September 22, 2005

Project Funding

Architects’ group notes deficiencies with AFP model

OAA hopes meeting results in guidelines

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

An industry task group spearheaded by the Ontario Association of Architects is poised to present a three-pronged package of recommendations to the provincial government for delivery of projects under its new alternative finance and procurement model.

The group, which has representation from the contracting and consulting engineering sectors, will raise its concerns about this process and propose some solutions at a meeting later this month with David Caplan, minister of public infrastructure renewal.

Sudbury architect and OAA vice-president Jeff Perry said Caplan and his staff have signaled that they want to hear from the private sector on delivery of the province’s ambitious infrastructure program.

The working group is intent on presenting “practical, constructive” recommendations on AFP and other delivery models, said the senior partner in Perry Perry Architects Inc.

“We intend that this meeting will be just the beginning of a lasting partnership between this ministry and the design/construction sector working together to deliver great public buildings.”

The provincial government has announced a long list of major public building projects that will be delivered through the AFP model.

But it has not disclosed the policies and procedures that will govern these projects.

In a recently issued e-bulletin, the architects’ association said the task group will suggest that the province: • Limit application of the AFP delivery model to projects where it makes the most sense: One such example is very large projects where pursuit costs can be managed by the consortia.

• Minimize pursuit costs: Ask only for data, including building design information, that is needed to identify the winning consortium.

• Pay honoria to consortia submitting proposals.

The OAA has identified precedents in other jurisdictions for such payments that would cover the costs of responding to requests for proposals. Such honoraria also should cover the cost of design.

Quality design has proven to be critical to the success of AFP projects undertaken elsewhere, the OAA said. Decisions made during the design of a building will have a “huge impact” on life-cycle costs.

The e-bulletin is one in a continuing series on opportunities and risks inherent in the AFP process, which OAA executive director Brian Watkinson describes as “a brand new direction” for delivering public buildings in the province.

“The OAA is working very hard to help our practices quickly understand the new opportunities and as important, the new risks, that come with AFP,” Watkinson said in an interview.

“We are positioning architects to play a lead role in addressing Ontario’s infrastructure deficit.”

The OAA represents some 2,500 licensed architects across the province as well as 1,325 architectural practices.

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