CEMP-E
TI 800-03
1 July 1998
5-2. LESSONS LEARNED. The following subparagraphs contain recommended information
that should be considered in RFP's in order to avoid past problems, define engineering
requirements, define design submittal requirements, and ensure a high level of quality. These
lessons learned should be reviewed and included as appropriate in each new project.
a. There should be a minimum quality standard established between the Corps of
Engineers and the customer. All customer requirements should be approved by the
customer's major command.
b. All design requirements should be agreed upon during the pre-design activities. The
customer and Corps of Engineers are responsible to review the RFP and to verify that the pre-
design expectations and requirements are accurately represented and understandable in the
RFP technical specifications.
c. The Government should collect equipment and furniture lists from the customer.
These lists should include all existing equipment to be reused, Government-furnished and
Design-Build Contractor-furnished equipment. These lists should be included in the RFP
technical specifications.
d. Entrance Doors to Main Mechanical Equipment Rooms. Entrance doors to
heater/boiler rooms and to main mechanical equipment rooms should have entrance doors
directly from the outside only.
e. Chillers and mechanical equipment located outside the central plant should be
shielded from view.
f. Mechanical and electrical rooms and spaces, and telecommunications rooms and
closets, must comply with applicable codes, and be sized to house all necessary equipment
and provide easy access for maintenance, testing, repair, and removal of equipment. In
addition, sufficient space must be provided to allow for testing, adjusting and balancing of air
and hydronic systems and for commissioning and recommissioning of the facility. Future
expansion of communications rooms and closets shall be considered. Where standard
designs are used, the size of mechanical and electrical rooms and spaces, and
telecommunications rooms and closets must be modified, as necessary, to accommodate all
the equipment installed.
g. Past projects have shown problems with roof leaks. The RFP shall make it clear that
the Design-Build contractor is responsible for providing a roof that does not leak. Areas with
potential leak problems should be pointed out in the RFP. The Offeror's proposal and the D-B
contractor's design after award should be throughly reviewed by the Government for materials,
installation, and constructibility, to ensure that roofs will not leak.
h. Critical design requirements must be clearly defined in the RFP to ensure that the
successful offeror will provide them in the finished project. Critical requirements may include,
but not be limited to, maximum U-values for walls and roofs, specific wall designs with vapor
barriers to preclude high humidity problems, thermal analyses and testing of building
envelopes, and special type windows with the percent of glazing allowed specified.
i. Consider a requirement to design for future expansion.
5-2
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