Requests for New Construction
In preparation for the yearly Capital Outlay Request to be submitted to the Board of Regents, the Office of Facility Planning invites requests for new construction from all colleges, schools, and departments. The request includes a name and purpose for the new facility, an approximate size and the number of types of spaces desired. The deans and vice presidents will receive these requests from their units and arrange them in order of their priority of need. Facility Planning will then present a list of these requests to the President and to IRRAC for final determination of priority. The requests which are to be submitted to the Regents are put in final form by Facility Planning for the President's approval and submitted to the Board of Regents. Periodically, especially when site locations for a new building are being considered, Facility Planning will present proposed changes to the campus to the Campus Planning Committee for review.

Procedures for Planning a Project
Programming
Once a project has been authorized for planning, assistance is given to the using agency in preparing a written program of requirements for use by the administration, the funding agency and the architects. This document will contain a brief statement of concept, a list of the spaces required and the size needed for each space type, an explanation of how the spaces will relate to each other and to the building's function, the degree of flexibility required and future trends which might affect the need for expansion. This document will form a basis for preliminary estimation of cost and conceptual design of the project. Additional information concerning operation and maintenance will be obtained from Plant Operations and be included in the building program statement.

Coordination of Building Design
The actual planning of a project through the award of a construction contract is a primary responsibility of the Office of Facility Planning. The steps involved in this process, in chronological order, include the following:

Coordination of Building Design
The actual planning of a project through the award of a construction contract is a primary responsibility of the Office of Facility Planning. The steps involved in this process, in chronological order, include the following:

1. Selection of the Architect
   For all projects with an estimated construction cost in excess of $500,000, a selection process established by the Board of Regents is used to give qualified design professionals an equal opportunity to be considered for the design services required. This process includes a public notice soliciting design services from throughout the state of Georgia, a selection committee which will review all responses, selection of a maximum of eight finalists, interviews of each firm and establishment of a ranked listing in order of choice. The finalists are selected based on their experience and performance with projects of similar requirements to the specific project being planned. The top three firms listed will be recommended for submission to the Regents for approval. An architectural contract is then prepared and signed by the Board of Regents.
2. Selection of the Site
   From a number of available sites which have been determined in master and area planning phases the building committee, consisting of representative of the using agency, the Office of Facility Planning, Plant Operations Division, and others with specific interests in the project, will meet to select the preferred site. Departments in buildings adjacent to the site and administrators of facilities occupying the site such as existing buildings, parking lots or open spaces are to be advised of the possible placement of the new building and their comments are to be included in the committee's report. The consideration of need and cost of reallocation of existing facilities and/or programs which will be affected by new construction will be included in planning and selecting a site. The committee's recommendation will be submitted by the Director of Facility Planning to the Associate Vice President for Facilities and the President for approval. A location plan showing the boundaries of the approved project site is prepared by Facility Planning and presented to the architect.
3. Obtaining the topographical survey and subsurface investigation
   The architect arranges for this information and the Office of Facility Planning coordinates access to the site.
4. Obtaining complete information concerning utilities
   The architect will secure all information on available utilities to serve the project. While Plant Operations, City of Atlanta and private utilities companies are used as sources, the architect is solely responsible for securing this information and providing proper extension and connection of utilities to the building.
5. Preliminary Design
   The coordination of assistance and advice between the using department, Institute service departments and the architect during the preliminary design phase of the project is done by the Office of Facility Planning. Reviews, budget preparation and program changes are handled by the office. Information requested by the architect may be obtained either through Facility Planning or directly from the using department in meetings and correspondence during this design phase. The architect is responsible for obtaining all permits and approvals from State agencies. A preliminary list of loose equipment needs is made in conjunction with the using department. Facility Planning will coordinate preliminary document review with the using department, Plant Operations, and the dean of the school or college involved. After obtaining signatures of approval from the dean and Director of Plant Operations, the documents are approved by the President and transmitted to the Regents Office for final approval.
6. Contract Documents
   During the preparation of working drawings and specifications the Office of Facility Planning coordinates the many items of information, meetings and details needed to enable the architect and his engineers to complete the work to the Institute's satisfaction. Again, detailed reviews in the documents are made by all parties involved and final approvals and submissions are coordinated by Facility Planning. Specification sheets for loose equipment items are prepared by Facility Planning and the using department. The project is approved by the President, forwarded to the Board of Regents, and advertised for bids either by the Regents Office, by the Georgia State Finance and Investment Commission Office (GSFIC) or by the Plant Operations Division.
7. Bidding of a Project
   The bid date is set by the Regents Office, the architect handles the bidding process and Facility Planning coordinates any actions required of the Institute during the bidding period. In the event of an unacceptable bid, Facility Planning will assist the using department and the architect with an analysis of alternative means for bringing the project scope into line with the funds available. This action is done in conjunction with the Regents Office and, when all parties concur, a construction contract is awarded by the Regents Office, the GSFIC, or the Institute.
8. Supervision of Construction
   The architect supervises the construction as the Institute's consultant. Projects administered by the GSFIC do not come under the Institute's jurisdiction, but information needed from the Institute during construction is handled by Facility Planning. All other projects are administered by Facility Planning, including the following procedures:
   • Providing a Resident Engineer Inspector who will make daily visits to the job site, will keep a daily log and a weekly written report of the job progress, and will report any variance by the contractor from the contract documents to the architect.
   • Processing all payment requests from the contractor; including checking the figures, insuring all signatures are obtained, preparing the check request and forwarding the request to the Regents Office for approval.
   • Processing all change orders for approval.
   • Coordinating with the appropriate campus agencies the interruptions of utilities and other actions of the contractor which will affect operations, parking, traffic, safety and activity on adjacent Institute property.
9. Final Acceptance
   When the architect has determined that the project is completed, a final inspection is scheduled by the Regents or the GSFIC. Facility Planning notifies all Institute departments which have a direct interest in the operation and maintenance of the new facility, including:
   1. the using departments
   2. the appropriate Dean
   3. Plant Operations Division

The Associate Vice President for Facilities attends the final inspection, verifies the work has been completed, and signs all acceptance papers as the President's representative. All operations and maintenance manuals, keys and other materials to be turned over to the Institute are signed for by the Associate Vice President of Facilities and distributed to the proper campus agencies. Coordination of loose equipment placement is done by Facility Planning. Final payments and any other completion matters are administered by Facility Planning. Maintenance and operations of the new facility, including the register of complaint items, become the responsibilities of the Director of Plant Operations in conjunction with the using department, the Regents Office and the GSFIC.
See Section 9.0, Facility Planning/Plant Operations, Maintenance and Construction for New Building Construction and Acceptance.