Writing Effective Technical Specifications

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Writing Effective Technical

Specificationsfor Public Construction

Projects Mike PurdyMichael E. Purdy Associates

(206) 295-1464mpurdy@mpurdy.com

www.mpurdy.com

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- Agenda

1. What Does Your State Law Require?2. Why Good Specifications Are Important3. Types of Specifications4. Sources of Specification Language5. Tips in Writing Specifications6. Interpretation of Specifications7. Warranties8. Bidder Responsibility Criteria

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What Does Your State Law Require?

Learn what your state law requires says that public agencies must comply with regarding specifications for your public works construction projects.

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Why Good Specifications Are Important

Why do we have competitive bidding? How do specifications affect bidding? How do specifications help control

costs? How do specifications ensure a quality

project? How specifications impact permit

issuance?

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Types of Specifications

Design Performance Standard Proprietary (Sole Source) Building Engineering Systems

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Sources of Specification Language

Standard Specifications Industry Sources Other Government Agencies Consultants (architects and engineers) Previous projects Custom written by public agency staff

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Tips in Writing Specifications

Disputes Clarity and Simplicity Say it Once Definitions Make the Contractor Responsible Avoid Submissions with Bid Means and Methods Level of Precision Verifying Performance Streamlined specs vs. full sentences Sentence Construction Words and Phrases to Avoid

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Interpretation of Specifications

Complementary components Interpret documents as a whole Order of Precedence Dealing with Ambiguities

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Warranties

Types of Warranties

Impact of length of warranties

Availability

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Bidder Responsibility Criteria

What is “Responsibility”?

Types of Bidder Responsibility Criteria:

Tips for writing Supplemental Bidder

Responsibility Criteria

Specification Qualifications

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Want More Information onWriting Effective Technical Specifications?

Duration: Normally a 4 hour class

Cost: Cost varies depending on location and travel time

Contact Us: Contact Michael E. Purdy Associates to discuss scheduling this training for your agency or company

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Michael E. Purdy Associates- Contact Us

Mike Purdy Principal

(206) 295-1464mpurdy@mpurdy.com

www.mpurdy.com

Mike Purdy’s Public Contracting Blog: http://PublicContracting.blogspot.com

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Michael E. Purdy Associates- About Us

Public Contracting Advice for Public Agencies & Businesses

Since 2005

Strategies– Developing and implementing strategies

Solutions – Solving problems and addressing challenges

Training– Providing tailored training

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Michael E. Purdy Associates: Mike Purdy has more than 29 years of experience as a manager in public contracting and procurement. He is the principal of Michael E. Purdy Associates (www.mpurdy.com), a consultant firm established in 2005 to help public agencies and businesses develop and implement effective contracting strategies, solve contracting problems, and learn more about contracting and procurement through tailored training. He maintains the popular Public Contracting Blog at http://PublicContracting.blogspot.com.

Experience: Mike is also the Contracts Manager for the University of Washington’s Capital Projects Office and is responsible for managing design and construction contracts for more than $1 billion worth of projects at the University. Before joining the UW in 2005, he spent five years at the Seattle Housing Authority where he served as Contracting and Procurement Manager, overseeing all of the contracting and purchasing (construction, design consultants, other consultants, goods, supplies, and services) for the largest residential landlord in the state. Prior to that he worked for the City of Seattle for more than 21 years, where he administered the City’s construction and consultant contracts as the City’s Contracting Manager.

Education: He has a bachelor’s degree in business and public administration and an MBA, both from the University of Puget Sound, and a master of divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.