The National Science and Technology Center’s Division of Architectural and Engineering Services provides a wide variety of building engineering and site engineering services for Bureau of Land Management State, District and Field Offices. Our multidisciplinary staff of professionals work in concert to provide complete and comprehensive services to our customers. Our technical services include condition evaluations and assessments (including accessibility, physical conditions, seismic evaluations and code compliance), project planning, design development, engineering analysis, final design (construction documents), and construction administration. In addition to our in-house technical expertise, the Division manages several national architectural and engineering (A/E) contracts and interagency agreements for the Bureau, which provide expanded capabilities and services to our customers.
Our Division is comprised of two Branches, the Building Engineering Services Branch and the Site Engineering Services Branch.
Building Engineering Services
The Building Engineering Services Branch provides architectural and engineering planning, design, and technical services related to BLM buildings. These buildings may be related to administration, recreational use, historical sites, or fire services.
Integral parts of the Building Engineering Branch mission are (1) accessibility, (2) architectural design, (3) electrical, mechanical, and structural engineering, and (4) interior design.
Accessibility
Branch professionals work with our customers to ensure that all new facilities are fully accessible to people with disabilities, and that all existing facilities, especially those undergoing remodeling or retrofitting, meet certain requirements regarding accessibility. Emphasis is on:
- Interpretation and clarification of the technical requirements of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).
- Review construction documents (specifications and/or drawings) of existing or planned buildings and recreation sites for conformance with UFAS and ADAAG, as well as the International Building Code.
- Prepare reports, including drawings, narratives, and construction cost estimates, outlining measures to improve accessibility and code compliance.
Principle point of contact is:
Frank Ciesel
(303)236-1158
frank_ciesel@blm.gov
Architectural Design
The Branch provides planning and design solutions for BLM buildings and administrative sites. Emphasis is on:
- Development of designs for new sites as well as designs for renovations and additions.
- Prepare contract documents, including bid schedules, drawings, specifications and cost estimates.
- Identify and document customer needs; analyze and develop site-specific solutions; select materials and systems; estimate project costs; develop computer-aided design drawings; and review designs prepared by others.
- Prepare feasibility studies, site studies, conceptual plans, and master plans for recreation and administrative projects.
- Inspect and review submittals from contractors to determine applicable code or design compliance.
- Inspect existing buildings to determine safety and rehabilitation requirements and prepare full reports with findings and recommendations.
The point of contact is:
Tom Busch
(303)236-1155
Tom_busch@blm.gov
Electrical, Mechanical, and Structural Engineering
The Branch provides services that are common to each of these disciplines, such as interdisciplinary planning (feasibility studies, site studies, conceptual plans, master plans); design development: preparation of final contract documents, including bid schedules, drawings, specifications, and cost estimates; inspection and review of submittals by contractors; and safety inspections and reports. In addition, a variety of other service specific to each discipline is provided:
- Electrical Engineering: The Branch develops or reviews site-specific solutions for power distribution systems, including isolated ground distribution systems for connecting computer and related equipment; interior and exterior lighting systems, including selecting replacement lamp and ballast types; control systems for pumps, HVAC, and other motor type systems; and fire detection and alarm and security systems.
- Mechanical Engineering: The Branch develops or reviews site-specific solutions for heating ventilating, and air conditioning systems; plumbing, water, and waste systems; and pipelines and well systems.
- Structural Engineering: The Branch develops site-specific structural designs relating to buildings (including roofs, walls, and foundation) and bridges (both substructure and superstructure).
The point of contact is:
Tom Busch
(303)236-1155
tom_busch@blm.gov
Site Engineering Services Branch
This Branch provides architectural and engineering planning, design, and technical services related to BLM outdoor facilities, roads, recreation sites, and other miscellaneous structures.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Branch develops or reviews site-specific solutions for recreation area facilities; transportation and parking facilities; marina, dock and beach facilities; administrative sites; storm water and erosion control; reclamation and restoration projects; construction related to wetland and habitat mitigation; dams and levees; water supply, treatment and distribution; wastewater collection, treatment and disposal; and storm water management systems.
The point of contact is:
Pat Fleming
(303)236-1156
pat_fleming@blm.gov
Bridge Inspection and Design
The Branch works with customers to provide safe bridges and major culverts through a uniform system of design, construction, and maintenance management. Emphasis is on:
- Review designs of bridges and major culverts done by others, including architectural and engineering firms, for conformance to the current edition of the Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges, published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
- Assist in monitoring the quality and acceptability of construction of bridges and major culverts.
- Conduct condition assessments and technical inspections of bridges and major culverts to determine the maintenance needed on a crossing structure.
- Prepare construction contract documents for bridges and major culverts.
- Coordinates Interagency Agreements with Federal Highways on inspection of specific Bureau bridges.
The point of contact is:
Keith Christiansen
(303)236-1165
keith_christiansen@blm.gov
Dam Safety
The Branch consults with BLM Field Offices and provides technical assistance on dams. They coordinate Interagency Agreements with other agencies (Bureau of Reclamation) and represent BLM at interagency meetings and professional meetings regarding dam safety issues. Emphasis is on:
- Assist in monitoring the quality and acceptability of construction of BLM owned, hazard rated dams.
- Conduct condition assessments and technical inspections of hazard rated dams.
- Prepare construction contract documents for hazard rated dams.
The point of contact is:
Gary Fisk
(303)234-1166
gary_fisk@blm;gov
Landscape Architecture
The Branch provides planning and design solutions for proposed campgrounds, picnic areas, visitor service and administrative facilities, site restoration and re-vegetation, boat launches, parking areas, and other recreation developments. Emphasis is on:
- Preparing contract documents, including bid schedules, drawings, specifications, and cost estimates.
- Identify and document customer needs; analyze and develop site-specific solutions for hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, backcountry and scenic byways, interpretive projects, wild and scenic rivers, wildlife viewing areas, off highway vehicle use, and other recreation projects; and review designs prepared by others.
- Participate in preparing feasibility studies, site studies, conceptual plans, and master plans for recreation and administrative projects.
- Inspect and review submittals from contractors to determine applicable code or design compliance.
The point of contact is:
Mark Pritchett
(303)236-1167
mark_pritchett@blm.gov
Seismic Safety in Federal Buildings
The Branch consults with customers to help ensure that Federal buildings are safe for government employees and the visiting public. They provide support for inventories and inspections that are required to ensure the safety of Federal buildings in high seismic active areas. In addition, they coordinate with other agencies (Bureau of Reclamation) and represent BLM at interagency and Department of Interior (DOI) meetings.
The point of contact is:
Barry Welton
(303)236-1162
barry_welton@blm.gov
Other Services
Construction Drawings
The Branch provide a variety of services to assist in developing high-quality products that support Bureau project design. Emphasis is on:
- Computer-aided drafting (AutoCad, Land Development Desktop, Architectural Desktop)
- Development of Bureau-wide CADD Standards
- Development of standard drawings for Bureau-wide use
- Development of Bureau-wide drafting standards
- Scanning services for large drawings
- Photocopying of full-size engineering drawings
The point of contact is:
Sue Weber
(303)236-1161
sue_weber@blm.gov
Construction Specifications
The Branch consults with customers on the Bureau’s use of the IBC and MasterSpec®.
The point of contact is:
Jack Emrick
(303)236-1157
jack_emrick@blm.gov
Value Engineering
The Branch provides a structured approach to analyzing a project or process to improve the product or reduce the cost (or both) while satisfying management needs. They provide guidance and assistance in implementing the Department’s value engineering program. They also provide technical assistance for performing value engineering studies of BLM construction projects. In addition, they provide guidance and assistance in adapting and implementing value analysis concepts for BLM operations.
The point of contact is:
Ed Giagni
(303)236-1173
ed_giagni@blm.gov
A/E Contract Services
In order to augment our staff and add additional technical A/E capabilities to the in-house expertise, the Division manages several national architectural and engineering (A/E) contracts and interagency agreements for the Bureau. They offer a full array of A/E contract Services in A/;E selection, project planning, design, construction management and project inspection, including:
- Evaluation and selection of firms for A&E contracts
- Chair or participate in A&E evaluation boards and in selection of A&E firms
- Provide support for negotiations
- Preparation of Statements of Work and Task Orders for A&E contracts
- Serve as the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) for A&E task orders or delivery orders
- Monitor progress of A&E work
- Review A&E designs for compliance with applicable coded and contract requirements
- Oversee construction activities through A&E contracts.
The point of contact is:
Ed Giagni
(303)236-1173
ed_giagni@blm.gov
- Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects, FP-03 has been completed and is available for purchase in both the U.S. Customary or Metric versions. The following Western Federal Lands Highway Division website has information for ordering the specifications and for viewing the specifications in either MSWord or Acrobat (PDF) formats: http://www.wfl.fha.dot.gov/design/specs/fp03.htm.
- Arizona
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