Body
Unit Policy
Title
Facilities Services: Projects Policy
Introduction
Purpose
Scope
Policy
Initiating Work
Any department with a proposed project for alteration, renovation, maintenance, or repair work on a University facility with an estimated project cost of less than three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) should submit a Work Request to Facilities Services to establish the project and initiate the work. Work Requests can be submitted electronically by visiting the Facilities Services website at http://www.fac.unc.edu/About.aspx or by calling the Help Desk at (919) 962-3456.
Any department with a proposed project for alteration, renovation, maintenance, or repair work on a University facility with an estimated project cost of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) or more, or a project involving new construction or a study should contact Anna A. Wu, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Facilities Operations, Planning and Design (919-962-0761 or annaw@fac.unc.edu) to initiate the project approval process.
Project Approval Requirements
Any project with an estimated project cost of less than three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) may be approved by the University Administration from any available funding source.
A project with an estimated project cost of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) or more must receive budget authority through a request to UNC General Administration for establishment of the project in a capital improvement budget account regardless of the funding source.
Exception: The Chancellor may approve a project costing up to one million dollars using appropriated operating funds. These funds will remain available beyond the current fiscal year to complete the project, provided that the project is under construction contract by June 30.
Project Design
Most projects will require some level of design services. These services may be provided by Facilities Services employees or may be provided by independent designers (architects and/or engineers). Facilities Services will be responsible for selection of designers with input from end users. The designer selection process varies depending upon the scope and size of the project. The project design process will be administered and guided by the appropriate division of Facilities Services.
Project Execution
A project may be accomplished with Force Account Labor (employees on the permanent University payroll), a single contract, multiple contracts, or a combination of contract and Force Account Labor. All construction projects will be administered and inspected by appropriate divisions of Facilities Services.
Force Account Delivery
University construction shops employees on the permanent University payroll (called "Force Account Qualified Labor") may complete construction services on projects when either the total cost of the project, including, without limitation, all direct and indirect costs of labor, services, materials, supplies, and equipment, does not exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) or when the total cost of labor on the project does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) (NC GS 143-135).
Informal Project Delivery
A project with a single construction contract cost of less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or multiple contract construction costs totaling less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) may be delivered by an Informal contract in compliance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-131. If the contract amount is less than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), a noncompetitive bid may be solicited from a contractor to complete the work.
Formal Project Delivery
A project with a construction contract cost of more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) shall comply with the State of North Carolina Formal Project delivery requirements (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-128, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-129, and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-132).
Responsibilities and Requirements of University Departments
Each University Department is responsible for ensuring that any project including alteration, renovation, maintenance, or repair work for a University owned or operated facility is only performed by or contracted through Facilities Services unless Facilities Services gives expressed written approval for an exception.
Facilities Services will ensure that each project including alteration, renovation, maintenance, and repair work complies with the University Master Plan and the programmatic needs of the University; meets applicable state, federal, and local government building code requirements and University Design Guidelines and standards; is coordinated with departments to minimize disruptions to them; is completed in a safe manner; and is archived per University standard procedures.
Capital Project Thresholds
*Refer to "UNC Designer Selection Procedures for Projects <$500,000 (Interim Guidance Pending State Building Commission Procedure Development)."
Definitions
Project: A single and independent design and/or construction undertaking that results in a complete and usable end product. No project shall be divided for the purpose of evading the provisions of any NC General Statute including statutory limits for projects (NC GS 143-133).
Any project that involves construction of and/or any alteration, renovation or addition to a University facility is statutorily defined as a capital improvement project at the three hundred thousand dollar ($300,000) level.
Maintenance or Repair Project: A project that involves routine maintenance or repair work necessary for the general upkeep of existing facilities, utility systems and/or grounds generally funded from operating budgets. (Examples: painting, carpet replacement, renewal of floor finishes, etc.)
Renovation, Modernization and/or Adaption Project: A project that involves demolition, construction, major equipment replacement or other work for the purpose of changing and/or upgrading the conditions or functionality of an existing facility. (Examples: reconfiguration of building spaces, replacement of doors or windows, alteration to existing mechanical, plumbing electrical, lighting, or fire protection systems, installation or modification of fixed equipment including fume hoods or gas cabinets, modifications or improvements to building exteriors, modifications to grounds including hardscape and/or landscaping, any work requiring a utility outage, etc.)
New Construction Project: Any project that adds new square footage to an existing building or creates a new building or other new facility.
Study: An effort that examines and/or analyzes a situation that does not lead directly to a design and construction project. (Examples: a traffic study, master plan, space use/utilization study, air or water quality study, asbestos study, etc.)
Related Requirements
External Regulations
Contact Information
Primary Contact
Name: Bruce Runberg, AVC Facilities Services
Telephone: 919-962-7248