Writing Effective Technical Specifications for Public Construction Projects Mike Purdy Michael E. Purdy Associates (206) 295-1464 [email_address] www.mpurdy.com

- Agenda What Does Your State Law Require? Why Good Specifications Are Important Types of Specifications Sources of Specification Language Tips in Writing Specifications Interpretation of Specifications Warranties Bidder Responsibility Criteria

What Does Your State Law Require?

Why Good Specifications Are Important

Types of Specifications

Sources of Specification Language

Tips in Writing Specifications

Interpretation of Specifications

Warranties

Bidder Responsibility Criteria

What Does Your State Law Require? Learn what your state law requires says that public agencies must comply with regarding specifications for your public works construction projects.

Learn what your state law requires says that public agencies must comply with regarding specifications for your public works construction projects.

Why Good Specifications Are Important Why do we have competitive bidding? How do specifications affect bidding? How do specifications help control costs? How do specifications ensure a quality project? How specifications impact permit issuance?

Why do we have competitive bidding?

How do specifications affect bidding?

How do specifications help control costs?

How do specifications ensure a quality project?

How specifications impact permit issuance?

Types of Specifications Design Performance Standard Proprietary (Sole Source) Building Engineering Systems

Design

Performance

Standard

Proprietary (Sole Source)

Building Engineering Systems

Sources of Specification Language Standard Specifications Industry Sources Other Government Agencies Consultants (architects and engineers) Previous projects Custom written by public agency staff

Standard Specifications

Industry Sources

Other Government Agencies

Consultants (architects and engineers)

Previous projects

Custom written by public agency staff

Tips in Writing Specifications Disputes Clarity and Simplicity Say it Once Definitions Make the Contractor Responsible Avoid Submissions with Bid Means and Methods Level of Precision Verifying Performance Streamlined specs vs. full sentences Sentence Construction Words and Phrases to Avoid

Disputes

Clarity and Simplicity

Say it Once

Definitions

Make the Contractor Responsible

Avoid Submissions with Bid

Means and Methods

Level of Precision

Verifying Performance

Streamlined specs vs. full sentences

Sentence Construction

Words and Phrases to Avoid

Interpretation of Specifications Complementary components Interpret documents as a whole Order of Precedence Dealing with Ambiguities

Complementary components

Interpret documents as a whole

Order of Precedence

Dealing with Ambiguities

Warranties Types of Warranties Impact of length of warranties Availability

Types of Warranties

Impact of length of warranties

Availability

Bidder Responsibility Criteria What is “Responsibility”? Types of Bidder Responsibility Criteria: Tips for writing Supplemental Bidder Responsibility Criteria Specification Qualifications

What is “Responsibility”?

Types of Bidder Responsibility Criteria:

Tips for writing Supplemental Bidder Responsibility Criteria

Specification Qualifications

Want More Information on Writing Effective Technical Specifications? Duration: Normally a 4 hour class Cost: Cost varies depending on location and travel time Contact Us: Contact Michael E. Purdy Associates to discuss scheduling this training for your agency or company

Duration: Normally a 4 hour class

Cost: Cost varies depending on location and travel time

Contact Us: Contact Michael E. Purdy Associates to discuss scheduling this training for your agency or company

Michael E. Purdy Associates - Contact Us Mike Purdy Principal (206) 295-1464 [email_address] www.mpurdy.com Mike Purdy’s Public Contracting Blog: http://PublicContracting.blogspot.com

Michael E. Purdy Associates - About Us Public Contracting Advice for Public Agencies & Businesses Since 2005 Strategies Developing and implementing strategies Solutions Solving problems and addressing challenges Training Providing tailored training

Public Contracting Advice

for Public Agencies & Businesses

Since 2005

Strategies

Developing and implementing strategies

Solutions

Solving problems and addressing challenges

Training

Providing tailored training

Michael E. Purdy Associates - Subscribe by e-mail to the Blog

Michael E. Purdy Associates: Mike Purdy has more than 29 years of experience as a manager in public contracting and procurement. He is the principal of Michael E. Purdy Associates ( www.mpurdy.com ), a consultant firm established in 2005 to help public agencies and businesses develop and implement effective contracting strategies, solve contracting problems, and learn more about contracting and procurement through tailored training. He maintains the popular Public Contracting Blog at http://PublicContracting.blogspot.com . Experience: Mike is also the Contracts Manager for the University of Washington’s Capital Projects Office and is responsible for managing design and construction contracts for more than $1 billion worth of projects at the University. Before joining the UW in 2005, he spent five years at the Seattle Housing Authority where he served as Contracting and Procurement Manager, overseeing all of the contracting and purchasing (construction, design consultants, other consultants, goods, supplies, and services) for the largest residential landlord in the state. Prior to that he worked for the City of Seattle for more than 21 years, where he administered the City’s construction and consultant contracts as the City’s Contracting Manager. Education: He has a bachelor’s degree in business and public administration and an MBA, both from the University of Puget Sound, and a master of divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Michael E. Purdy Associates: Mike Purdy has more than 29 years of experience as a manager in public contracting and procurement. He is the principal of Michael E. Purdy Associates ( www.mpurdy.com ), a consultant firm established in 2005 to help public agencies and businesses develop and implement effective contracting strategies, solve contracting problems, and learn more about contracting and procurement through tailored training. He maintains the popular Public Contracting Blog at http://PublicContracting.blogspot.com .

Experience: Mike is also the Contracts Manager for the University of Washington’s Capital Projects Office and is responsible for managing design and construction contracts for more than $1 billion worth of projects at the University. Before joining the UW in 2005, he spent five years at the Seattle Housing Authority where he served as Contracting and Procurement Manager, overseeing all of the contracting and purchasing (construction, design consultants, other consultants, goods, supplies, and services) for the largest residential landlord in the state. Prior to that he worked for the City of Seattle for more than 21 years, where he administered the City’s construction and consultant contracts as the City’s Contracting Manager.

Education: He has a bachelor’s degree in business and public administration and an MBA, both from the University of Puget Sound, and a master of divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.