Our Services

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We Work With Local and Owner Preferred Contractors

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Establish Real Construction Costs Early In the Project

We Will Work Hard On Every Phase Of Your Project.

The role of the cooperative purchasing (coop) team is to blend the Owner’s program needs while facilitating and procuring the construction process. Thousands of decisions need to be made during the course of a construction project from simple meeting schedule coordination to decisions about unforeseen conditions, to changes and document interpretation that can impact activation dates, budgets, and create claim opportunities. Essential believes that a strong team coupled with timely, accurate, and reliable information is the key to a successful construction project. Our experienced staff demands high quality performance through strong management.

Construction services generally include:

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Pre-construction planning

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Estimating

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Scheduling

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Procurement planning

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Budget control

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Coordination of trades

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Quality control

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Close-out

Pre-referendum

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Develop preliminary project milestone schedules.

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Identify key project activities including design, procuring, legal, and financial. Milestone dates will be established and responsibilities of team members identified.

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Assist architect/engineer to complete facility evaluations during planning stage.

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Assist architect/engineer and the District with educational programming.

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Assist/facilitate decision making on grade level configurations and space allocation.

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Assist the District in defining parameters of project to assure that programming needs and budgetary constraints are aligned.

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Provide conceptual and schematic estimates as a tool to guide project decisions.

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Provide budgets for schematic designs that include incidental costs.

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Advise on planning infrastructure and hardware purchases.

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Review alternate materials to reduce lifetime costs while maintaining or enhancing quality of the project.

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Generate cash flow projections to assist financial consultant/District in maximizing investments.

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Assist the team in securing the most state aid available for all components of the project.

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Assist the District with the development of an action plan and strategies for a successful referendum and attend public meetings as required.

Schematic Phase

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Develop cash flow analysis

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Track and review permits/approvals

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Develop design production schedule

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Establish reporting and accounting procedures

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Review schematic plans

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Continue to identify long lead purchase items

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Develop phased construction schedule

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Develop schematic estimate

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Develop procurement plan

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Establish realistic allowances/contingencies

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Analyze estimate (program vs. budget vs. estimate)

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Review and revise cash flow analysis

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Update master schedule

Design Development Phase

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Refine program

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Evaluate mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems

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Evaluate architectural components

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Evaluate structural components

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Evaluate site requirements

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Conduct value engineering analysis

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Perform life cycle studies

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Establish general conditions

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Evaluate labor/supplier market

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Prepare sub-contracting recruiting lists

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Develop logistics plan

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Review safety requirements

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Develop community relations plan

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Track and review permits/approvals

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Schedule purchase of long lead items

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Review design development documents

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Prepare design development estimate

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Analyze estimate (program vs. budget vs. estimate)

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Review and revise cash flow analysis

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Update master schedule

Construction Document Phase

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Update design schedule

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Review plans for constructability

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Bid and purchase long lead items

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Establish bid alternates

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Provide construction schedule for inclusion in construction documents

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Finalize front end documents

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Finalize bid recruiting lists

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Finalize logistics plan

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Finalize review of safety requirements

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Finalize community relations plan

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Track and review permits/approvals

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Evaluate specific needs for independent testing

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Determine bid divisions of work

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Review construction documents

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Prepare construction documents estimate

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Analyze estimate (program vs. budget vs. estimate)

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Review and revise cash flow analysis

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Establish owner occupancy schedule

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Update master schedule

Bidding and Award Phase

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Track and review permits/approvals

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Procure prices for outside testing

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Assist in preparation and review of construction contracts

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Conduct pre-award conferences

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Award trade contracts

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Analyze budget

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Review and revise cash flow analysis

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Create/update master schedule

Construction Phase

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Track and review permits/approvals

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Coordinate independent testing

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Coordinate mobilization

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Receive, verify, and monitor all contractors' insurance and bond compliance

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Conduct project coordination meetings and generate minutes of same

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Conduct project progress meetings and generate minutes of same

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Establish positive contractor relationships on jobsite

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Evaluate work progress

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Monitor adherence to construction documents

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Assure timely coordination of on-site issues with contractors and A/E through management of the RFI (request for information), COR (change order request) and CO (change order) processes

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Maintain good relationship with neighbors of the project

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Monitor capital budget and provide update to the owner

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Review contractor’s safety protocols for the entire project, including safety for students and workers

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Review prime contractors’ construction schedules. With prime contractors’ input, develop a comprehensive project schedule and periodically update same

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Review all prime contractors' payment applications and make recommendation to the architect for certification

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Assist the Owner in procuring all "not in contract" or "by Owner" materials and equipment to be incorporated into the project and coordinate delivery and installation with work of prime contractors

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Coordinate owner occupancy schedule

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Assist architect in review, evaluation, and documentation of claims

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Coordinate as-builts

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Assist in project close-out and documentation

Post Construction

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Assist with Owner move-in requirements

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Provide start-up assistance

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