Choosing the Right Contractor

So you want to build your Dream Home. You and your spouse have talked about this home for years, and the time is finally right to move forward on this most exciting project. The home will have everything you've ever dreamed of, it is located on that picture perfect property, it will incorporate the many aspects of energy & water efficiency, as well as sustainable / green implementations throughout. You have gone as far as to register the project under the USGBC's LEED for Home rating system to insure your project incoporates all that you inspire it to have, as well as have the assistance of Architect, LEED Provider, and Green Rater at your disposal, but who is going to build it? Who, in this new Green Building industry has the capacity / knowledge to put the time, quality, and dedication forward to insure the home you move into on day 1 is indeed your Dream Home... and not Tom Hanks' money pit?

Before you run down the street to talk to your best friend's contractor buddy, we would suggest a more professional track. We all have friends of friends who know someone in the construction industry, or we all have heard this and that about 'Such & Such Construction', but how do you decide between fact and fiction and select a contractor worthy of your dream? Playing no favorites, and insuring all contracting firms have a realistic shot at bidding for your project, we would recommend you put forth an RFQ.

With the assistance of Briggs Architecture & Design, we sat down with Don and created a 'Request for Qualification' that was sent out to a list of eleven potential General Contractor / Construction Manager candidates. Through a series of project specific questions, it is our desire to review first hand how these candidates would handle our individual Dream Home build. Upon receipt of the RFQ packets from the candidates, we will sit down with Don and formulate a point system that ranks what questions we feel tip the scales one way or another for that individual candidate, and ultimately propels them to the 'Short List' for follow-up interviews.

The RFQ letter went out to our list of potential candidates on the 24th, and for your review, we have an example of the letter as follows...

April 23, 2008

Mr. John Smith
Smith Construction
Anytown, USA 12345

Re: Request for Qualification
Southwell Residential Project
Ravalli County, Darby, MT

Dear John,

Your firm is invited to submit a Qualification Statement in response to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Construction Manager and/or General Contracting Services. The Qualification Statement is due May 19th at 5pm MST, we require two (2) copies of your Qualification Statement and two copies of the notary page delivered to our office, Briggs Architecture & Design. A partial set of preliminary drawings are attached for your review.

Project Introduction

Statement of Work:
The Project is a residential build of approximately 12,000 square feet focusing on the highest level of energy efficiency while incorporating a gamut of Green / Sustainable Building practices. The home will include various facets such as gourmet kitchen, main gathering room, library, separate master suite, additional five dedicated bedrooms, exercise room, theatre room, wine cellar, third floor observation room, and large accommodating mechanical rooms. The structure itself is being research for insulated concrete forms (basement), Cultured Log System (main body), and structural insulated panels (roof). The Project will be moving forward under the auspice of the USGBC’s LEED for Home Rating System with full anticipation to earn high ranks towards eventual certification.

Owner’s Representative (Qualification Statement sent to this address):
Briggs Architecture & Design
Attn: Don Briggs
120 S. 5th Street
Suite 101
Hamilton, MT 59840
Ph. 406-375-1111
don@briggsarch.com

Location:
Project is located in Darby, MT in the southern part of Ravalli County. At the intersection of Bunkhouse Road & Highway 93, head due west two miles to end of the road.

Contract Method:
To be discussed and determined at a later date.

Schedule:

Activity - Date
Issue RFQ - April 23,2008
Commence Charette / Design Meeting - April 30, 2008
Qualification Statement Due - May 19, 2008
Announce G.C. Short List - May 26, 2008
Follow-up Interview with Short List - May 27- June 5, 2008
Announce Selected G.C. - June 11, 2008
Start Construction - Fall 2008
Complete Construction - Fall 2010

Qualification Statement Format
Tab your Qualification Statement as outlined below:

1. General Information: At a minimum include the following:
(All requested information applies to the last 5 years).

Legal name, physical mailing address, and other contact information
· Describe your business organization (Corporation, sole-proprietorship, partnership, etc.);
How long has this firm been in business, and list all the names of owners, partners, officers,
etc.
· Identify who will lead the project (hold the prime contract with the Owner).
· Include a description of the firm’s services (identify in-house/self performed capabilities).
· Provide the average number of employees including office and field.
· Outline the average volume (separate the major categories into residential and
commercial) including any volume of work outside Ravalli County, Montana.
· Identify any close sub-contractor relationships that you have worked with on an ongoing
basis, outlining their discipline / trade.

2. Similar Experience: Describe a minimum of three (3) similar projects completed within the last 5 years. Include current names and contact information for the Owner per project. Identify square footage, original estimated amount, final contract amount and reasons for any differences. Also include the original scheduled start and finish date and the actual start and finish date. Describe reasons for any differences.

3. Project Team: Provide a general construction / construction management organizational chart, inclusive of GC/CM, foremen’s, laborers, subs, etc. Identify the GC, Superintendent and / or CM and what that person’s involvement is during construction (As a minimum include resumes of these key personnel).

4). Team Experience: Please identify if you or your firm have worked with design professionals in previous projects (ie. architects, engineers, consultants, etc.). Provide names and contact information for any design professionals you have worked with in the previous five years.

5. Experience in Ravalli County: Describe your experience working in Ravalli County.

6. Approach to MEP: Describe your approach to Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing procurement. Do you use Subcontractors for MEP or are you accustomed to working under independent MEP consultants in using their designs for bidding purposes?

7. Unique Qualifications: Provide detailed information regarding services as well as your approach to construction and management that differentiate you from your competition. Identify your firm’s individual strengths and possible short falls for executing a project of this scope, while also touching on your approach to cost estimating and project scheduling.

8. Bonding/Insurance Coverage: Provide a letter from your bonding company stating your ability to provide a 100% performance and 100% payment bond if required. Also include a sample insurance certificate stating available insurance coverage with the name and contact information of your insurance broker.

9. Claim / Suits: In the past 5 years, have you, your organization, or any individual from your organization been involved as either a plaintiff or defendant in any judgments, claims, arbitration proceedings, or suits pending or outstanding, involving construction contracts, or the work performed? If the answer is ‘yes’ to all or part of the above questions please describe.

10. References: Provide three trade references, your bank reference and their contact information.

We look forward to your participation in the Southwell Residential Project and thank you in advance for the time and effort spent preparing your response. Please contact me directly with any questions, clarifications, or concerns at (406)375-1111.

Respectfully,


Upon receipt of the RFQ on the 19th of May, we will formulate a Short List and secure follow-up interviews of each. In the meantime, we start our Charrette Meeting #1 on April 30th, which will break the ice on this project. In the coming week, I will post meeting agenda, Charrette meeting recap, and projected LEED H rating.

Until then, wishing you all an Abundant Tomorrow!

Tim

Please Meet Ghost Fighters

GHOST FIGHTERS, INC

“HOME TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS”

3972 Highway 93N
Stevensville, MT 59870
406-777-5559- office phone
406-777-5550- office fax
406-239-8648- Rick’s cell
rick@ghostfighters.com
www.ghostfighters.com

Ghost Fighters, Inc. was established 32 years ago in 1976. We are a home technology solutions business that first offered a service to improve terrestrial television reception in Western Montana, by eliminating snowy and ghosty pictures thru proper positioning and signal amplification. In 1982, we designed and developed a C-Band satellite dish that we offered world wide. This “dish” was unique in that it could be built from locally available materials and do- it- yourselfers could purchase plans or kits. Our “dish design” was published in the August, 1983 publication of Mechanix Illustrated along with our “Consumer Guide to Satellite TV”. Our P-611 satellite dish was the entire cover of the magazine, and it was there largest selling issue of all time.
By 1990, home electronics were on the rise and we began offering satellite TV as well as audio and video throughout the house. We progressed in our product lines and abilities and began including home automation and control by the late 90s. Ghost Fighters was the first Crestron (home automation) and Lutron (lighting control) dealer in Montana (1998), and made the cover of CE Pro for the Craig Barrett Project at Triple Creek Ranch. We not only control audio and video, but also lighting, automated shades, motorized skylights, HVAC, security systems, cameras, sprinkler systems, etc. The essence of our work is to make the client’s interface with there home’s operating systems simple and reliable. Properly designed and installed control systems also help reduce energy consumption. Our staff has over 50 years combined experience in system integration.

The Ghost Fighters team members are:
Pam Brigham- Office Manager
Brian Brigham- Senior Technician & Project Manager
Matt Knutson- Programmer & Installer
Rick Trauth- Design, Sales, and Management

Please Meet Solar Plexus

Solar Plexus, LLC “Your Natural Solution for Power” www.solarplexus1.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Solar Plexus, LLC
406-721-1130
1605 Stephens Suite B, Missoula MT 59801 April 1, 2008

Solar Plexus Overview

Solar Plexus was started in 1994 by Lee Tavenner, and Mary Hamilton. Solar Plexus
mission is to design, install and maintain renewable energy systems that work. Lee and
Mary located their store in a retail space in Missoula, Montana, and did on-site
installation of solar and hydroelectric projects. At that time most solar projects were
stand-alone systems, or water pumping.

Earlier, Lee Tavenner had developed his own hydroelectric project between Drummond
and Butte, Montana. Lee had been active in opposing and then influencing siting of a
high-power transmission line from the Colstrip coal plants to the coast, and as a result of
that involvement sought to develop local renewable resources in Montana. His 500KW
Little Gold project was the result. This run–of-the-river project has been on-line since
1988, delivering clean renewable energy into the grid.

In 2000 Rip Hamilton joined the firm. Both Rip and Lee are now PV certified by the
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). In 2004 Solar
Plexus purchased a building in Missoula. In 2005 we installed our own grid-intertie solar
system on the store, an 11-panel system that offsets about half of the store’s energy use.
Since the company’s inception in 1994, Solar Plexus has installed numerous stand-alone
and grid-tie solar systems in Montana and surrounding states. In addition to standard
solar panels, Solar Plexus has also specialized in Atlantis Sunslates, and has completed
solar shingle installations on several houses in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.
Solar Plexus also does solar hot water, and has completed several multiple-panel
commercial projects in western Montana, as well as some standard domestic hot water
systems.

Over the years, Solar Plexus has installed numerous hydro projects, ranging from 50KW
down to 200 watts. In 2006, we installed 90 solar panels and 8 hot water collectors on a low-income housing project in Missoula at Orchard Gardens, the largest solar installation in Montana to date. This was our second project with WORD, as WORD had also sponsored an 88 panel
grid-tie solar project at their Gold Dust apartments two years earlier.

We are pleased with the increased interest in solar that has developed in the last year or
so, and we look forward to solar becoming fully integrated into building design and
function.

Please Meet Briggs Architecture & Design

Briggs Architecture & Design creates homes, lodges and resort projects that are as individual and diverse as its clientele. Often, the firm is challenged to design unique details and accessories to complement existing architecture, bringing the spaces to life and defining the character of the home. Led by principal Donald G. Briggs, AIA. Briggs Architecure & Design believes that a successful project begins with the art of listening. This ensures that the home is a true reflection of the owner, not the architect. Briggs often tells his clients that he intends to design their home the way they would if they were architects themselves. The firm is committed to harmonizing a building with its natural environment. This ethic is motivated by a deep respect for nature and a desire to create homes with sustainable style. These homes are designed to make efficient and elegant use of indigenous resources and built with healthy materials to create an environment that nurtures the body, as well as the spirit. These timeless designs continue to bring comfort, security and serenity to their inhabitants as the years unfold. For more information on Briggs Architecture & Design, visit www.briggsarch.com or clink on the link under Project Team.

Charette Meeting planned for April 30th. Stay tuned.

Tim

Charette Meeting Preview

As I type, Don Briggs is sending forth a project introductory packet to all members of our recently formed Project Team (see last entry) so that they are brought up to date on past months' correspondence between Don and Sarah & me. Included in the packet are the most recent CAD drawings depicting the initial design of the home from basement up, including front and back elevations, as well as an intriductory letter and LEED for Home overview put forth by Sarah and me. For review, I am including the two articles we included plus an elevation of the concept home.



Our introductory letter was an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves to the team members, and get them comfortable with what we were looking to incoporate into the home both inside and out. Please find this letter as follows:



April 3rd, 2008

To: Project Team Members
Fm: Tim & Sarah Southwell
Re: Bunkhouse Project Overview

Over the past ten years, we have designed, redesigned, and designed again our Dream Home. We are pleased to say we feel confident in the direction this project is headed knowing we will reside in a wonderful home in the near future. This confidence is mainly due to the time we have spent refining what we see going into our Dream Home, the professional relationship we have built with Don Briggs, and the recent relationships we have made with each of you. It is only with proper planning, input from us, and working with industry professionals that we can propel this project to the level of expectation we have. In an effort to better acquaint you to our final desired product, we are taking a few minutes to briefly go over a little about us and what we look to in our future home.

We always keep a conscious eye on living a healthy, clean life. Organic food, clean water, exercise, and fresh air are aspects of our day to day we strive for. So much so that until recently we both owned / operated businesses focusing on the same; Sarah, a natural mind, body, and soul nurturing store; and Tim, an exercise facility. It is with this commitment to such a lifestyle, that we want to incorporate an equivalent of the same into our Dream Home. The following is a list of design aspects we are interested in incorporating into the home. This is not the be all, end all, but rather just a starting place so that it can be discussed, molded, and ultimately implemented by project’s end.

- Minimal disturbance to surrounding land. Working within the confines of the disturbed footprint.
- Iron-clad envelop / skin, with ultimate energy efficiency in mind. Investigate ICF’s for basement, SIP’s roof, and Cultured Log in between for high r-value.
- Climate customized window detail for various orientations.
- Non-toxic materials throughout, inclusive of furnishings upon move-in
- Locally acquired materials
- Ultimate water efficiency indoors and out
- Xeriscape landscaping (onsite forested plants, grasses, and trees) with minimal select beds / plantings.
- Greywater re-use system for toilets, irrigating, other?
- Rainwater catchment system for irrigation or other?
- Geothermal Heating / Cooling system with Duct / Radiant flooring combination
- Whole house air-exchanger.
- Select in-ground heating for patios, decks, walks, drive.
- Photovoltaic / Wind Power Station for grid-tied battery back-up system, tied into specific electrical needs in the event of grid failure.
- Solar Thermal applications
- Potential for fossil fuel independence in time
- Permeable walks and driveway for water collection / erosion control
- Smart controls / sensors for lighting, venting, other.
- Smart material estimating with minimal construction waste and recycling plan
- Perimeter forest fire sprinkler system used only in case need.
- Seasonal pond
- Conceptual plan for future work shop / shed and guest house build-out

We understand that the building industry and that of the Green movement are changing everyday. We are hopeful that the project team can bring forth new and exciting ideas above and beyond what we have listed here. Case studies of new buildings (both residential and comm’l) coming on line each week might be a place to start.

It looks to be an exciting and educational ride.

Sincerely,
Tim & Sarah Southwell



Note: for more detail on the home, please see the 'program' in the October entry last year.



We also took the time to review the LEED for Home criteria set forth by the USGBC and mark out in letter form what aspects / categories we wished to pursue / investigate for our future LEED for Home residential build. The following is a copy of this letter:



April 3rd, 2008

To: Project Team Members
Re: Bunkhouse Project
LEED for Home Criteria Review

The following booklet is the latest edition of the USGBC’s LEED for Home rating system. It is this system that we will use as a tool to direct our residential project in the direction of green building and sustainable design. I stress the word ‘tool’, as our main focus is not to simply regurgitate what is written in the following pages, but rather meld our vision of our Dream Home with the principals set forth in the following criteria.

We have taken the time to review the booklet in its entirety, while making note of particular criteria we feel confident in pursuing / discussing for implementation into our build (see below). We understand that there will be both give and take in what we are to implement from the standpoint of the LEED for Home criteria, knowing the vision of our Dream Home will not be sacrificed.

Prior to the gathering of our first charette meeting, we require each of you to read the booklet while referencing the below list of potential credits worth pursuing on the project. We will expect each of you to take special interest in the individual credits mentioned that might pertain to your individual industry knowledge and start to digest ideas for addressing such criteria at the time of the meeting.

Specific category and corresponding criteria looking to pursue on this project listed as follows:

Innovation & Design Process
ID1: Integrated Project Planning
ID2: Durability Management Process
ID3: Innovative or Regional Design

Location & Linkages
LL2: Site Selection
LL3: Preferred Locations (3.3)
LL6: Access to Open Space

Sustainable Sites
SS1: Site Stewardship
SS2: Landscaping
SS3: Local Heat Island Effects
SS4: Surface Water Management
SS5: Nontoxic Pest Control

Water Efficiency
WE1: Water Reuse
WE2: Irrigation System
WE3: Indoor Water Use

Energy & Atmosphere
EA1: Optimize Energy Performance
And/or
EA2: Insulation
EA3: Air Infiltration
EA4: Windows
EA5: Heating & Cooling Distribution System
EA6: Space Heating & Cooling Equipment
EA7: Water Heating
EA8: Lighting
EA9: Appliances
EA10: Renewable Energy
EA11: Residential Refrigerant Management
Materials & Resources
MR1: Material Efficient Framing
MR2: Environmentally Preferable Products
MR3: Waste Management
Indoor Environmental Quality
EQ1: Energy Star with Indoor Air Package
EQ2: Combustion Venting
EQ3: Moisture Control
EQ4: Outdoor Air Ventilation
EQ5: Local Exhaust
EQ6: Distribution of Space Heating and Cooling
EQ7: Air Filtering
EQ8: Contaminant Control
EQ9: Radon Protection
EQ10: Garage Pollution Protection
Awareness & Education
AE1: Education of the Homeowner

All project team members will look to Kristin Shewfelt, our contracted LEED Provider, for any updates / amendments in the LEED for Home criteria over the course of the project which may impact a particular category we are working towards.

Thank you for your attention to this LEED criteria overview. Any immediate comments can be directed to Don Briggs.

We will look forward to seeing / speaking with you all in the very near future.

Sincerely,
Tim & Sarah Southwell


To get a complete overview of the USGBC's LEED for Home criteria, please follow the link in the column on the right side of the screen. We have yet to set forth a level of desired LEED H rating for the build, but we are certainly going to entertain incorporating the highest level of sustainable / green design for a happy and healthy home.



For your visual delight, please take note of the following Southwest elevation looking at the back of the home. Design concepts are certainly open to modifications over the soon to commence Charette process (late April), but this still gets the point across about the magnitude of the project and the expertise we are counting on for a first class Dream Home build.

Be sure to check back regularly, as I will be putting forward Project Team introductions over the next two weeks, with a comprehensive follow-up to Charette Meeting #1 at the end fo April.

Until then, an Abundant Tomorrow to all.

Tim