Pre-Design Phase: Conceptual Design
Unless otherwise directed by the VA PM, the A/E shall develop a minimum of three design concepts. The A/E, using an integrated design process, shall refine these alternatives to create functionally viable alternative design solutions, based on continuing deliberations with VA medical center staff and CFM staff. The VA PM acts as a liaison between VA and the A/E. VA shall select the final concept and identify the approved scope to be developed in Schematic Design1.
Each conceptual design shall address the following:
Architectural
- Submit Basis of Design (BOD) report including:
- Narrative establishing users' vision, goals, and objectives
- Programming considerations, including:
- Caseload data as basis for space program determined by SEPS on a departmental basis
- Functional (medical) and physical design program
- Adjacency matrix for major services
- Code analysis to identify design parameters
- Implementation strategies and phasing considerations
- Develop concept assessments including:
- Massing studies - one for each concept
- Assessment of impact on existing facilities
- Opportunities for vertical and horizontal expansion
- Concise narrative and graphic illustration of each concept with a comparison of features related to cost, impact of construction on operations, duration of construction, and advantages and disadvantages of each. Include a rating scale and score sheet for comparison of alternatives
Cost Estimating
Submit:
- Order of magnitude cost estimate for each concept—WBS II Level 1 estimate
- Method for successful transfer of VA SEPS data for space and medical equipment for BIM use
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Reports:
Submit Basis of Design (BOD) report including:
- Programming considerations and an outline of phasing requirements including
- Anticipated overall construction schedule
- Considerations that influence phasing
- Anticipated duration of each phase of construction
- Narrative establishing users' vision, goals, and desired image
- Concept assessments including:
- Qualifications for analysis and CPM consultants for approval by VA
- Project risk analysis
- Anticipated design and construction schedules
- Major milestones in design, procurement, and construction schedules
- Technologies
- Cost
- Recommendations for mitigation of major risks
- Concise narrative describing integration of existing and new work
Heating, Ventilating & Air Conditioning
Submit:
- Concept assessments including the existing building energy and resource consumption baseline. (For new buildings, document the existing inventory baseline.) Include investigation of the use of high-efficiency, low-pressure hot water boilers for heating application.
- Explanation of how existing chilled water generation and distribution systems will accommodate additional loads and what additional equipment is needed to make the new facility fully operational. Explain what the anticipated new cooling loads are and how they were calculated. Explain needed plant expansion and how it shall be accomplished. Discuss alternative ways to meet the increased demand and what type of energy-saving measures will be examined in the Schematic Design phase.
Security (Physical)
Submit:
- Basis of Design (BOD) report including verification that a qualified Security Specialist and Structural Blast Specialist shall be retained by the A/E. The conceptual design shall address the physical security requirements as defined in VA guidelines.
- Concept assessments including applicable Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.
Site
Submit conceptual plans with Basis of Design narrative for site access, vehicular circulation, physical security standoffs, barriers, parking, and other security elements; and items of environmental and historical significance.
Sustainability
Develop concept assessments including:
- Graphic presentation of the results of the site climate analysis (wind, water, solar, temperature, humidity).
- Determination of the technical and economic viability of using renewable energy sources. At a minimum, consider solar, wind, geothermal, geothermal heat pump, biomass, and biogas.
- Analysis of how best to use daylighting.
- Analysis of each proposed alternative with respect to overall project sustainability goals related to Green Globes or LEED certification.
- Green Globes (if chosen): Provide the rating category for the project and the input data for the project initiation, site analysis, and programming phases. Establish and document the input parameters and assumptions for performing a Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCA)
- LEED (if chosen). Document the particular rating system (for example, Existing Buildings or New Buildings) to be used and the level of certification (the required minimum level of certification is LEED Silver). Provide a completed preliminary LEED score card to indicate where points are anticipated. Briefly discuss why or why not certain points are achievable
Utilities
Submit:
- Determination of automatic transport systems that convey people and materials—elevators, escalators, pneumatic tube systems, lifts, dumbwaiters, automatic guided vehicles (AGV), and electric track vehicles (ETV), as well as robotic systems that convey goods. (Further information required on drawings shall be shown on drawings of appropriate discipline.)
- Determination of water pressure and requirements for fire pump(s).
- Estimate of existing loads for outside steam distribution.
- Explanation of how steam generating and distribution systems shall accommodate additional loads and what additional equipment is needed to make the new facility fully operational.
- Recommendations for tests to assess remaining service life of existing steam distribution systems.
- Estimated sizes of the proposed main fire lines and proposed location of connections to site utility.
- Alternatives for waste disposal, including incineration of all waste, incineration of portions of the waste (such as pathological) and off site disposal of the remainder, off site disposal of all waste, and alternative technologies for waste sanitation, processing, and disposal.
- List of incineration system equipment alternatives that shall be evaluated. Typical alternatives include types of waste feeding systems, provision for automatic ash removal, batch or automatic feed type incinerator.
- Discussion of alternative types of steam generation and distribution systems that may be evaluated. Alternatives may include factory fabricated, pre-engineered systems, shallow trench systems, direct-burial, and tunnels.
- Assessment of the feasibility of including a cogeneration system.