4 Procurement Planning
When shifting to the need for BIM use on projects being procured, the terms for BIM shift from the uses of the model, to the providing of BIM services by the designers, contractors, or consultants involved in a given project. To procure BIM services on a project, an owner needs to communicate their BIM goals to the project team. This documentation sets the direction and the minimum requirements of the project before any design or construction begins. To successfully accomplish this, it is critical to plan ahead and determine the BIM needs for the project. This section of the Guide addresses many of the issues an owner may wish to consider when planning for procuring BIM services.
Prior to the start of a new project, the owner should develop, or update, the procurement language for the upcoming project. This procurement language is necessary to ensure that the owner’s needs are met, and the project team understands the scope and detail of the requirements to which they are agreeing. Having the BIM requirements documented prior to the start of the project allows the team to begin the BIM process earlier and more effectively. There are three documents for procurement in which BIM should be included. These documents are:
- TEAM SELECTION DOCUMENTS
- CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS
- PROJECT EXECUTION PLAN DELIVERABLES
Selecting the proper team sets the foundation for a successful BIM project. The requests for qualifications and proposals (RFQ and RFP) must contain adequate BIM language to communicate the owner needs and enable the owner to select a project team possessing the necessary skills.
The Contract Requirements should serve as the foundation to the BIM use within a project. The use of BIM Project Execution Plans serves as an interim tool for the team to align their project BIM Uses with the owner’s needs, defined in the contract. The purpose of these documents is to provide a clear description of the BIM expectations to the project team. As Figure 4-1 indicates, the BIM Contract Requirements directly feed the BIM Project Execution Plan and they often contain similar information, and should complement each other, referencing the other document as necessary to eliminate duplication.
Figure 4 -1: BIM Procurement Areas
Prior to Developing Procurement Documents
Before your organization begins to develop BIM procurement documentation, it is beneficial to consider the general format of the contract and how BIM requirements may affect it. BIM contract requirements can be added into the existing design/ construction contract, or can be included as an addendum. For many owners who do not build on a regular basis, it may be most beneficial to include the BIM requirements into the existing contract in an effort to simplify the documentation. For owners who build on a frequent basis using standard contracts, it may be more beneficial that the Contract Requirements be added as an addendum for the following reasons:
- BIM is constantly evolving