Design assist

Design Assist is the procurement method by which, prior to completion of design, a construction contract may be awarded on a best value basis pursuant to which a contractor provides design assistance to the architect or engineer of record through a design professional separately retained by the contractor.

Design Assist Professional

The Design Assist Professional must be a licensed Professional Engineer. The role of the Design Assist professional (DAP) is to be a Professional Engineering representative of the installing contractor (IC) throughout the entire project, from design through construction. The (DAP) becomes an integral active member of the design team and is the installing contractors link into the design process. The DAP must be a Professional Engineer with specific experience in the area of design and construction related to the systems offering assistance. The (DAP) must have experience in the design process and in the preparation of construction documents. It is imperative that the (DAP) understand the intent of the system design, the project factors, and the decisions that are influencing the system design as created by the Engineer of record (EOR). The (DAP) involvement begins at the SD phase of the project and shall be an active participate in all design charrettes and design team meetings. The DAP will involve the means and method, cost estimating, and scheduling experts of the (IC) in the appropriate design meetings. The DAP shall represent the (IC) in the project construction phase design meetings, and shall be an active participant in these meetings. The DAP shall convey to the (IC) construction team the results and the intent of the decisions made in all the design meetings. The following is general lists of tasks for each specific DAP during the design phase and construction phase of the project:

1. Plumbing & Fire Protection (DAP)
   1. SD PHASE
      1. Review and comment on the general design approach taken by the Engineer of Record (EOR)
      2. Review and comment on site utilities and site located equipment
      3. Review and comment on (EOR) mechanical room layout
      4. Review and comment on equipment selection by (EOR)
      5. Assist the (EOR) in the establishment of mechanical shaft sizes and locations
      6. Review and comment on special equipment (medical, waste, pure water, etc..) location and sizing as provided by (EOR)
      7. Provide system cost estimate based on (EOR) SD drawings with the appropriate contingencies
   2. DD PHASE
      1. Provide a coordinated mechanical room layout drawings in REVIT based on final equipment selection and location provided by Engineer of record (EOR)
      2. Provide a coordinated special equipment system drawings in REVIT base on the special equipment location provided by Engineer of record (EOR)
      3. Provide installation sequencing and methods description
      4. Provide coordinated mechanical shaft drawings in REVIT indicating all piping, structure, and utilities
      5. Provide coordinated above ceiling drawings in REVIT for all gas, fire protection, sanitary, storm, water, and specialty systems piping based on routing, location, and sizing provided by (EOR)
      6. Provided coordinated floor and roof penetration drawings based on final equipment selection and location provided by (EOR).
      7. Provide system cost estimate with appropriate contingencies
      8. Review and comment on specifications provided by EOR.
      9. Provide final coordinated drawings of underground utilities, roof, floor and wall sleeve location.
   3. CD PHASE
      1. Provide final coordination drawings of the entire system based on (EOR) CD drawings
      2. Provide equipment submittals
      3. Provide system GMP with appropriate contingencies
      4. Provide project schedule with equipment sequencing
      5. Submit fire protection drawings as provided by (EOR) to the fire protection design assist partner.
   4. CA PHASE
      1. Attend and actively participate in all Owner Architect Meetings (OAM)
      2. Provide weekly updated coordination drawings of the entire system based on changes to the (EOR) CD drawings.
      3. Provide weekly updates relative to equipment submittal and delivery information
      4. Provide weekly updates on schedule and changes to the GMP
      5. Update status of construction open issues log
      6. Offer proposed solutions to problems identified in the field
2. HVAC (DAP)
   1. SD PHASE
      1. Review and comment on the general design approach taken by the Engineer of Record (EOR)
      2. Review and comment on (EOR) mechanical room layout
      3. Review and comment on equipment selection by (EOR)
      4. Assist the (EOR) in the establishment of mechanical shaft sizes and locations
      5. Review and comment on temperature control strategies established by (EOR)
      6. Provide system cost estimate based on (EOR) SD drawings with the appropriate contingencies
   2. DD PHASE
      1. Provide a coordinated mechanical room layout drawings in REVIT based on final equipment selection and location provided by Engineer of record (EOR)
      2. Provide installation sequencing and methods description
      3. Provide coordinated mechanical shaft drawings in REVIT indicating all ductwork, structure, and utilities
      4. Provide coordinated above ceiling drawings in REVIT for all main duct run and equipment based on routing, location, and sizing provided by (EOR)
      5. Provide Temperature control P&ID based on strategies provided by (EOR)
      6. Provided coordinated floor and roof penetration drawings based on final equipment selection and location provided by (EOR).
      7. Provide system cost estimate with appropriate contingencies
      8. Review and comment on specifications provided by EOR.
      9. Provide final coordinated drawings of underground utilities, roof, floor and wall sleeve location.
   3. CD PHASE
      1. Provide final coordination drawings of the entire system based on (EOR) CD drawings
      2. Provide equipment submittals
      3. Provide system GMP with appropriate contingencies
      4. Provide project schedule with equipment sequencing
   4. CA PHASE
      1. Attend and actively participate in all Owner Architect Meetings (OAM)
      2. Provide weekly updated coordination drawings of the entire system based on changes to the (EOR) CD drawings.
      3. Provide weekly updates relative to equipment submittal and delivery information
      4. Provide weekly updates on schedule and changes to the GMP
      5. Update status of construction open issues log
      6. Offer proposed solutions to problems identified in the field
3. Electrical (DAP)
   1. SD PHASE
      1. Review and comment on the general design approach taken by the Engineer of Record (EOR)
      2. Review and comment on utility power, voice, and data services provided to the facility as indicated by the (EOR)
      3. Assist the (EOR) in the establishment of electrical rooms sizes and locations
      4. Review and comment on (EOR) Electrical room layout
      5. Review and comment on equipment selection by (EOR)
      6. Review and comment on normal and emergency power distribution system design by(EOR)
      7. Review and comment on lighting fixtures as defined by the (EOR)
      8. Review and comment on special systems (nurse call, fire alarm, security, etc..) as defined by the (EOR)
      9. Review and comment on the emergency generator and UPS plant as designed by the (EOR)
      10. Provide system cost estimate based on (EOR) SD drawings with the appropriate contingencies
   2. DD PHASE
      1. Provide a coordinated electrical room layout drawings in REVIT based on final equipment selection and location provided by Engineer of record (EOR)
      2. Provide installation sequencing and methods description
      3. Provide coordinated electrical distribution riser drawings in REVIT indicating all buss duct, conduits, structure, and utilities
      4. Provide coordinated above ceiling drawings in REVIT for all main electrical conduit runs and equipment based on routing, location, and sizing provided by (EOR)
      5. Review and comment on the normal and emergency single line diagrams as provided by the (EOR)
      6. Review and comment on special systems auxiliary equipment room sizes and locations as defined by the (EOR)
      7. Provided coordinated floor penetration drawings based on final equipment selection and location provided by (EOR).
      8. Provide system cost estimate with appropriate contingencies
      9. Review and comment on specifications provided by EOR.
      10. Provide final coordinated drawings of underground utilities, roof, floor and wall sleeve location.
   3. CD PHASE
      1. Provide final coordination drawings of the entire system based on (EOR) CD drawings
      2. Provide equipment submittals
      3. Provide selective coordination for power equipment
      4. Provide project schedule with equipment sequencing
      5. Submit fire alarm drawings to the fire alarm vender
      6. Provide system GMP with appropriate contingencies
   4. CA PHASE
      1. Attend and actively participate in all Owner Architect Meetings (OAM)
      2. Provide weekly updated coordination drawings of the entire system based on changes to the (EOR) CD drawings.
      3. Provide weekly updates relative to equipment submittal and delivery information
      4. Provide weekly updates on schedule and changes to the GMP
      5. Update status of construction open issues log
      6. Offer proposed design solutions to problems identified in the field

References

• State of Ohio House Bill 318, Section 8
• Design Assist Best Methods flow chart
• Dynamix Engineering