A Brief Introduction to Government Construction – IDIQ, JOC, SABER and More – In 4 Steps

1. The world of Government Construction involves many different areas, the following are just a few.  Please note there is a DoD focus provided here, however, many of the concepts, processes, etc. are similar for non-DoD construction.

• A-E ID/IQ Contracts
• Stand-alone construction contracts
• SABER
• Remedial Action IDIQ
• Other ID/IQ contracts (single trades)
• Roofing
• Asbestos removal
• Paving

2. The bulk of construction funding typically goes toward Operation & Maintenance (O&M) / Sustainment Funds

• Minor Construction – limited to $750,000
• Sustainment, Maintenance and Repair (SRM)

Major construction, over $5,000,000 is funded by MILCON

3. Typical construction project workflow

• Project is conceptualized
• AE tasks / bid set of drawings and specifications as required
• Funding approval
• Procurement – Full / Open Competition or 8a, etc.
• Contract administration (Governing guidance by Federal (FAR, DFARS, AFFARS…) and State, County, and Local regulations.

4.  Federal Construction is Governed by the  Davis-Bacon Act

• Contracts > $2,000 for construction, alteration, or repair (including painting and decorating) . . .no laborer or mechanic employed directly upon the site of the work shall receive less than the prevailing wage rates as determined by the secretary of Labor. — FAR 22.403-1
• Wage Determinations — FAR 22.404-1 and 2
• Building construction (admin, hospitals, etc.)
• Residential construction (single family houses, apts. No more than 4 stories)
• Heavy and Highway (streets, parking lots, sewer lines, etc.)

Role and Purpose of JOC and SABER Contracts

• Expedite contract award of non-complex, minor construction and maintenance and repair projects that require minimum design,  reducing design work and acquisition lead time
• Delivery orders for individual projects can be estimated, proposed, negotiated, and issued in 3 to 4 weeks or less.
• Projects priced according to commercial pricing tools called the Unit Price Book / Guide ( UPB, UPG) and supporting Software Technology
• Coefficients are factors multiplied against standard unit prices in the UPB / UPG to calculate Task Order prices. Localization factors may also be applied.

Definitions/Abbreviations:

AE services: Professional services of an architectural or engineering nature that are required to be performed or approved by a person licensed, registered or certified to provide those services.  Professional services of an architectural or engineering nature performed by contract that are associated with research, planning, development, design, construction, alteration, or repair of real property.  Those other professional services of an architectural or engineering nature that members of those professions may logically or justifiably perform, including studies, surveying and mapping, tests, evaluation, comprehensive planning, conceptual designs, plans and specifications, soils engineering, drawing reviews, etc.

Construction: Construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging, excavating, and painting) of buildings, structures, or other real property.  For purposes of this definition, the terms “buildings, structures, or other real property” include but are not limited to improvements of all types, such as bridges, dams, plants, highways, parkways, streets, subways, tunnels, sewers, mains, and so on.  Does not include the manufacture, production, furnishing, construction, alteration, repair, processing, or assembling of vessels, aircraft, or other kinds of personal property

IDIQ, ID/IQ: Indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity

JOC: Job Order Contract, Job Order Contracting

Remedial IDIQ Contracts:  Provide contracting vehicles for services/construction such as: On – site source control,. Thermal destruction, Soil washing and soil vapor extraction, Surface water controls (grading, re-vegetation, dikes, channels, sedimentation basins, levees, etc.), Air pollution controls (gas collection/control systems, dust suppressant, wind screens, etc.), Spill Response/Remediation (after the immediate spill is “contained”), Operation and Maintenance.

SABER: Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineer Requirements, SABER contracts are fixed-priced indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) with provisions for economic price adjustments. SABER contracts include a collection of detailed task specifications that encompass most types of real property maintenance, repair, and construction work Governed by Air Force Contracting Construction Guide, June 2006 – (IG 5336.9201) includes SABER guidance.

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