Case History - Enhanced Use
VARO Houston
Team Concept
One of the most important ingredients for success is putting together a team
that works well together and one who has the same pressing goals; that is, to
provide the best service possible at the best possible price. In the case of
Houston, the team selected to complete this premier project was superb. The
developer won award of the project as the result of national competition. The
selection was made on the basis of quality of the development team, ability to
undertake and successfully complete the development, cost, and financial
benefits and the development plan. Work performed by the developer and the
development team far exceeded all expectations.
The Director must ensure that he/she creates a development team comprised
of key personnel committed to the project and ensure that flexibility be a part of
the team's goals. The success of the Houston project was predicated on the fact
that they had a strong Resident Engineer (employee of FM) and the project was
delegated down to the Houston level since this is where the problems/issues
have to be resolved. This allowed enough flexibility for all parties to do their
jobs.
As a team, they interfaced daily with the developer, contractor, architect,
subcontractors, etc. Partnering sessions were conducted on a regular basis
which allowed for any outstanding issues to be resolved in a timely manner.
This flexible method of guiding the public/private partnership worked better than
a rigid, contractually prescribed process. The team-led sessions were a
communications mechanism enabling all parties to understand how all proposed
and agreed upon changes in the transaction would affect all players. This
understanding was the foundation for making changes throughout the project,
changes that maintained the win-win profile of the deal.
Important Key Issues for Success
You must have the freedom of being able to handle the project at a local
level. We suggest that the Contracting Officer name a Project Director from the
local regional office staff. That person must have the freedom to work
independently with Central Office throughout the preliminary start-up of the
project and then have a Resident Engineer from the FM staff that can work
along-side the Project Director. This will allow the team to resolve a lot of
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