Delivery Methods

Greg Opinski Construction, Inc. is proud to offer a number of different construction delivery methods.

Standard Hard Bid - This method has probably been around the longest. Once the owner and architect have finished the project design they submit it to DSA and OPSC for final approval. Then they receive this approval and funds are designated, and the architect prepares bid documents. The project is advertised and bid. One of the biggest drawbacks to this method is that the owner has no control over the market. If bids come in high they are left with two options: re-bid or change the project to fit a lower budget.

Lease Lease-back – This method allows the owner to select a contractor almost as soon as they select the architect. The contractor becomes a vital part of the design team early on, which gives the owner the ability to know how the costs are looking as the design progresses. The contractor provides value engineering during this period. Just as soon as the project is ready for DSA and OPSC submission the contractor can start getting final prices together to provide the “Guaranteed Maximum Price.” The owner now knows they can afford the project and they have the knowledge that the cost at the end of the project is the same as at the beginning. The only changes will be those that are owner directed.

CM at Risk - From an owner's point of view this is almost the same as Lease Lease-back. The main difference is the contractor is performing more of a true CM (Construction Manager) role with all of the risk of a general contractor; if the contractor wants to self perform any portion of the work, he or she must put a price together and submit it, just as the other subcontractors do.

Design Bridge Build – This functions the same as Lease, Lease-back but is used for city and county government entities not governed by education codes. Design Bridge Build is best utilized when the contractor is hired in unison with the architect as part of the construction team.

Each project has its own unique issues that make one method better suited than the others. Please contact us to discuss the form of delivery that makes the most sense for your situation.

"[Greg Opinski Construction] was hired as our CM at risk to help us with the projects we had planned for the 2004 summer break. We were having problems with the bids being much higher than anticipated and time was running out. We thought we would not be able to afford all that we had planned. When Greg Opinski Construction was hired they immediately went to work on obtaining new bids. After a very short time we had bids that were more in line with our cost estimates, allowing us to do all the projects." — Gary R. Schuh, Board President - Chowchilla Elementary School District

More information

More information about funding commercial and institutional construction projects can be found in these articles:

The Sudden School
By Jennifer Teel Wolter

Project Delivery Options
Excellence in Public Educational Facilities - CA DGS

Lease Lease-back Construction Delivery Method for School Districts
California’s Coalition for Adequate School Housing - Spring Conference

Sacramento Business Journal - Lease lease-back

A Better Way to Build - CM at Risk information

Please contact Bob Asmus for more information.

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