This week, the General Services Administration’s National 3D-4D-BIM Program took another step forward when several companies reported they had been awarded five-year $30 million National Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity contracts for Building Information Modeling (BIM) and related services including laser scanning and modeling. All major GSA projects receiving design funding in FY2007 and beyond are required to submit a spatial program BIM prior to final concept presentation. We expect more contract winners to be announced soon.
The GSA has published the Nationwide 3D Laser Scanning Services award winners as well as the Nationwide BIM and Related Professional Services.
One winner was Architectural Resource Consultants (ARC). Combined, the ARC team claims completing more than 430 laser scanning projects in the past five years. This team of 31 subconsultants includes: Aerial Data Service, Ament, Inc., Applied Science Intl, C.W. Driver, Cal Vada, Clark Engineering, Coast 2 Coast, Cumming Clarke, Custom Engineering, D. Woolley & Associates, Design + Const. Strategies, DGT Inc., Digital Vision, Direct Dimensions, Dynasty Group, Inc., Epic Scan, Erdman Anthony, ESM Consulting Engineers, G.J. Berding Surveying, Heritage Surveying, John A. Martin & Associates, Langan Engineering, Leo A. Daly, Lerch Bates Inc., Mollenhauer Group, RCMS, RJA Group (Rolf Jensen), Sam, Inc., TSKC, US CAD and William Gordon & Assoc. The ARC team will provide laser scanning services to document existing conditions of GSA’s more than 350 million square feet of building assets and create three-dimensional building models which will assist in the management of the buildings throughout all four phases of the facility lifecycle.
In a discussion with ARC President and CEO John Russo, AIA, depth of experience of the team as a whole is what uniquely qualified ARC and its subs to win this solicitation. Many of the firms are leaders in their respective industries and have a strong local presence in the 11 GSA regions. Says Russo: “One of ARC’s primary core services is providing laser building as-builts. We’ve been providing this service for over twelve years. We are architects by training but specialize in building survey. Traditional architectural firms are generally experts in buildings, building systems and sometimes BIM but not necessarily in measuring. Land/Civil surveyors are generally experts in measuring but not necessarily in buildings or BIM. We bridge the gap between both worlds having a depth of experience with both buildings and surveying.”
Also awarded is a team headed by Applied Software that includes the following partners: DC Strategies, Draper & Associates, EDI Ltd., Georgia Tech Digital Building Lab, Integrated Environmental Solutions, Lord, Aeck & Sargent, Neenan, Optira, Pruitt Eberly Stone, QinetiQ North America, Retrieve Technologies, Smith Seckman Reid and US Cost. The team has staff and offices in every GSA region.
In a statement, Applied Software President and Founder Richard Burroughs said, “Applied Software was founded on the principle of achieving excellence in our field. Winning this GSA contract validates a quarter-century of dedicated work, service excellence and leadership in a rapidly changing industry. We look forward to working with the GSA to implement BIM at all levels which will streamline workflow, increase productivity and improve quality during the design, construction and renovation process.” Optira CEO Mitch Schefcik says “the GSA has realized existing conditions documentation supported by 3D laser scanning yields trustworthy information to support design and construction.” Schefcik anticipates the release of task orders to selected teams under these new contracrts in the near future.
With the GSA serving as a leading adopter of 3D, 4D and BIM technologies since 2003, more and more experienced firms are able to provide these valuable services via unparalleled three-dimensional technology. What’s more, these solicitations create partnering opportunities, another avenue for getting on board with 3D measurement technologies.
