Management Consulting

BCS has worked with the client’s senior management teams to improve business processes, determine appropriate staffing levels and organization charts, and develop training programs for staff. The following examples are illustrative of the types of management consulting services we provide:

Project Examples

Government of the District of Columbia

Business Process Reengineering Study of the Capital Construction Services Administration.

During the period July through October 2000, BCS was part of a team that conducted a Business Process Reengineering (BPR) Study of the Capital Construction Services Administration (CCSA) for the Office of Property Management (OPM) of the Government of the District of Columbia.

Initial efforts in the study focused on an assessment of the CCSA mission, organization, and the processes and procedures being followed in carrying out CCSA’s responsibilities. These efforts involved staff interviews, assessment of existing directives and instructions, budget document reviews, job site visits, and discussions with customer agencies.

Department of Homeland Security

Project Management Process Development for the Chief Administrative Office — Headquarters Group

BCS integrated into the DHS Chief Administrative Office (CAO), Project Management support staff to act as DHS liaison between the DHS tenant and General Services Administration (GSA) on multiple, simultaneous renovation projects ranging in size from 10,000 SF to 110,000 SF. DHS, a relatively young organization, was established in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. BCS personnel assisted the DHS Headquarters Facilities Group (HFG) to define their standard business practices, create a project/facilities management organization that is appropriately staffed, and develop relationships among the various project stakeholders. BCS assisted DHS leaders to conduct an off-site with the client’s staff to develop future workload and requirements and then develop an appropriate level of staffing and organization chart. The proposed staffing level was implemented. BCS staff developed Project Management Plans and other Management Directives and Standard Operating Procedures to publish a standard way of doing business.

Department of Homeland Security

Budget Tracking Process Development for the Chief Administrative Office — Headquarters Group

BCS recommended and developed new processes and systems to manage over 30 funding documents in excess of $130 million, and reconciled contract amounts, invoices and remaining balances between DHS Headquarters and GSA for the previous five years. BCS staff prepare documents for Congressional audits with adequate detail to justify expenditures.

Transportation Security Administration

Baseline Schedule Development, Training, and Support to the Office of Real Estate Services

BCS integrated into the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Office of Real Estate Service (RES) Headquarters Project Management support staff in Arlington, VA to act as TSA liaison between the TSA tenant, GSA, local governments, airport authorities, airlines, and commercial landlords on multiple nationwide build-out and renovation projects. In this capacity, BCS also provided extensive support in developing project management processes in the area of scheduling, including developing and implementing a Microsoft Project Schedule Training Program for TSA RES staff.

BCS led several training sessions for the Federal government staff. Training focused on creating initial schedules using the TSA baseline schedule, updating the schedules and tracking progress, and generating various types of reports.

BCS conducted a series of training sessions to review the information contained in the Training Manuals and later to review basic skills; address issues, problems or concerns from the class participants; and present methods to manage multiple project schedules concurrently. These training sessions served as a hands-on opportunity for the TSA staff to perform all of the tasks shown in the training manuals. BCS staff also provided on-site support services related to the development of project schedules, schedule review, and general problem solving and guidance.

Facilities Consulting

BCS offers facilities consulting and building management services to tenants of single buildings, or multiple facilities in a campus-type environment. The following example illustrates the types of facilities management services we provide:

Project Examples

Department of Homeland Security

Computer Aided Facilities Management for the Chief Administrative Office — Headquarters Group

BCS has tailored a commercial off-the-shelf CAFM (Computer Aided Facilities Management) software system to the Department of Homeland Security’s needs, and trained DHS facility managers and real estate portfolio managers to utilize the system. Once implemented, the new CAFM system will result in a much more efficient and accurate database of space inventory, space utilization, vacancy rates, work order tracking, information storage and many other useful facilities information.

Cost Estimating

BCS provides cost estimating and scheduling support during the project planning and development process, and post-construction claims support. Our experienced staff of construction professionals includes certified cost engineers and proficient schedulers. These services are outlined below:

CPM Scheduling

Develop master project schedules utilizing critical-path-method (CPM)
Highlight critical activities for successful and timely project completion
Assist the client in scheduling their activities and the activities of their specialty contractors/vendors
Update the master project schedule at regular intervals
Monitor/review schedules for feasibility

Construction Cost Estimating

Prepare construction cost estimates for all phases of design
Analyze construction bids and negotiate construction contracts
Analyze and negotiate construction change order proposals

Claims Analysis and Negotiation

Prepare independent analysis of baseline schedules and budgets to actual schedule and budget to determine case of scope and/or cost creep
Provide negotiation support as needed

Project Examples

Defense Advanced Research Projects Association (DARPA)

BCS provided budget analysis and cost estimating support to DARPA in support of their 302,000 sf consolidation project.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

BCS provided scheduling support to the TSA Real Estate Services office, including developing and implementing a Microsoft Project Schedule Training Program for the Federal staff. BCS led several training sessions for the Federal government staff. Training focused on creating initial schedules using the TSA baseline schedule, updating the schedules and tracking progress, and generating various types of reports. BCS staff also provided on-site support services related to the development of project schedules and schedule review.

Construction Project Management

BCS offers a wide range of services for clients who are building new facilities or renovating existing ones. Our experienced staff of construction professionals provides superior start-to-finish services tailored to our clients’ specific requirements. BCS is committed to completing every project on time, within budget, and to the highest degree of quality possible. Our primary construction project management services include CPM scheduling, construction cost estimating, quality control and general oversight. These services include:

Project Management

Serve as the client’s representative during all phases of a project
Lead project meetings
Monitor project budget and flag potential shortfalls before they occur
Monitor project schedule and flag potential delays before they occur
Negotiate construction contract and contract change orders
Maintain project documentation of record for the official files

For details on over 25 projects, click here.

CPM Scheduling

Develop master project schedules utilizing critical-path-method (CPM)
Highlight critical activities for successful and timely project completion
Assist the client in scheduling their activities and the activities of their specialty contractors/vendors
Update the master project schedule at regular intervals
Monitor/review schedules for feasibility

Construction Cost Estimating

Prepare construction cost estimates for all phases of design
Analyze construction bids and negotiate construction contracts
Analyze and negotiate construction change order proposals

Quality Control

Review construction documents for constructability highlighting potential construction coordination issues
Perform construction inspections to assure compliance with contract documents
Monitor the contractor’s testing and quality control procedures

Claims Analysis and Negotiation

Prepare independent analysis of baseline schedules and budgets to actual schedule and budget to determine case of scope and/or cost creep
Provide negotiation support as needed

Specialty Services

Facility Condition Assessments
Design and Constructability Reviews
Interior Design and Space Planning
Relocation Management
Furniture Coordination and Design

Building Evaluations

BCS’s engineers and architects are well versed in all aspects of construction methods and materials. We provide building evaluations and detailed facility inspections for owners and purchasers of buildings and supporting infrastructure. Deliverables typically include an inspection report summarizing the condition and estimated remaining life of each major building component and system, and repair list for each deficiency. Cost estimates for repairs and future replacements are typically included.

Transition Defects Studies/Reserve Studies

BCS, Inc. is a subcontractor to Miller Dodson Associates to conduct reserve studies and transition defects studies for various home owner and condominium associations throughout VA, MD, DC, NC, SC, FL, and GA. BCS personnel have performed hundreds of studies over the past 10 years. A description of the services provided is as follows:

Transition Defects Studies identify defects and potential defects in the common elements of the community that should be addressed during transition from Developer to Association control.

Items that are classified as “defects” have safety or code compliance issues; were constructed below industry standards; restrict the normal use of all or part of the structure; or requires repair, renovation or replacement. BCS Engineers thoroughly review the drawings, inspect the buildings and site improvements, and annotate differences in installed vs. specified products, and deficiencies in the workmanship or material installed.

Reserve Studies (BCS performs Reserve Studies as a subcontractor through Miller Dodson Associates) address the required funding for capital replacement expenditures, and are conducted using the following methodology:

Meet with the property management company and on-site facilities management personnel to discuss the current operations and financial situation. Collect available information such as capital improvements and major repairs/replacements, preventive maintenance procedures, special engineering reports, and contact information.
Contact maintenance companies for major equipment and conveyance systems and discuss the history of repairs and replacements for the equipment and systems.
Conduct on-site surveys to assess the condition of all components and systems.
Prepare a detailed narrative report describing the condition of all components, and use a software system to calculate financial models based on information collected and inputted by the Analyst.
If the optional Repair List is desired, inspect all components and systems for deficiencies and recommend repair or replacement as required, including estimated cost.

The Reserve Study deliverable includes the following elements:

Report Summary

The Report contains a summary of the financial data calculated by the Replacement Reserve Analysis, a general description of the community, a summary of the conditions observed during the site evaluation, and information about the Replacement Reserve Inventory. Photographs of major components and noted deficiencies are incorporated into the report.

Replacement Reserve Analysis

The Analysis is a tabular and graphical presentation of the recommended Reserve Funding, calculated by standard funding methodologies. The Analysis establishes an annual contribution to reserves that is determined based on the age, condition, and replacement cost of the individual components. The Report includes a calendar visual showing forecasted replacements over the life of the facility.

Replacement Reserve Inventory

The Inventory lists the common components of the community evaluated by the Analyst and includes estimated replacement costs, normal economic life, and the remaining economic life for each component evaluated.