Ford Construction
American River Pump Station
What makes it interesting?
Prior to initiating permanent construction, upstream and downstream cofferdams had to be built and the site dewatered so the river bottom debris could be removed. There were major unknowns to be uncovered, and the debris had to be removed to be processed for later use as riprap and boulders, in a sequence which would not interfere with later operations.
How HCSS Software assisted with this project
Both HeavyBid and HeavyJob were used on this project.
Ford’s evaluation of the Phase II project mandated very intensive project management for the successful execution of the project. The project bidding process required a Technical Proposal to be evaluated for feasibility, accompanied by a competitive hard bid, at $30,998,798. Accordingly, Ford put major effort into planning, scheduling, and methods for the Technical Proposal. We also requested in the Technical Proposal that partnering be used, in hopes of building a team needed for Phase II, rather than resume the old Phase I relationships at the jobsite.
Submittals were also extensively discussed in the weekly meetings. Discussions were held prior to formal submittal, alternatives and availability constraints were evaluated, and open discussions of possible approval issues and their possible resolutions were held during the formal approval process. This was all done with the aim of having “no surprises” from the approval actions and in order to hasten the approvals so as to maintain project progress, without the usual “ping pong” approvals actions.
RFIs and RFCs were also openly discussed in the weekly meetings, to the end that most RFIs would not formally be needed. The result was that only a total of 13 RFIs were ever generated. Those were answered promptly but mainly served as documentation of issues.
The formal contractual paperwork was generated by the appropriate parties; pricing, negotiation, and execution of CCOs (25 total) were all done promptly. A VE Proposal (eliminated a structure and rerouted complex utilities locations) was formulated by Ford, work authorized and completed while refining its design, priced, negotiated, and incorporated into a CCO during construction. No issues were set aside to be resolved later, and no issues were referred to the DRB.
Substantial completion was achieved on October 31, 2006, three months early; final inspection was done the following week, with the result of no punchlist. Final quantities have been resolved; “as-built” drawings were submitted and agreed upon promptly. Final paperwork will not linger.
The goal of furnishing river water early was met the first week of September. The Phase I contractor, with all the associated baggage and contentious relationships, was incorporated into our weekly meetings so that the equipment startups could be expedited. The Phase I equipment became operable on time, and PCWA was able to pump source water into their system on schedule. The Phase II project had all the potential of becoming a two-season, late, costly disaster, with many difficult problems to overcome throughout its course, had any one of the major issues been unresolved. Instead, through the effective and active involvement of all parties, with extremely effective, open, and candid participation, the project was finished three months early, with good quality and with costs under control.
There will be no claims on the project.
Project Description:
This was Phase II completion of the Intake Structures for the American River Pump Station. Major items of work were: dewatering of the channel; excavation of the existing cofferdam remnants; and major concrete structures in the channel, with intercnnecting piping to the Phase I Pump Station. Channel construction of recreational facilities, diversion of the river back into the channel, closure of the existing Diversion Tunnel, and downstream recreational facilities are also included.
The Phase II project consists of concrete Primary and Emergency river intake structures and access road slabs; an Obermeyer-type maintenance gate; channel and cofferdam excavation; channel erosion protection including grouted stone, plain and planted riprap; a complex kayak course built into the final river channel; air and water piping systems in a utility trench uphill to the pump station; a concrete-encased steel casing pipe for a future water pipe beneath the river; and closure of the existing Auburn Dam Diversion Tunnel.
