Project Description

SMITH/Associates provided partnering support on an on-call basis for the USACE Seattle District. We have supported six partnering sessions at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) for the following construction contracts: Company Operations Facility; Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing (UEPH); 4-6 ACS Aviation Apron; Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Design-Build (D-B) (initial and upcoming follow-up), FY14 East Division Multipurpose Athletic Field; and the upcoming Electrical Lines Glen/Mar Construction Inc.

Complexities of the Work

With many stakeholders and decision makers involved in the process, the need to identify objectives and roles and responsibilities was recognized. SMITH/Associates was contracted to facilitate workshops to establish healthy working relationships among all parties. Support included contacting key stakeholders to gather information and identify each involved party’s issues and concerns prior to the partnering session; drafting session agendas based upon conversations and research; and designing sessions to build and maintain constructive, collaborative relationships among all individuals and organizations.

Our team develops all meeting materials including issue resolution matrices, partnering agreements and comprehensive summary documentation including a list of participants, issues discussed, issue resolution discussion topics, action owners, resolution timelines, goals and action plans and other pertinent information.

Through our USACE support, SMITH/Associates provided collaborative strategies and conducted facilitated sessions in order to bring together personnel from technical, scientific, military and governmental backgrounds. With SMITH/Associates’ involvement, this effort established working partnerships to assist the USACE and its stakeholders to successfully complete large, complex construction and renovation efforts to major US structures without the fear of litigation roadblocks.