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Q&A
Q&A on timeline and challenges for borough-based jail construction
3:00:51
·
4 min
Council Members question Eduardo de Valle from the Department of Design and Construction about the timeline for constructing borough-based jails and the challenges involved in potentially accelerating the process.
- De Valle emphasizes the complexity and ambition of the borough-based jail program
- He highlights achievements in fast-tracking design and construction processes
- Discussion of risks associated with rushing the design-build process, including:
- Necessity of obtaining SCLC (State Commission of Correction) approvals
- Potential issues with reaching a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) with the design builder
- De Valle stresses the importance of minimizing risk exposure to the city in these multi-billion dollar projects
Sandy Nurse
3:00:51
Thanks for chasing down that info while we're here.
3:00:55
I wanted to ask one more question about the jails and then I don't know if you have any final questions.
3:01:01
You got a few?
3:01:02
Okay, so my question, Littman says you guys could do it a year faster to build these jails.
3:01:09
You guys say no.
3:01:10
Who's right?
3:01:11
Who's wrong?
3:01:12
What's in the way?
3:01:13
Tell us in detail and simple terms why you can't or why you can.
Eduardo de Valle
3:01:19
So the VBJ program is the nation's most ambitious, complex, and challenging design build capital program of its kind, period.
3:01:30
There's none other like it.
3:01:33
And what we have achieved to date in the public sector is truly remarkable.
3:01:40
Deployment of design build enabled us to deliver in record time, for example, the Queens Community Center and the 600 plus parking garage.
3:01:52
And so that was our first city of New York design build project.
3:01:58
And so it was delivered in less than two years, which by any measure, public sector, private sector is outstanding.
3:02:09
We completed design development for the Brooklyn facility within ten months.
3:02:16
Ten months design development completed.
3:02:21
It would have taken us three years under the traditional design bid bill delivery method.
3:02:27
And even as construction documentation was still being completed for the Brooklyn facility, we fast tracked and started foundation work sixteen months after the order to proceed was issued.
3:02:42
Sixteen months after the NTP was issued.
3:02:46
Again, unheard of.
3:02:49
Had this project been delivered under the traditional design build bill design bid bill method, we would still be in the design phase.
3:02:59
Now we are doing foundations.
3:03:02
So we are doing
Sandy Nurse
3:03:03
that you already the the timeline you've got right now, that's already built into
Eduardo de Valle
3:03:07
That's the point that I'm making.
Sandy Nurse
3:03:09
We are doing savings you've already accounted for.
Eduardo de Valle
3:03:11
We are doing design as We're fast tracking.
3:03:15
Now I would also point out that, of course, we have a responsibility to be stewards of these capital projects and minimize the risk exposure to the city.
3:03:28
Rushing a design build process will expose the city tremendously on these multibillion dollar projects.
3:03:37
So we must be prudent.
Sandy Nurse
3:03:38
Can you outline some of those risks?
Althea V. Stevens
3:03:39
Like, give us a give us
Sandy Nurse
3:03:40
a high level risk that you're you're worried about.
Eduardo de Valle
3:03:43
For for example, if we were to start foundation work before we got all of our SCLC permits, that's SCLC is an entity, the State Commission of Correction, that not the port authority, not other public agency who's doing design build in in this country needs to deal with.
3:04:03
We must secure approvals from SCLC on the construction That's
Sandy Nurse
3:04:09
one of them.
3:04:10
What's another risk?
Eduardo de Valle
3:04:11
That's huge.
3:04:12
Because if we are if we proceed with construction without SCLC approvals and SCLC comes back and and says you need to change x, and z, that's the exposure to the city.
3:04:24
Changes are money.
3:04:26
Change orders
Sandy Nurse
3:04:27
are expensive.
3:04:28
I understand the magnitude of of that approval and jumping the gun on that.
3:04:31
Is that the main risk or
Rebecca Henry
3:04:33
are there an No.
Eduardo de Valle
3:04:34
Well, there are others.
3:04:35
Right?
3:04:36
If we, for example, fast track the construction of foundations before we reach come to terms on the GMP, the guaranteed maximum price, and we cannot, for some reason, reach that GMP with with the design builder.
3:04:53
We have already started construction of foundations too early, too prematurely.
3:04:58
We are exposing the city now to the costs associated with those delays.
3:05:02
If we don't come to terms with the design builder, we'd have to go out to bid again and solicit a proposal.
3:05:09
That will simply delay even more.
3:05:11
So those are the kinds of risks that, again, with all due respect to my colleagues in in the commission, have not been properly assessed.
Sandy Nurse
3:05:22
Thank you for that information.
3:05:24
Councilmember Kemal?