SERVICES
Dorman offers a wide variety of Construction Services — General Construction, Design / Build, and Construction Management — and brings the personnel, experience, and technical resources necessary to successfully undertake any construction project. Given our staff’s history of working with contractors, subcontractors, and labor forces, we can adequately meet the needs of our clients in a timely and cost-effective manner. We deal with each project we construct and/or manage with the same goals — to deliver the product on time and within budget, improve overall quality, increase utilization, and maximize the useful life of the structures to the greatest extent possible.
Dorman is capable of managing your projects through a variety of contracting methods:
- Traditional General Contract (Design-Bid-Build) — The client gets a firm price under a traditional, Lump Sum Bid general contract along with a schedule commitment; Dorman gets it done.
- Design-build Contract (Design-Build) — Dorman has extensive contacts in the architectural, structural, site services, mechanical, and electrical design communities. We will hire a competent team of design professionals and then work closely with them to assist with constructability, preliminary cost estimates and schedule requirements to meet the overall desires of the Owner. Upon the receipt of final documents a final hard bid or guaranteed maximum price based on cost of work plus a fee is established with open or select subcontractor bidding to bring the project from concept to completion.
- Construction Management — General Contracting (CM-GC) — The client gets the best of both worlds with the traditional scope of work performed by a general contractor combined with a construction manager. The owner selects a contractor early in the process to accept the role of collaborating with the design team in development and preparation of the documents. Once the design has progressed to an acceptable level, the GM/GC submits a guaranteed maximum price.
In all instances, we both subcontract or self-perform carpentry related portions of the work to ensure a quality and cost effective product for our valued customer.
Partnering
Actions speak louder than words. Dorman’s philosophy is to cooperate with and assist the Owner and Architect with all aspects of project management from initial value engineering and budgeting phases, through construction to project closeout in a manner which is respectful of all parties involved and conducive to a quality project “on time” and “under budget”. This level of achievement requires that the Owner, Architect, and Contractor all work as a coordinated team to achieve the ultimate goal of a successful project.
Project Approach
Dorman associates the following as being needed to complete projects on time or ahead of schedule:
| • REVIEW | We will review each component with team members to ensure all parties are aware of the overall task at hand. |
| • PLAN | We intend to plan for all known aspects revealed during the review process based on our own construction experience and tapped resources. |
| • SCHEDULE | We look forward to generating a detailed project schedule identifying tasks to complete, lead times, and critical path items. |
| • VALUE ENGINEER | We, as with all projects, will work toward ensuring the end result meets the expectations of the Owner at the most cost-effective price. |
| • STAFF | Minimal overhead allows us to meet our and the Owner’s goal for a superior project at a lower cost than larger, more impersonal corporations. |
| • COMMUNICATIONS | We open communications with all project participants early on and throughout project construction via regularly scheduled project meetings. |
| • PROGRESS | We assign highly qualified project managers to each project to ensure forward progress to a timely completion. |
| • COMPLETION | Dorman strives to ensure that each component is completed prior to turning over the project to the Owner in addition to providing instructions in the proper use of the systems installed and/or materials installed. |
| • RELATIONSHIP | We strive to maintain established positive relationships with each of our team members so that each of them will look to engage our services as future projects, from time to time, present themselves. |
State of the Art Technology
Dorman extensively utilizes:
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Cost Estimating / Budgeting
Dorman Construction employs several talented estimators, Project Managers, as well as other staff members provide support.
Budgeting is a constant tool when managing projects since:
- Each line item contains a cost budget assigned before and adjusted during construction.
- It is a vital part of the value engineering process.
- It is applies to all change orders and/or changes in scope of work requested by the design team.
Dorman’s approach to cost estimating and budgeting is to provide the Owner with the most accurate information possible based on:
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Value Engineering
Value engineering is undoubtedly one of the most critical, if not the most critical stage of any project. In order to gain the maximum benefit from the value engineering process, it is vitally important to start as early as possible in the project process. The further along the project develops the opportunities for cost reduction ideas diminish in quantity and magnitude.
Dorman works closely with all team members to examine cost-effectiveness of basic planning alternatives. We will concentrate on the impact of the selection of one particular system or material over another. Our goal is to see that Owners receive the best value for their money.
Planning and Scheduling
Dorman’s “Planning Process” involves a work session in which all team members are present and asked to identify all activities in which they expect to be involved during the project. These activities are recorded, along with an indication of what must be done before their task can begin, how these tasks are accomplished, and the duration. Interrelationships among various activities are noted. While identifying interrelationships, additional activities are invariably uncovered.
Through this planning process, early identification of needs, time requirements, delays, and omissions are averted. This effort results in a better understanding of the responsibilities of each team member and dedication to the schedule requirements. The “Planning Process” also serves to form a strong “team attitude” among the participants. Each member gains a greater appreciation for the responsibilities and duties of their fellow team members and how their work impacts others.
Project Meetings
Dorman constantly works with all team members on a project to communicate and maximize use of regularly scheduled project meetings. We firmly believe communication is the important factor in a project’s success.
These meetings are held on a pre-determined, regular basis, follow an agenda, documented, and distributed to all team members. The documentation includes critical activities, recommendations, and action to be taken.
Accident Prevention Plan
Dorman is committed to workplace safety. State and federal laws, as well as our own company policy, make the safety and health of employees our first priority. We have implemented procedures in accordance with OSHA, all Federal, State, and Local safety standards and Regulations, along with Contract provisions to ensure the safety of employees, visitors, and the general public at all of its construction sites.
Our Safety Program begins as soon as the Notice to Proceed is issued and continues until the project is complete. The Project Manager will supervise all aspects of safety and compliance throughout the project. Our goal is to provide an efficient, productive construction effort that incorporates safe working methods and strong safety standards by all employees, supervisors, subcontractors, and material suppliers.