How OA services can help ease collaborative delivery projects

The use of collaborative delivery methods (historically referred to as alternative project delivery) is on the rise, and because of this, owners are searching for ways to ease processes and reduce stressful oversight. These methods can help with cost certainty, schedule, and distribution of project risks among team members. However, projects involving collaborative delivery are often complex, so some owners may be hesitant to transition from traditional design-bid-build delivery. That’s where an owner’s advisor (OA) comes in.

In this IQ&A, Garver’s series of conversations with leading experts delivering value to communities across the country, Implementation Leader Kyle Kruger, PE, touches on Garver’s approach to OA services, how it can help an owner save costs, increase efficiency, and more.

What is an owner’s advisor?

An OA is a third-party firm responsible for providing support to the owner during design and construction. While an OA can be beneficial for standard delivery projects, they are particularly helpful during collaborative delivery projects, such as design-build. The role of maintaining communication lines is extremely important to collaborative delivery. These types of projects typically have multiple designers and contractors, often many of them on site all at once. The OA’s focus at those times is to make sure each party is kept up to date on project status and requirements and making sure project goals are maintained at each step.

What can an OA do to help increase cost efficiency and save client costs?

During deliverable reviews, they’re able to identify if there are design alternatives that could reduce costs and increase system efficiency without compromising a utility’s goals. For example, during Garver’s OA role on the Northwest Water Treatment Facility in Wichita, Kansas, we led a collaborative team to meet the client's budget by reducing scope over $100 million without compromising treatment capacity, water quality performance or redundancy needs.

How does an OA help during construction, particularly with collaborative delivery?

Collaborative delivery methods are typically used under strict time constraints, and the early selection of an OA can help flush out project details while maintaining project integrity for both the owner and staff. Cost effectiveness is an integral part of projects under a collaborative delivery method. The OA can help review deliverables and keep the project on course by identifying potential impacts on project goals and mitigating their effect.

To learn more about what Garver’s Water Team can do for you, visit our Water services page.