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 P-141, Change 2
May 1996
SECTION 9
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
1. PRIVATE VS GOVERNMENT DESIGN:
Contractor a choice of materials or methods
There are certain basic differences between
when optional materials or methods would be
private and Government design, which should be
equally satisfactory for the purpose and are
thoroughly understood by the A/E. Failure to
comparable in cost. Optional designs are
grasp these basic differences in rules and policies
permitted, such as hemispherical bottom or semi-
has been the source of many costly disputes.
ellipsoidal bottom for an elevated steel water
These are:
tank, however, the right to select an option rests
with the Contractor.
a. The Government cannot limit bidding to a
3. A/E VERIFICATION OF EXISTING
selected list of Contractors known to do good
FEATURES:
work. Any Contractor may bid. Therefore,
The Government does not
drawings and specification requirements must
require bidders to visit the project site prior to
leave little to the imagination. They must be
submitting a bid. Therefore, to avoid claims and
clear, concise, detailed, and thoroughly
extra costs, it is important that existing features
coordinated.
are adequately shown on the drawings and
described in the specifications in sufficient detail
b.Specifications shall be "nonproprietary" and
to allow the contractor to bid the work without
visiting the site. This is especially important for
allow full and open competition in the
demolition and alteration work and will require
expenditure of public funds.
adequate site investigation and verification of as-
c. Many Navy structures involve complex
built drawings.
Where existing conditions
cannot be readily determined, such as the
electronic, technical, or weapons systems that
thickness of pavement or existence of hidden
require a higher order of reliability than private
items, quantities shall be estimated to establish a
industry structures.
basis for bidding. If the cost to demolish or alter
d.The BUY AMERICAN ACT requires that
hidden features is significant, the A/E shall
request the OIC to authorize additional
only domestic construction materials and
investigation or testing to quantify these costs.
equipment will be specified and used in
Government Contracts. However, this Act has
4. CONTACTS
WITH
UTILITY
recently been modified to allow the use of
COMPANIES:
The A/E shall contact
products from Canada, Mexico, and the
appropriate utility company representatives as
European Community on projects with an
necessary to determine the nearest location and
estimated acquisition value of $6.5 million or
characteristics of service facilities capable of
more.
supplying requirements. Such contacts should
2. CONTRACTOR OPTIONS: Drawings and
be made on an information basis only. Caution
should be exercised to avoid any implied
specifications may be prepared to give the
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
9-1
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