How do you think engineering design and planning for U . S . government projects differ from projects in other sectors ?
BL : One of the key differentiators for federal work , which I think is a benefit , is that generally , the expectations of the deliverable and scope are very clear . The statement of work is usually well-defined in terms of scope and schedule . The project constraints are clear . So , it ’ s easy to define scope creep and protect our fees .
This is a significant benefit compared to some other sectors where our scope may not be quite as clear , and we may be taking on additional scope without realizing it or not even understanding what the client wants . Federal work makes it easy to understand all those boundaries .
Do you still have the ability to pitch cutting-edge design strategies and emerging technologies ?
BL : We do , within some boundaries . The federal government does a good job of pushing a more stringent energy code and design criteria for their federal facilities . They adopt the latest versions of ASHRAE , which are generally ahead of the curve in terms of design strategies , technologies , and energy goals . For example , the energy and sustainability UFC requires us to design buildings that are 30 % more efficient than the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline building . But then we , as consulting engineers , have to weigh those requirements and goals against the common challenges of doing federal work .
For example , maintenance is a significant challenge at most federal facilities . The facilities often lack consistent maintenance staff . So , we can design an incredible system that potentially saves the government significant energy , but if the staff can ’ t maintain it , the system won ’ t function as intended , and the energy savings will not be realized . So as consulting engineers , we need to weigh innovative design against the reality of how it will get used .
Another limitation is that we cannot design proprietary systems unless there ’ s strong justification . That justification needs to be approved at the highest levels within the government , which usually means it won ’ t . Many cutting-edge design strategies use propriety technology and equipment . But to use that equipment on a federal project , we need to wait until multiple manufacturers offer it .
You ’ ve done a lot of work at U . S . Navy shipyards , bases and facilities of all types . Can you talk about some of the unique requirements and challenges inherent to these projects ? What creative problemsolving strategies and innovations did you use to ensure success and exceed expectations ?
BL : This comes back to what makes federal work so fun . It ’ s the variety and uniqueness of the projects we get to be part of . It ’ s not every day that someone gets to design 130,000 GPM pumps with 1,200 horsepower motors . I actually got to go inside a 54-inch diameter pump casing while we were inspecting it for defects . It was a very weird feeling . Several of our staff were able to walk UNDER an aircraft carrier while it was in a drydock and touch the bottom of the hull . Those kinds of opportunities just don ’ t happen as often outside the federal world .
We designed an outdoor aircraft wash station at Whidbey Island , which rinses off 737s as they taxi by . Determining the pressure , flow , nozzle size , and angle of spray to ensure full coverage of the aircraft was a fascinating exercise , especially considering how windy it is on Whidbey Island . We ’ ve designed nuclear handling and radiation facilities , missile assembly facilities , drydocks , piers , large machine shops with 100 foot lathes , all of which have unique and complex requirements that require us to think critically about the problems we are trying to solve .
To ensure success on these complicated projects , we ’ ll often bring on a team of senior engineers early for a brainstorming session . A previous principal , Sandy Bonderman , would refer to it as ‘‘ The Borg .’’ The team will review the scope , discuss early concept ideas , and question every component of the project . It ’ s generally a senior team , but we also bring in some junior staff to learn the process . Having this exercise early in the project helps ensure we identify project risks and potential pitfalls later on .
What services does your team most often deliver to federal clients ? What would you identify as the P2S Federal Design team ’ s competitive advantages ?
BL : As consulting engineers , the services we offer most to our federal clients are mechanical and electrical engineering . We are also working on growing our fire protection , technology , and commissioning services . But our Prime role in leading project teams is also a high-value service . Many of our clients , especially
6 | Q1 2023