Hewlett Spencer is a full service “owner’s advocate” development firm. We handle everything associated with the building program so that you don’t have to. Our firm manages all items from selecting and evaluating land sites to the warranty period after the completion of a project.
Services include:
All of our jobs are lock and key. Everything is included to complete the scope of work.
Our fee and the terms of our savings incentive are negotiated with you on the front end of the project and is included in the estimate.
We don’t have change orders in our process. The Legal and Financial structure we provide to you prohibits us, our contractor and sub-contractors, suppliers, architect and engineers from submitting any requests for change orders that would increase the cost of the project. Only the School Board/County can ask to add items that would cost more than the agreed to estimate.
This question goes to the very heart of what we do and separates us from the competition. Even during conception of a project, we assist with the planning by utilizing a key member of our team, Dr. Jack Owenby, former head of the TSBA, in school planning. We assist in land purchase and site evaluation to ensure the most economical placement of a facility. Our team will spend substantial time with key architectural, engineering and construction disciplines on the front end of the project to ensure the least amount of risk for the project. Our team analyzes every aspect of the plans and specs as they are being developed to come up with the most cost effective and most efficient form of constructability. Other processes do not carry the risk we have, so they are not incentivized to ensure this type of detailed work on the front end.
Reimbursables are a profit center for the construction management process, not ours. We only bill for direct job costs. These job costs are covered under our estimate. With certain types of contracts ie: Cost plus contracts, reimbursables can be a profit center for the contractor, our process does not allow for this.
A subcontractor’s contract is under the Hewlett Spencer umbrella and not the BOE. We reduce the BOE’s exposure and administrative burden by managing all the subcontractor’s contracts. With the Hewlett Spencer process you have a single point of contact and responsibility.
Yes, we have a full time construction manager on-site on all of our jobs, and NO, that is not a reimbursable expense passed on to the BOE. It is a direct job cost that is included in our estimate.
Most of our job superintendent’s have in excess of 20 years experience. We match the superintendent’s strengths in coordination with the jobs he/she is given. The experience that a superintendent has must match the anticipated requirements of the job, whether it be a renovation, addition or new facility construction. Their role in construction is direct onsite job supervision. The Superintendent manages all other subcontractors in the field, at the project site. Having a strong Superintendent is the key to the projects success.
“At risk” CM is a delivery method that entails a commitment by the construction manager to deliver the project within a GMP. In other words, the CM is “at risk” to complete the project for a GMP and within an agreed upon schedule. In this delivery process, the owner knows the cost of the project before construction begins.
The construction manager acts as a consultant to the owner in the pre-construction and design phases and uses a general contractor during the construction phase. When a construction manager is bound to a GMP, the most fundamental character of the relationship is changed. The CM works to serve the best interests of the owner while protecting his/her interests to deliver the project for a reasonable price and guaranteed schedule. The Hewlett Spencer process is closely related to the CM “at risk” method but adds features that go beyond a typical CM at risk, as the County has one point of contact and we take on all the risk associated with the building program as we act on behalf of the owner.
“CM Agency” is a fee-based service in which the construction manager is responsible exclusively to the owner and acts in the owner’s interest. The CM offers advice on project delivery but has no financial guarantee of responsibility to the owner. Using a CM Agency delivery, the owner holds the subcontracts and assumes the risks of delivery including cost and schedule.
In short, we prefer a CM “At Risk” delivery system. From our experience an approach that guarantees delivery for a set cost is preferred over a delivery system where an agent is only providing management advice. Depending on the size and complexity of a project, CM Agency basically duplicates services already being provided by the general contractor and architect/engineer. The CM Agent has no financial stake in the project and therefore no incentive to deliver the project in the most cost efficient manner. The CM Agent also does not hold subcontracts. This responsibility then falls to the owner and increases the administrative burden required to complete the assignment
School may remain operational during construction. What experience do you have in developing construction phasing plans?
More than half of our projects have been renovation and addition projects that have taken place during the
school year. We have extensive construction phasing experience that maintains normal school operations during the construction period. Extensive planning and communication with our team occurs to prepare for these circumstances. Communication with the School Board, the Director of Schools, the Principal and staff are the key ingredients to ensure the customer is satisfied with our course of action and that safety is deemed the highest of priorities. Our resume of work that has occurred while children are in school, speaks for itself. It goes hand in hand with what we do, everyday.
Yes. Policies are in place with all of our employees regarding the use of drugs. Everyone upon initial hiring must go through a complete background check and drug testing evaluation. All employees are subject to initial and random drug testing throughout the duration of the job.