Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is carrying out a national consultation concerning its Alternative Forms of Delivery (AFD-Real Property 1) contracting framework. First introduced in 1998 when the Public Works initiated a large-scale outsourcing of property management and delivery services, AFD was most recently renewed in 2005 when eight contracts were awarded nationally.

Since 2005, the number of PWGSC office facilities managed under the eight contracts has grown to 322 across the country. In addition, a total of 745 facilities from other government departments are managed through these contracts.

The national consultation, which got underway in February, is seeking the input of both individual firms and national associations.  The consultation provides an opportunity for architects to make recommendations on such key issues as what type of subcontracting plan should be used by the Service Providers retained under these contracts (currently SNC-Lavalin), and how liability issues are dealt with in the subcontracting process.

Architecture Canada | RAIC representatives - Peter J. Kindree, FRAIC, Deborah Farrow, MRAIC, and Gerrie Doyle, MRAIC, will be participating in the industry association consultations on March 9 on behalf of the RAIC Board.

CCDC has reconfigured its working structure from to two to three sub-committees working under the oversight of the full committee, enabling CCDC to tackle a broader work agenda.

For 2011, Working Groups will be focusing on:

• Updating documents CCDC 3 – Cost Plus Contract and CCDC 4 – Unit Price Contract;
• Updating CCDC 40 – Rules for Mediation and Arbitration
• Updating CCDC 11 – Pre-qualification Forms and creating the CCDC 25 – Guide to pre-qualification. 

In parallel, work continues on the Design-Build and Construction Management suite of documents:

• Construction management suite: CCDC 45, 46 and 47 respectively guides to documents CCDC 5A, 5B and 17, to be issued in early March 2011;
• CCDC 14 – Stipulated Price Design-Build Contract Between Owner and Design-Builder and CCDC 15 – Contract Between Consultant and Design-Builder along with accompanying guides, with the objective to issue the final endorsement drafts to the constituent organisations in early March.

For further information about contract documents, contact RAIC Practice Specialist François Hogue, MIRAC.