreements

DATE: July 3, 2002 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) is seeking advice from construction industry members to help draft a Blue Book recommendation on project labor agreements.

Owners work out such agreements with building trades to avoid work stoppages and thus ensure that major building projects are completed on time. Contractors are concerned that project labor agreements will hinder their ability to negotiate equitably when the trades aren't subject to the economic downside of an actual strike, and that in the long term these agreements will drive up labor costs.

At their June 12 meeting CICC members learned that project labor agreements are used more in the Twin Cities metropolitan area than in any other metro area in the country.

CICC is urging each of its participant organizations to gather from their members written suggestions, which can be forwarded to committee consultant Wallace Neal, 8901 Lyndale Avenue S. -- Suite 202, Bloomington, MN 55420, or e-mail: nealx007@tc.umn.edu. The committee will address the issue further at its July 10 meeting and is considering inviting representatives of owners and building trades as discussions continue.

The proposed recommendation would provide background on project labor agreements and outline their effects on the various parties on a construction contract. When adopted, it would become one of more than 30 such recommendations included in CICC's Blue Book.

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CICC to draft statement on reverse auction bidding

DATE: April 3, 2002 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) plans to draft a Blue Book recommendation on reverse auction bidding practices, following a review of the subject at its March meeting. A relatively new development in purchasing of goods and services, a reverse auction obtains competitive bids and re-bids live on the internet.

Committee members found that many industry groups are concerned that the practice is incompatible with the unique nature of construction work, and that it would discourage cooperative partnering among parties to a project.

The recommendation would provide details on the use of reverse auction bidding in construction and set forth advantages and disadvantages of using the method. When adopted, it would become one of more than 30 such recommendations included in CICC's Blue Book.

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Design/build issues narrowed at CICC meeting with state officials

DATE: January 25, 2002 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-887-9646; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

Ways to have an open, fair process for evaluating and selecting design/build teams were discussed and partially agreed to at an expanded meeting January 9 of the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee (CICC) and representatives of the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Participants hope to iron out remaining issues at a February 13 meeting so that a common approach can be presented to the legislature.

Positions agreed to were:

- no predetermined list of design/build teams who can submit proposals,
- requests for proposals define evaluation criteria and weighting,
- disclosure of final ratings of evaluated proposals.

Participants also agreed in general that design/build teams should be compensated for submittals that are more than qualifications-based, such as those incorporating design and detailed cost estimates. However, a key issue remains -- whether rights to designs submitted with unsuccessful proposals be turned over to the owner. Also not resolved was whether selection of design/build teams be by the state Designer Selection Board or by a similarly objective but separately formed selection committee.

In addition to trying to resolve those two issues, the February meeting will likely affirm tentatively agreed-to positions including:

- a percentage limit on number or dollar value of design/build projects,
- a sunset provision requiring review after five years,
- design with negotiated preselection of contractor also allowed as an option.

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Some deferred, but most MAC construction proceeds, CICC told

DATE: October 18, 2001 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-884-7726; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

Some construction work at Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport is being deferred but major construction work proceeds as scheduled, Denny Probst, AIA, landside development director for the Metropolitan Airports Commission told members of the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee (CICC) at its October meeting.

MAC revenues, primarily parking and airline fees, dropped severely after September 11, so that $400 million in work planned for 2001-02 has been deferred for a year and the north terminal expansion contract has been terminated. The largest item, the north-south runway, will now not be completed until late 2004, he said. However, all other current contracts in the multi-year $2.6 billion airport expansion program are going ahead, at a current daily expenditure rate of $1.5 million.

An indication of how massive the airport work is, is that runway concrete is manufactured in an on-site plant, which produces a daily volume greater than the combined output of all other plants in the Twin Cities.

Probst, an architect, said all MAC construction work is done with a conventional design/bid/build process. After initial selection from professional consultant proposals, consultants are used on a continuing basis with annual renewals not requiring new proposals. They do require formal review every six years. He said this approach has proven "very effective in advancing the construction program at its rapid pace."

CICC publishes the Blue Book of recommendations for construction documents and practices in Minnesota. It is available from AGC of Minnesota, phone 651-632-8929, and can also be seen on line at ciccbluebook.com

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State officials and CICC plan to meet on design/build legislation in January

DATE: October 3, 2001 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-884-7726; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

Heidi Meyers, AIA, director of the Division of State Building Construction, plans to meet with the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee (CICC) at its January 9 meeting, along with invited representatives of the the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU) and the University of Minnesota, to work out a common approach to design/build legislation.

Meyers spoke informally at CICC's September 12 meeting, during which members brought up design/build issues, including compensating design professionals for costs of drafting building design proposals. The discussion led to planning the January meeting. Lack of agreement on the design/build process in the 2000 session resulted in no legislation.

State building projects are about equally divided among Meyer's division (part of the Department of Administration), NMSCU and the University, she said. Construction officials from MNSCU and the University spoke at CICC's previous two meetings.

Her division uses the State Designer Selection Board, which is independent of the Department of Administration, to select design professionals for projects estimated to exceed $60,000 in fees or $750,000 in project costs. For projects under those levels, the division's 29 project managers may select from a master list kept by the division.

Speaker at CICC's October 10 meeting will be Denny Probst, land side development director for the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

CICC publishes the Blue Book of recommendations for the construction industry in Minnesota, intended to resolve common problems and to establish standard procedures on such matters as bidding, contract documents, scheduling, design build procedures, dispute resolution, payment practices, insurance, construction waste management and recycling.

The Blue Book in hard copy form is available from AGC of Minnesota, 2515 Wabash Ave. Suite LL1, St. Paul, MN 55114-1055, phone 651-632-8929. Contents of the Blue Book, current updates, and other information from the committee is available on line at ciccbluebook.com.

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University sees value in design/build approach, official tells CICC

DATE: August 13, 2001 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-884-7726; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The University of Minnesota finds it beneficial to use a design/build approach for many of its building projects, says Anna McDonagh, interim director of design and construction services for the University's statewide facilities, speaking August 8 to the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC). However, she says, those methods may only be used on internally financed projects -- state-funded work must always be bid conventionally.

The University sees design/build approaches as advantageous, based on its experiences when conventionally bid jobs come in over budget and they then have to reduce the project scope to stay in budget. Also, design/build jobs tend to be completed more quickly, important to minimize disruption to academic programs.

The University statewide will have put in place more than $1 billion in construction projects during its 1998-2002 program. Her office now has its $240 million 2002 capital funding request before the Board of Regents. They now face a more than $1 billion backlog in deferred maintenance -- items such as roof repair or replacement, utilities retrofits, health and life safety upgrades, etc., and a portion of that work is in its funding proposal.

Design professionals and other professional services firms who want to do University work must apply to be pre-qualified, and currently 215 such firms are so listed.

For Twin Cities campus work, general contractors must be prequalified and 26 are now listed to bid on projects valued more than $1 million. For work less than $1 million a limited number of firms, currently four, have annual contracts that allow for rapid delivery of small design/build work. Small jobs more than $ 1 00,000 are bid competitively among the four.

Heidi Meyer, AIA, state architect and director, Division of State Building Construction, Minnesota Department of Administration, will address CICC at its September 12 meeting. Denny Probst, land side development director for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, will speak October 10.

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MnSCU's buildings needs: $250 million, facilities head tells CICC

DATE: July 23, 2001 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-884-7726; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU) will seek $250 million from the 2002 state legislature for badly needed building repairs, updated facilities and new construction, says Allan W. Johnson, P.E., associate vice chancellor for facilities, speaking July 11 to the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC).

Based on a 1999 facilities condition assessment study by his office, there is a backlog of $498 million in deferred maintenance, repairs and renewal needs, so the funding sought includes $100 million just for major repairs and updating facilities. Critical needs include replacing and repairing roofs (the system has 287 acres of roofs), replacing outdated mechanical systems, and preserving and renewing buildings -- average age of MnSCU buildings is 30 years. The $150 million balance is for individual construction projects.

MnSCU facilities include 23 million square feet of space in 761 buildings in the system's 53 campuses, serving 150,000 students each semester.

Johnson says he intends to use CICC as a resource in their facilities management.

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CICC to hear major public owners' views on construction industry issues

DATE: July 9, 2001 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-884-7726; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

Public university, college and state officials will address building design and construction issues as viewed by major public building owners at upcoming meetings of the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC). The committee, with practicing professionals appointed by twelve construction organizations, serves as a forum for resolving current industry issues.

Allan W. Johnson, associate vice chancellor for facilities, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, will speak at the committee's July 11 meeting. Anna McDonagh, interim director of design and construction facilities management, University of Minnesota, will speak August 8, and Heidi Meyer, AIA, state architect and director, Division of State Building Construction, Minnesota Department of Administration, will speak September 12.

CICC publishes the Blue Book of recommendations for the construction industry in Minnesota, intended to resolve common problems and to establish standard procedures on much matters as bidding, contract documents, scheduling, design build procedures, dispute resolution, payment practices, insurance, construction waste management and recycling.

The Blue Book in hard copy form is available from AGC of Minnesota, 2515 Wabash Ave. Suite LL I, St. Paul, MN 55114-1055, phone 651-632-8929. Contents of the Blue Book, current updates, and other information from the committee is available on line at ciccbluebook.com.

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State of Minnesota code review update

DATE: April 23, 2001 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-884-7726; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

The State of Minnesota is in the process of updating many of the building, mechanical, plumbing, and fire and codes currently. To aid in the process many advisory committees have been set up to recommend options and issues to the State of Minnesota.

The code review and adoption process is an enormous undertaking which potentially will affect every member of the construction community. CICC has not and will not take a position on which code should be adopted or which changes should be made. Instead, CICC encourages members of the construction community to be aware of these potential changes and to become involved in the process.

To keep informed on these code changes you can contact the State of Minnesota's various governing bodies to get involved, and become informed of public meetings or notices regarding this process.

Some links of interest are included below:

www.admin.state.mn.us/buildingcodes (Web Site of Minnesota's Building Codes and Standards Division)

www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/1305/ (Uniform Building Code)

www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/1999/pe9901.htm (State Building Code Evaluation Report dated 1/7/99)

www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/1999/sbc/99-01.htm (Power Point presentation on the State Building Code from the Office of Legislative Auditor)

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CICC Blue Book is now on Web

UPDATED: January 31, 2000 PREPARED BY: Wallace Neal, 952-884-1632; Fax: 952-884-7726; Email: nealx007@tc.umn.edu

Anyone involved in commercial construction in Minnesota now can access via internet the newest edition of the Construction Industry Cooperative Committee of Minnesota (CICC) Blue Book of recommendations, at www.agcmn.org.

The Blue Book includes recommended practices and specifications on bidding, contract documents, insurance, payment practices, scheduling and other topics vital to the construction process. CICC is composed of construction professionals -- architects, engineers, specifiers, general and specialty contractors, subcontractors, and builders exchanges, appointed by their respective associations.

To keep informed on these code changes you can contact the State of Minnesota's various governing bodies to get involved, and become informed of public meetings or notices regarding this process.

The newest edition of the Blue Book, published in November 1998, includes revisions to its eight chapters, substantial changes to sections on insurance and temporary facilities, and added recommendations and information on design/build, recycling, construction waste management, building commissioning, and the 1995 edition of CSI MasterFormat standard list of numbers and titles for organizing construction information.

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