In the summer of 2017, the new San Antonio Courthouse – almost a decade in the making – went out to bid, and the project was over budget. To assist in quantifying and qualifying the factors behind this unforeseen cost overrun, the GSA engaged OCMI to conduct several comprehensive cost estimating and market study exercises. OCMI undertook a series of P-120 Cost Manual-compliant market studies to distill the specific material, labor, and bidding conditions which impacted the bid results. Our supporting efforts included site visits, bidding community interviews, and detailed economic data analysis. Following these undertakings, GSA retained OCMI in early 2018 to provide independent cost estimating, market research, schedule review, and cost reconciliation tasks for the new 277,000 GSF, $120 million project.

Through the course of design, OCMI provided independent cost estimates for comparison and reconciliation with the AE team. Cost estimates were generated at 35%, 65%, 95% and final construction documents. At each milestone, we participated in cost reconciliation exercises with GSA and the assigned construction management team. Our team simultaneously reviewed the project’s CPM schedule and provided scheduling consultation and advise on how to ensure the project remained on schedule from design through construction and occupancy.

Renderings courtesy of CBRE | Heery