•   Sunday
• 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
• Level - Intermediate
• Track - Construction
• Speaker - Mike Purdy MBA

Construction projects are inherently risky, especially when the contractor is selected based on low bid—it can be a formula for disaster and disappointment on large, complex projects! In this session, we explore the use of Construction Manager at Risk—a project method that has been successfully implemented in many parts of the country—as an alternative tool for contractor selection, exploring some of the varied practices of using this methodology as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using CMAR for delivering construction projects.

•   Monday
• 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM
• Level - Intermediate
• Track - Construction
• Speakers - John Castillo and Tammy Rimes, MPA

Just as public procurement is evolving daily, so too are the basics of procurement. Of all the procurement functions, however, construction is one of the few that seems to take the most time, involve the most resources, and have the greatest exposure—positive and negative—for an entity. Discover the latest from an expert panel regarding changes and opportunities in construction procurement regulations, tips and best practices to streamline projects, how to leverage the power of group buying, and so much more in this case-study driven session that explores more efficient, alternative purchasing solutions for the construction-minded public procurement professional.

•   Monday
• 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM
• Level - Intermediate
• Track - Construction
• Speaker - Lourdes Coss MPA, CPPO

Architectural and engineering negotiations parameters (a/e negotiations) can help entities establish reasonable consistency across contracts, providing a measure to determine if they are both acceptable and justifiable to a governmental entity. But what does reasonable and justifiable mean? Join us as we break down the cost components of architectural and engineering contracts, review a variety of ways to calculate pricing, and engage in actionable, practical exercises to help develop parameters adoptable by your entity in this intermediate, workshop-styled session

•   Tuesday
• 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
• Level - Advanced
• Track - Construction
• Speaker - Steven Johnson, CPPO, Assoc. DBIA 

Are your procurements becoming more technically complex and expensive? Are you experiencing increased public scrutiny and pressure to reduce the procurement schedule to meet the demands of your customers? Explore how Sound Transit’s Design and Construction Contracts team is incorporating new skills to better meet the demands of the procurement function through strategic planning, skills analysis, training opportunities, and transforming hiring practices to ensure our team has the skills necessary to excel in this fast paced and changing environment.

•   Tuesday
• 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM
• Level - Intermediate
• Track - Construction
• Speakers - Joe Tommie, CPPO and John Adler, CPPO

In the recent past, the traditional design-bid-build method was the default—and predominantly only—project delivery method for procuring public construction contracts. Today, choosing the right construction project delivery method can be very challenging, especially when you consider not only the abundance of delivery methods that have become common over the last few years but also the legal requirements, complexities of the project, project scheduling, price, responsibility, and expertise of potential contractors. Join us as we provide an overview of each of the new-age major construction project delivery methods, discussing necessary factors for each methodology and how you can make them work for you and your entity in this interactive, lecture-style session.

•   Tuesday
• 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM
• Level - Intermediate
• Track - Construction
• Speakers - Robert Garland, PE, PG, DBIA, ENV SP and Craig Unger, FDBIA

Across North America, aging infrastructure is increasingly in need of repair. But with funding sources limited and governments struggling to maintain affordability while increasing levels of service, its never been more important—or economical—for entities to engage in collaborative delivery models for planning, design, and construction of public works projects. Comparing the usability of design-bid-build, CMAR, and design-build, join us as we explore strategies to better allocate risks between the owner, the designer, and the contractor, promoting the advantages of collaborative delivery methods for capital improvement projects to develop best value procurement strategies in the case-study, lecture-led session from the Design Build Institute of American.

•   Wednesday
• 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
• Level - Beginner
• Track - Construction
• Speaker - Lourdes Coss, MPA, CPPO

Contractor financial stability is critical in nearly every procurement, but the ability for construction contractors to be fiscally responsible while taking on new contracts is paramount to the public procurement professional. Explore models that you can use to evaluate the financial condition of construction contractors before awarding a contract, highlighting some ideas and time-tested methodologies that you can use to determine if the contractor is financially responsible of undertaking your entity's construction project in this lecture-styled session.