Proven Results

Black Bear has proven once again that we pay for our services by providing return on investment (ROI) to our clients.  We have completed Preconstruction services for the 8 Million dollar project -  Elicit Brewery in Danbury CT and with our own ideas achieved 8.5% in realized savings through Value Engineering of the projects direct work.  Below are a few of the VE ideas that we provided that were implemented.

• Elimination of a newly specified 800 AMP Electrical Main Distribution Panel and relocation of a 200 AMP panel by inventorying the existing electrical system and finding a better solution, RFI'ed and approved by Engineering Team
• Elimination and reduction of extensive return duct.
• Reuse instead of demo and replace sprinkler mains.
• Alternate exterior wall glazing systems and hardware.
• Redesign backside of primary parapet - Structural and Cosmetic.
• Finish flooring reductions in storage rooms mechanical and electrical rooms.
• Utilize and existing heavy duty framed skylight for framing in lieu of the costs to demolish and re-frame in place with new framing.
• Refinish existing oak sills in lieu of removal and replace with paint grade.

Black Bears 2022 and 2023 efforts of direct ideas resulted in over a 12% impact to increased revenue for our clients and actually exceeded our costs to them.  Yes, we paid for ourselves, see examples below:

• Black Bear procured additional project management and Superintendent costs for changes in work and schedule extensions resulting in $92,900 in additional funds or 3.09% of the total project value for one of its customers in 2022

• Black Bear also provided in increase in contractually accurate billable general conditions costs of $8800 or .30% of total project value for one of its clients In 2022

• Black Bear additionally assisted in a value engineering effort to allow a project to continue which saved its customer $250,000 or an 8.92% reduction from original budget with 10% of that savings becoming increased revenue for our client.

• These items combined had an impact of 12.31% in positive additional revenue/savings for our clients.

• Black Bear avoided $30,000 in costs when we declined to sign an aggressive ICRA containment wall system when pressed to do so by end user Project Management. Black Bear opted to review the documents thoroughly first and after reviewing these suddenly presented documents it became very clear they were not in line with the original bid documents and inclusive of much more scope/additional cost. Instead of signing the document,,  a change order  request was returned with the unsigned document for the additional costs associated or the option to find another way to contain the project for the original base bid amount which was ultimately chosen.

• Black Bear ensured that a structural steel staircase installed by another contractor was reviewed and approved by the structural engineer of record before allowing our client to install finish treads and risers.  This prevented potential future liability (life safety), potential stone tread cracking/failures or possibly worse, a staircase failure/collapse. After several discussions with the design team of record they understood the importance and provided the stamped documentation requested.   This Provided our client the proper legal documents to proceed. If our client proceeded without this steel stair properly checked, and their had been structural defects/problems, our client would have had an uphill battle without this sign off.