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- FROM :US-DEPT-COMMERCE-NORP 016 426 7530 1996.06-06 15:44 t1024 P.03/06 PART II: Summary of Contractor Performance in the space provided below, please provide a brief description of the contractor's performance under the contract described in the application. This description should not be a validation of the contractor's application. This validation is requested in the next section. If additional space is needed, please use a separate page and attach the continuation page. In order to provide you with an understanding of why I feel this contractor's performance has been exceptional and should be recognized as a true Partner in Quality Contracting, I feel it is important to convey the urgency and complexity pf the work they performed. The construction of this facility was critical to theNational Weather Service Modernization Program, This unique facility houses both a Weather Forecast Office and the Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane Center.-The design of this facility received an"Excellence in Architecture Merit Award"from the American Institute of Architects. The.construction of this facility had to be completed prior to the beginning of the 1995 hurricane season, thus allowing only 330 days for construction_ The specifications for construction were based on a new Dade County Building Code that was implemented after the devastation caused by Hurricane Andrew. Many items required by the new building code were of new manufacture and of limited supply. As a result o;5the new code requirements the facility has been constructed to withstand winds of 130 mph without incurring damage. The basic building structure is a ten inch thick concrete shell with all openings protected from projectiles by removable storm shutters, roll down shutters and laminated impact glass. The facility has three back up generators that can provide continuous hack-up power. The Diesel storage tank contains sufficient fuel for seven days of operation_ There is also a back-up cooling system. The facility also includes a compact tornado shelter sized to accommodate staff and visiting-media rersonnel. This internal shelter is additionally reinforced to withstand a direct impact of a 250 hound projectile traveling at 60 mph. Construction of this building used enough concrete to build ene mile of interstate highway, enough reinforcing steel to cross the state of Rhode Island, concrete for-As equal to 117 movie screens and enough electrical and communications wiring to stretch across Manhattan Island four times. .•drhouch this project was a small business set-aside, the contract award was for S4,750,095.00. During the performance of the contract there were fifty changes issued to the contractor as a result of client requests and design conflicts. These changes resulted in thirty-five modifications to the contract. Most of the modifications were unilateral (change orders) because time did not permit going through the negotiation process without interrupting progress. The net value of the modifications to the contract was 5503,552_ i 7, bringing the total contract value to S5,2 53.657. 17. hiecause of the number of changes made during construction and the criticality of meeting a completion date before the beginning of the 1995 hurricane season, the contractor was required to resequence work efforts to allow the National Weather.Service access to the building prior to completion This was necessary because once the building was completed, systems furniture,