Is your facility management team drifting too far toward being reactive? What can you do to operate more proactively?” Sounds pretty common right? Sometimes it helps to step back a bit. Are you reacting to the same types of things over and over? Are there “fixes” you could implement more broadly to eliminate similar issues?...Continue Reading
While most people don’t think about how they get their water, it is the mission of every civil engineer plumber to make sure clean water is received, and all water delivery systems are in working order. Plumbers routinely install, repair and maintain piping, fittings and fixtures involved in the distribution and use of water in...Continue Reading
4d-5d BIM will support facility management and associated construction projects, however, more efficient construction project delivery methods MUST be linked to your BIM strategy. Whether integrated with 4d, 5d BIM or stand alone, Job Order Contracting – JOC / SABER – is the standard for facility renovation, repair, and sustainability construction project control and transparency....Continue Reading
A recent change to FAR 51.1, Contractor Use of Government Supply Sources, may create expanded opportunities for GSA Schedule vendors. The change now permits Prime Federal Contractors to use the GSA Schedule as a source of supply when deemed appropriate for fulfillment of agency requirements. Previously, this was rare and only authorized on cost-plus contracts....Continue Reading
Sustainability and Green refer to the designing and maintaining the built environment to in concert with economic and ecological needs. Federal agencies are required to achieve 30% energy and water reductions by 2015 and zero use of fossil fuel by 2030 with schools and municipalities facing similar requirements. JOC (Job Order Contracting) and SABER (Air...Continue Reading
A long time 4Clicks’ client, JBI Construction, was asked to build a 9-11 Memorial for the Peterson Air Force Base, as part of a joint venture partnership with SB Construction. On April 30, 2010 a piece of damaged steel was delivered to the JBI Construction warehouse, a floor beam from the World Trade Center. Designed...Continue Reading
MasterFormat® Updates: Did you know Masterformat2004 will now be revised annually each spring? Did you know there is now a new Division? The major updates to MasterFormat2004 are: A new division, Division 46 – Water and Wastewater Equipment, which significantly expands the document’s coverage of environmental engineering specifications Revisions to Division 44 – Pollution and...Continue Reading
How many times have you heard … RSMeans costs are “too high” or “too low”? …. You can’t use RSMeans for replacement value? RSMeans is the “Bible” for most, if not all, experienced and successful cost estimators. RSMeans is an excellent cost basis to derive construction/replacement, renovation, repair, and maintenance values. Proper adjustments in forming...Continue Reading
Another great question from a 4Clicker – “What’s the difference between construction cost estimating, and construction cost engineering”? “Construction Cost Estimating” is the process/service of determining the future cost of a construction project/program for a new building, or the repair, maintenance, renovation, or renewal of an existing building ( or other physical infrastructure asset –...Continue Reading
Today’s professional estimators understand the value of a dynamic currently priced cost database. Did you know that as e4Clicks Project Estimator users you are the ONLY estimators to have access to 400,000 dynamic, up to date, currently priced line items? Every line item and modifier is completely built out in e4Clicks for them. Locate and...Continue Reading
We’re back from the SAME JETC Conference. It was great to spend some time with our friends at DWG & Associates. My old “boss” BCE Ron Descheneaux, from Air Force at Luke AFB walked into the 4Clicks booth. Colonel Descheneaux was at Luke Air Force base in the 90’s and was instrumental in starting up...Continue Reading
Here’s our new “4Clicks Chatter” May issue. Click the button below to download a PDF of the newsletter. This insightful issue includes: By an Estimator for Estimators Quote of the Month In the News How to Make a Good Estimate New “Blue” Paper Development Domain Training Class Schedule ‘Q & A’ Corner We hope you...Continue Reading
This was a great story, I encourage everyone reading this to consider what they can do for those that have done so much for us! 4/28/2010 – WASHINGTON (AFNS) — The military’s top officer turned to America’s philanthropic community April 27 to help military veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan avoid the devastation of substance abuse, mental illness and homelessness....Continue Reading
“Does anyone have a list or checklist of some sort that you use to make sure you do not miss anything on the drawings? “ “What estimating procedures do you use to help you?” While 4Clickers’ know the answer is, “Use e4Clicks Project Estimator!”, here are a few more thoughts. 1. Everything starts with process...Continue Reading
Last week a national general contractor using 4Clicks noticed that while using the RSMeans Rental Equipment O&P rates that the supplied equipment costs were not including the 10% markup. We quickly ran this by our parters at RSMeans and got clarification that while data is delivered in bare cost only, that is is a correct practice...Continue Reading
What are the top items facing public sector facilities professionals? Please let us know! Here’s a start: 1. Tracking and maintaining building inventory 2. Tracking and maintaining the physical and functional conditions of building inventory in an accurate, consistent manner. 3. Managing facilities reinvestment on a defined / ROI-centric basis. 4. Dealing with sustainability /...Continue Reading
I started developing software back in 1988; there was really no electronic estimating software at that time that did everything I needed it to do. So I found a development tool RBase and started learning how to design, develop and enhance cost estimating software. That was then this is now, we are about to launch...Continue Reading
Did you know fiber reinforced polymer FRP has been around since the 1940’s? A great alternative to steel, here’s a great article that provides even more information. Today’s post comes from Wayne Engebretson with Reed Construction, learn more here…Continue Reading
President Obama unveiled a program Friday that will provide $2.3 billion in tax credits for the clean energy manufacturing sector, a move aimed at creating 17,000 jobs. Is Green JOC coming soon to a contract opportunity near you? Today’s post comes from CNN.com learn more here…Continue Reading
