requently Asked Questions

Welcome to UAMS Planning, Design & Construction's Frequently Asked Questions. Please click on the topics below for answers to commonly asked questions.

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General Information FAQ

What type of services are provided by Planning, Design & Construction?

Who can I contact about ongoing UAMS Construction Projects?

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Capital Project Request FAQ

When is a Capital Project Request (CPR) Form required?

Where do I obtain a Capital Project Request (CPR) Form?

Where do I send the completed Capital Project Request (CPR) form?

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Construction Project Budget and Approval FAQ

Construction Project Budget & Approval FAQ

When will construction begin on my project?

Minor Construction Projects < $1 Million:
All projects over $50K must be approved to proceed by the UAMS Capital Budget Committee (CBC) prior to the commencement of construction. Projects under $50K only require CBC approval if campus funding is being requested.

If a project exceeds $250K or uses an outside architectural/engineering firm, a Method of Finance (MOF) must also be obtained prior to the commencement of construction.

Major Construction Projects > $1 Million:
In addition to CBC and MOF approvals, major capital construction projects that exceed $1M, also require approval from the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees (UA BOT) prior to the commencement of construction.

Cycle Times for Approval:
CBC Approval:
The CBC meets on a monthly basis so a decision on CBC approval is usually made within a month of the estimate being approved by the division to proceed.

MOF Approval:

MOF's for project budgets < $250K with an outside A/E are submitted to DF&A for approval and returned in approximately two weeks.
MOF's for project budgets > $250K are submitted to the AR Legislative Council (ALC) for approval and depending on the timing of submission, these are usually returned within 1-2 months.

UA BOT Approval:
The UA BOT meets at five regular meetings each year, as well as on special occasions as required. The cycle time to receive UA BOT approval for projects > $1 Million is usually 2-3 months.

How is pricing determined for UAMS Construction Projects?

Your Capital Project Request will be assigned a Project Planner who will prepare a Preliminary Estimate that will be forwarded to the requesting division for approval before proceeding. Many facets of the Preliminary Estimate are based on historical information from similar projects. As the design progresses and the project becomes better defined, the Preliminary Estimate may be revised. Any increases to the overall budget amount will be forwarded back to the requesting division for approval before proceeding.

The overall project budget is developed based on contractor pricing (In-House, Job Order Contractor (JOC), Bid or Selection Process) and also includes all other project costs including design, contingency, furniture, construction project management fees, IT or Telecommunications costs and any other costs relevant to providing a complete project ready for occupancy.

In-House Projects:
The UAMS Construction Team provides an estimate of the project cost.

JOC Contractor:
A JOC contractor can be used for any project where constructions costs are less than $750K. (It bypasses the hard-bid process, so is much quicker).

Bid Contractor:
Contractors are chosen through a sealed hard-bid process for projects where construction costs will exceed $750K. The contractor with the lowest bid is awarded the contract.

Selection Process:
UAMS has the option to choose a general contractor through a selection process on projects where the construction costs will exceed $5m. This gives UAMS the option to choose the contractor based on their qualifications vs. the lowest bid and is beneficial for complex projects.

Note: Subcontractors who specialize in individual facets of the work can be hired by the general contractor as long as they are chosen by the contractor through a competitive bid process.

Can contingency funds be used to add additional work or purchase equipment?

What happens if there is a budget surplus at the end of the project?

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Construction Project Moves FAQ

Who is responsible for the removal of contents when an area is being vacated for a construction project (i.e. M&R items, furniture, pictures, etc.)?

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UAMS Planning, Design & Construction
4301 W. Markham Street, Slot #605, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-5890
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