Life Cycle Costing for Facilities

Life Cycle Costing for Facilities

Alphonse J. Dell′Isola, PE, CVS

and Dr. Stephen Kirk, FAIA, CVS

Essential Guidance for Optimizing the Cost of Facilities Ownership

Owners and facility designers are frustrated with traditional cost–cutting approaches that yield the cheapest product, but end up sacrificing quality. Life Cycle Costing (LCC), properly done, enables them to achieve both: higher quality (incorporating innovative design) and costs within overall budget constraints.

The authors, widely recognized leaders in these techniques, show how LCC can work for a broad variety of projects from several types of buildings, to roads and bridges, HVAC and electrical upgrades, and materials/equipment procurement. 16 Case Studies show how to apply LCC to particular facility types and building components, in new construction and remodeling.

Case Studies Include:

Health care and nursing facilities

College campus and high school

Office building, courthouse, and bank

GSA equipment procurement

Chemical plant, museum renovation

Regional highway system

Exterior walls, elevators, lighting, HVAC. . . and other components.

Life Cycle Costs

Maintenance and replacement costs for facility elements from foundation and structure to walls and floors, plumbing, HVAC and electrical, and landscaping. An Excel®–based LCC spreadsheet program (downloadable from the book′s Web site) simplifies the process of applying LCC.

LCC is equally effective in new construction, remodeling, renovations and restorations, and materials/equipment procurement. LCC can make desirable and needed projects, like Green Building measures and Security Systems, feasible with design innovations that work within budget.

Energy savings and other benefits, such as increased space availability, can bring returns of 50% and more over traditional alternatives.

The book gives owners, facility managers, and developers a working understanding of LCC to optimize their decision–making and enhance long–term profits . . . and helps architects and engineers develop LCC skills to meet owner requirements.

About the Author.

Introduction.

Chapter 1: Today s Landscape Industry.

Breaking Down a Landscape Project.

The Landscape Professional & Project Management.

Building Your Business.

Planning the Landscape Proposal.

Conclusion.

Chapter 2: Materials & Methods.

Site Work.

Hard Construction, or Hardscape .

Horticultural Materials.

Irrigation Systems (Sprinkler & Drip).

Lighting.

Other Green Building Approaches to Landscaping.

Specialties.

Historic Landscape Preservation.

Seasonal Specialties.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements.

Conclusion.

Chapter 3: Equipment.

Equipment Rental & Subcontracting.

The Economics of Purchase & Leasing.

Life Cycle Costs & Productivity.

Tracking Costs.

Equipment Life Expectancy.

Conclusion.

Chapter 4: Beginning the Estimate.

To Bid or Not to Bid.

Prior Knowledge & Estimating.

Before Starting the Estimate.

The Landscape Project Analysis Form.

Types of Estimates.

Conclusion.

Chapter 5: How to Take Off Quantities.

Takeoff Tips.

Guidelines for the Takeoff.

The Step–by–Step Takeoff Process.

Conclusion.

Chapter 6: Pricing the Estimate.

Grouping the Items.

Adding Costs.

Types of Costs.

Conclusion.

Chapter 7: Sample Takeoff & Estimate.

Sample Project.

Area Measurements & Plan Reading.

Site Work.

Hard Construction.

Plant & Landscape Materials.

Estimate Summary.

Conclusion.

Chapter 8: Bidding.

What Makes a Winning Bid?

Bidding Strategies.

The Bid Package.

Types of Bids.

Putting Together a Bid.

Conclusion.

Chapter 9: Job Planning & Scheduling.

The Planning Team.

The Job Schedule.

Plan, Coordinate, Target.

Time Schedules.

Sequence of Installation & Duration Time.

Project Budget.

Schedule Review.

Work Completion.

Conclusion.

Chapter 10: Estimating Maintenance Costs.

Business Growth & Opportunity.

Division of Maintenance Tasks.

Landscape Materials.

Vehicles & Equipment.

Work Crews or Teams.

Site Inspection.

Scheduling & Travel Time.

Facilities Personnel as Landscape Managers.

The Landscape Contractor s Ongoing Performance Analysis.

Developing a Maintenance Proposal: An Example.

Conclusion.

Chapter 11: How to Use Means Cost Data.

Using Cost Data.

Format of Data.

Unit Price Section.

Assemblies Cost Tables.

Reference Numbers.

City Cost Indexes.

Historical Cost Indexes.

Conclusion.

Appendix.

Appendix A Estimating.

Appendix B Site Work.

Appendix C Hard Construction.

Appendix D Planting & Weather.

Appendix E Resources.

Appendix F Abbreviations.

Index.

About the Authors

Alphonse J. Dell′Isola, PE, HRICS, FSAVE, CVS–Life, is an award–winning consultant in LCC, value engineering (VE), project management, and project cost control. He has been a Construction Management consultant, Director of Value Management for a large A/E firm, and Director of VE for both the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and the US Army Corps of Engineers. He has conducted over 1,300 studies valued at over $200 billion, resulting in implemented savings of some $15 billion. Mr. Dell′Isola has authored several books and conducted workshops, seminars and briefings on LCC, VE, CM and project cost control for over 15,000 professionals.

Dr. Stephen J. Kirk, FAIA, FSAVE, LEEDTM AP, CVS, is President of Kirk Associates, LLC, an international consulting firm specializing in facility economics, project planning and value management. He is a LEED–certified, registered architect and certified value specialist. A Senior Fulbright Scholar in architecture, Dr. Kirk was recognized as an AIA Fellow for his work in LCC and value management. He was honored by SAVE International for his new techniques and served as past president of that organization. Dr. Kirk has led over 250 studies of offices, research facilities, universities, hospitals, and manufacturing facilities, as well as federal, state, and city government projects and environmental and transportation projects.