Program Management

BKI was selected to be the program manager for the Jefferson County Sewer Capital Improvement Program. Developed in response to a consent decree, this $2.4 billion dollar construction program was designed to eliminate all overflows and bypasses in the county sewer system. 

The program included line and manhole rehabilitation, construction of replacement and transfer sewers, rehabilitation and construction of pump stations, tunnels up to 120 inches in diameter, and major upgrades to the county’s nine wastewater treatment plants. 

BKI was ultimately responsible to see that all construction projects were completed on time and within budget so that the stipulated penalties in the consent decree agreement were avoided. 

Specific tasks included administering an overall program cost tracking schedule that included cash flow projections for all active and future construction, engineering, and administrative projects; monitoring program progress for cost and schedule implementation using proven integrated software tools for budgeting, resource planning, and project controls based on detailed work breakdown structures; tracking unit price cost data along with other relevant information from other municipalities nationwide for items included in the county sewer rehabilitation specifications; developing an asset management plan for the sewer collection system; reviewing and revising the county’s technical specifications to assure that acceptable requirements were specified; administering the expansion policy continuously; providing a representative to the county’s product review committee that evaluated vendor products for inclusion in the approved list; preparing Capital Improvement Plans; and providing engineering services to manage the qualification-based selection process for consultants.

BKI was selected to provide program management services and construction management services to the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans for the repairs to 85 sewer lift stations damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

Ten separate design teams were assigned to prepare design documents under the review of BKI. Services included project management of the design teams, construction administration, inspection, contract documents, document control, and FEMA funding.

Construction management included pre-construction conferences for each construction contract, reviewing responses to shop drawing submittals and RFIs by the design teams, providing full-time resident inspectors to observe the construction, reviewing contractor's schedules, processing claims for change orders, and final project closeout of each construction contract under the program.

Document control included schedule management, cost tracking, and FEMA coordination. FEMA coordination included grant management as well as ensuring that all costs were eligible for FEMA reimbursement and that all designs and construction met the FEMA Project Worksheets requirements. BKI successfully reviewed all expenditures for reimbursement qualification. In addition, BKI and C&S provided the same services for the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP - FEMA 404) funds the S&WB received. The HMGP is administered by the State and funded by FEMA.

The total project funding is approximately $75 million, with $55 million under the Public Assistance Program and $20 million under the HMGP. Construction dollars expended per year reached as high as $20 million.

BKI was selected by the Jazzland Entertainment, Inc. as project / construction management consultant for the 140-acre theme park located in New Orleans East. 

The construction of the amusement park included raising the park’s structures and walkways three feet above the original grade of the land, building 38 rides and over 100 other structures, building a parking lot for over 5,000 cars, and creating retention ponds and a pumping station for storm drainage. Construction of the entire project cost approximately $80 million.

As project / construction management consultant, BKI ascertained that all architectural, structural, civil, mechanical and electrical design and construction for the project occurred on time and within budget. BKI developed design criteria and standards, project schedules, and construction budgets; implemented a community awareness plan; assisted Jazzland in applying for permits; prepared bid documents; and provided on-site construction administration and technical review.