Travis County Commissioners Court
May 8, 2007
Item 4
>> number four, consider and take appropriate action on modification number two to contract number ps 050216 mb, hok, for professional consulting services for Travis County correctional complex design-build project. >> we are here to approve modification number two to the hok contract, our consultant that is helping us with our design-build project out at del valle. This modification will cost us 392,580. Just as background, when we initially awarded this contract, be it was for five different phases. The sixth phase we did anticipate; however, we were having a funding issue at the time and we agreed that we would negotiate that price at a later time when funding was in place. So that's what facilities has done and we're now here to get your approval on this. In this last phase they will be providing us with document review, construction phase, monitoring, and also we'll have a full-time site representative watching, making sure everything is going as the plans and spec. They'll be be offering help on project enhancers. That's what we're here to do today. We also have someone new on the team and I'm going to turn it over to roger el khoury to introduce our new team player. >> >> [inaudible - no mic]. First I would like to talk -- to report that we do have contract for this mod. >> [inaudible - no mic]. >> good afternoon, Commissioners. Today I want to introduce bill prindle. You folks remember ed speern. Ed snooner has been doing a good job and being the principal in charge for hok up to this point. He's done a good job be of getting the bridging documents all completed for us and getting our design-builder on board. So if there was ever a time to lose ed and get a new person, now is I guess as good a time as any. So today I would like to introduce bill prindle. He will be the new principal in charge for hok. I'll just tell you previously about bill and let him talk for himself afterwards. He basically was the -- ed was in charge of justice projects for hok out of the dallas office. Bill was actually ed's boss. He's in charge of the justice section in general for all of hok and he has been out in the san francisco office. He's moving now to the dallas office. My understanding is his position is the same in hok. He's still in charge of their justice projects and in addition to that he will be overseeing this project for us. So without any more, I'll let bill prindle tell you a little about himself and y'all may want to ask him questions. >> we appreciate you coming down and visiting with us today. >> thank you. >> you don't look like a condition texan yet. >> no. I'm working on it. >> [ laughter ] >> it's a pleasure to be here. Ed was a very close friend. For the record he didn't die, he just had an offer that couldn't be be turned down and we couldn't match. He's a great guy and we'll miss him at hok and I'm sure you guys will miss him too. I'm actually looking very forward to moving from san francisco to dallas. And the real estate prices are a little more reasonable and I'm looking -- really looking forward to the change of scenery. So a little bit about myself, I was kidding around. My favorite story is saying that I'm actually a second generation jail house architect. My father was a jail designer and architect, and as a kid I was growing up watching some of the projects run through his office. And I got fascinated as a kid in high school helping him out in his office, went to college and tried to do my master's thesis on a jail and I was turned down because none of the ploffers knew anything about jails and wouldn't know how to score me on my master's thesis. But right after I got out of school I started working on prison design, courthouse design. I've been doing it ever since. I'm happy to be be here and if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them. >> we did get a chance to look at your resume, and have you a long list of impressive correctional facilities project. But generally speaking, what your role? >> either the project manager or the project architect in some cases. >> and you're familiar with what mr. Spooner did for us on our project? >> correct. >> and you've done that kind of work before also? >> yes, absolutely. >> so how much should we plan to see william prindle here in Travis County if we execute the mod? >> in preparing the fee analysis and projections, there's an assumption that about 10% of my time over the last year will be allocated to oversee this particular project. Forget what the numbers say on that sheet of paper. If you need me, I'll be here. That's not an issue. So if you need me more than that, I'll be here. If you need me less than that -- I don't think you'll need me any less than that, but I plan on being here just like ed would be here. If you have an issue, I'll be right here. >> we have had a few contracts where the principals came here to negotiate the contract and we seldom saw them after that. And our lesson from that project really was that was not a good thing. And we kind of like to see the people who will take responsibility for completing the project for us and to know that if we need them here physically, that will happen. >> absolutely. >> and we have your commitment today. >> if you wanted to check my references, I'm there from beginning of design, through the construction documents phase. I'm actually out there doing the bunch punch list in the field, double-checking the work being done by our folks and making sure everything is up to snuff. I see the job from the beginning all the way through the very end just as ed does. >> are you familiar with our contractor in this case, faulkner, u.s.a.? >> I have not worked with them, but I have worked with their design team. I know some of the firms that are associated with with that team. >> mr. Spooner have an opportunity to share with you some of the issues be and challenges we've had on this project? >> yes. >> looking at your resume, it's real obvious that you can build correctional facilities for just about whatever price -- either number be one, you have, or number two, that you're willing to spend. It is really amazing whenever you look at the variation in correctional facilities. Now I realize that you've got everything from -- it shows here the condemned inmate complex. I mean, that's a 220-million-dollar project, so obviously for 1,080 beds, there's a whole lot of dough that has to be spent. I guess that's the highest security. I suppose if you're a condemned inmate, -- >> they're real persnickety about not letting those guys out. It's a maximum security institution. What drove up that price is it's on san quintin on a horrible piece of land with terrible foundation costs and other thing. So a lot of the money being spent on that project is actually going into the ground. You'll never see. That coupled-- I know that ed had some challenge here as we've had challenges all over the country with the rapidly just crazy escalation of construction prices that are going on right now. It's just a tough thing to keep a lid on because you're not sure where they're going to go. Just a couple of week ago I saw that copper prices jumped 30%. So it's just amazing what things are -- what's going on in the industry today. >> we're under great projects in on budget. This is no exception to that. There are construction price escalations beyond our control, but we also have a contract and a schedule and we will need your help to get it done on that budget and on schedule. >> you have my commitment. >> tell us the big items that kept coming up throughout our experience and to make sure that somebody is there on a regular basis to make sure that everything is done on time. If we can come under budget, we'll take that as well, but just don't want any delays. I'd rather not repeat history. >> move approval. >> second. >> discussion? We try not to call you at home, but we do insist on having your home phone number. >> you can have it. >> all in favor? Show Commissioners eckhardt, Gomez, Daugherty and yours truly voting in favor. Voting against, Commissioner Davis. Thank you very much. Look forward to working with you.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, May 9, 2007, 8:00 AM