25H - AGMT - ENGINEERING SERVICES

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2.4 Field Investigations One of the most important steps in the design process is the site investigation or reconnaissance. Most roadway and landscaping rehabilitation or reconstruction projects have a multitude of existing constraints and controls that must be identified and accommodated by the improvement designs. The URS Team makes it a point to visit each project site early and often in the project development process and throughout the project's schedule to maintain a clear understanding of the physical environment into which the new improvements must mesh. Many of the street improvement and paving projects anticipated require careful coordination with the field conditions, where each and every detail can be identified as it actually exists. Field surveys and topographic mapping only give the designer a twodimensional picture of the project site. By walking through the site, observing and meeting the users of the project and interacting with the existing elements, the designer can produce plans and specifications that will be buildable and are not prone to change orders by the contractor due to differing site conditions. Each member of the design team will visit the project sites several times throughout each project. 2.5 Coordination with Applicable Agencies/City Departments Coordination with the reviewing agencies is critical to the success of every project. We will schedule a kick-off meeting with all of the participating City departments and outside agencies with an interest in the project Maintenance staff often have important insight as to what works and what does not in a certain location. Also, each department has its own special interests and design preferences and it is imperative to discuss these items early in the project schedule. This avoids misunderstandings later on in the process that could cause costly delays or develop into fatal flaws. 2.6 Conceptual Design/Review Meeting(s) Even the smallest project will benefit from an initial conceptual design that is reviewed by the project ream. The conceptual design identifies all the critical parameters of the project. Projects that involve a significant paving effort always have several design options available at differing costs. The conceptual study will include valueengineering activities to select the most cost-effective design solutions. A conceptual cost estimate is developed to assist the City with funding and programming of the project's improvements. Impacts of the project can be identified in the conceptual phase. These impacts may require mitigation measures that should be factored into the project's schedule and cost estimates. 2.7 DraltlFinal Plans, Specifications and Estimate/Review Meeting(s) The draft and final plans will be detailed based on the conceptual designs completed in the previous stage. At this point, all of the foul tie ins, derails, calculations and bidding elements are added to the drawings. The specifications CRT Or WITA ANA ruuue Wwu •." Iwo are prepared at this stage, completely defining all of the work required. Final estimates are then developed from the plans and specifications. The plans and specifications will be crossrefcrenced to ensure that each item to be bid on the plans has appropriate measurement and payment clauses in the specifications. All drawings will be prepared using the Microstation CADD program and will utilize the City's Microstation Interagency CADD Standards. Approximately 75% of URS' projects are done in Microstation; our vast experience with the program and also with the City's CADD standards will allow us to develop our plans in an expedited manner. Specifications will be prepared utilizing the City's boiler plate specifications and will be in Microsoft Word. TERS 25H-19