Scott D Davis
2008-02-22, 09:14 PM
There have been several topics recently about the use of Revit for government contracts, such as the Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and others. I have been working with several of my Autodesk counterparts to come up with some information for you all.
The following is from John Sullivan, a coworker of mine from Autodesk Business Development:
IFC moves some data, Revit exports to DGN V7 or DWG and thru AutoCAD 2008 to DGN V8, but you may want approach this concern from a different angle.
USACE has a history with Bentley, but many USACE projects are Revit deliverables today. The contract language out of USACE is highly variable. USACE is requiring BIM deliverables on most projects but it may not be clear why, or what the BIM will be used for.
Talk to your USACE contracting officer’s technical representative to get an understanding of what your district is looking for in a BIM and with its downstream use. Conversations with Cotar’s have been successful in getting design firms delivering Revit models.
Often times what is asked for is ahead of schedule of the USACE BIM Road MAP policy Document ERDC TR06-10 (page 9) if this is the case you can ask if this level of detail is necessary today, if the answer is yes ask for an example model to understand the required specificity.
You may want to ask questions about items found in recent USACE contract awards. For example:
If a requirement for cost estimating and BIM is included you may ask for an example model.
If a requirement for code checking BIM is included ask for example model.
IF an IFC deliverable is required ask for an example IFC file.
If facility data is requested ask for specifics, who should load this data. When?
If COBIE is required ask for an example dataset.
If you’re working a CoS project ask if a template CoS BIM is available.
Conflicting language often exists between the ability to choose the BIM application software, the ability to use interoperable (IFC 2xx) deliverables, or the prescription of a native Bentley BIM. Look for these differences in your contracts and ask for clarification.
A Bentley BIM deliverable may slow down specialty consultants or reduce the pool of available bidders. If USACE aligns with industry trends projects may be expedited. This is another topic of discussion for your Cotr.
This reply does not address the data exchange question directly, but these kinds of conversations with your USACE clients will focus on what is needed and why. You may end up with a Revit deliverable for your USACE project.
Here is an example of the raw USACE language in the RFP before editing:
It is also used in Section 01 33 16 Paragraph 3.7.1.6 to determine CAD System requirements. If project is FY08 and beyond the first section of Paragraph 3.7.1.6 will read as follows:
<COS>All submitted BIM Models and associated Facility Data shall be fully compatible with the latest release of the USACE Bentley BIM Workspace and respective file format, or as directed by the managing COS District.</COS><BIM_App_Neutral>Contractor shall select BIM application(s) and software(s) but all submitted BIM Models and associated Facility Data 17 January 2008 53 Wizard Instructions shall be fully compatible with any of the following file formats: Autodesk Revit 9.0 or higher, Bentley BIM XM or higher, or ArchiCAD 11 or higher.</BIM_App_Neutral> <BIM_App_Specific>All submitted BIM Models and associated Facility Data shall be fully compatible with <Autodesk_Revit>Autodesk Revit 9.0 or higher</Autodesk_Revit>, <Bentley_BIM>Bentley BIM XM or higher,</Bentley_BIM>, <ArchiCAD>ArchiCAD 11 or higher</ArchiCAD> file formats.</BIM_App_Specific> In addition subparagraph (d) as follows will be added to the paragraph. (d) See Attachment F for additional BIM requirements. BIM Model and associated Facility Data files shall be delivered in their native format. At a minimum, BIM files shall address major architecture design elements, major structural components, mechanical systems and electrical/communication distribution and elements as defined in Attachment F. See Attachment F for additional BIM requirements.
Revit does exist as part of the RFP language! Notice the text that is bracketed? Some USACE clients edit this language to only include Bentley before publishing the RFP. Bottom line: talk to your representatives and find out more about exactly what they are looking for and why. It can be Revit, as outlined in their own documentation.
The following is from John Sullivan, a coworker of mine from Autodesk Business Development:
IFC moves some data, Revit exports to DGN V7 or DWG and thru AutoCAD 2008 to DGN V8, but you may want approach this concern from a different angle.
USACE has a history with Bentley, but many USACE projects are Revit deliverables today. The contract language out of USACE is highly variable. USACE is requiring BIM deliverables on most projects but it may not be clear why, or what the BIM will be used for.
Talk to your USACE contracting officer’s technical representative to get an understanding of what your district is looking for in a BIM and with its downstream use. Conversations with Cotar’s have been successful in getting design firms delivering Revit models.
Often times what is asked for is ahead of schedule of the USACE BIM Road MAP policy Document ERDC TR06-10 (page 9) if this is the case you can ask if this level of detail is necessary today, if the answer is yes ask for an example model to understand the required specificity.
You may want to ask questions about items found in recent USACE contract awards. For example:
If a requirement for cost estimating and BIM is included you may ask for an example model.
If a requirement for code checking BIM is included ask for example model.
IF an IFC deliverable is required ask for an example IFC file.
If facility data is requested ask for specifics, who should load this data. When?
If COBIE is required ask for an example dataset.
If you’re working a CoS project ask if a template CoS BIM is available.
Conflicting language often exists between the ability to choose the BIM application software, the ability to use interoperable (IFC 2xx) deliverables, or the prescription of a native Bentley BIM. Look for these differences in your contracts and ask for clarification.
A Bentley BIM deliverable may slow down specialty consultants or reduce the pool of available bidders. If USACE aligns with industry trends projects may be expedited. This is another topic of discussion for your Cotr.
This reply does not address the data exchange question directly, but these kinds of conversations with your USACE clients will focus on what is needed and why. You may end up with a Revit deliverable for your USACE project.
Here is an example of the raw USACE language in the RFP before editing:
It is also used in Section 01 33 16 Paragraph 3.7.1.6 to determine CAD System requirements. If project is FY08 and beyond the first section of Paragraph 3.7.1.6 will read as follows:
<COS>All submitted BIM Models and associated Facility Data shall be fully compatible with the latest release of the USACE Bentley BIM Workspace and respective file format, or as directed by the managing COS District.</COS><BIM_App_Neutral>Contractor shall select BIM application(s) and software(s) but all submitted BIM Models and associated Facility Data 17 January 2008 53 Wizard Instructions shall be fully compatible with any of the following file formats: Autodesk Revit 9.0 or higher, Bentley BIM XM or higher, or ArchiCAD 11 or higher.</BIM_App_Neutral> <BIM_App_Specific>All submitted BIM Models and associated Facility Data shall be fully compatible with <Autodesk_Revit>Autodesk Revit 9.0 or higher</Autodesk_Revit>, <Bentley_BIM>Bentley BIM XM or higher,</Bentley_BIM>, <ArchiCAD>ArchiCAD 11 or higher</ArchiCAD> file formats.</BIM_App_Specific> In addition subparagraph (d) as follows will be added to the paragraph. (d) See Attachment F for additional BIM requirements. BIM Model and associated Facility Data files shall be delivered in their native format. At a minimum, BIM files shall address major architecture design elements, major structural components, mechanical systems and electrical/communication distribution and elements as defined in Attachment F. See Attachment F for additional BIM requirements.
Revit does exist as part of the RFP language! Notice the text that is bracketed? Some USACE clients edit this language to only include Bentley before publishing the RFP. Bottom line: talk to your representatives and find out more about exactly what they are looking for and why. It can be Revit, as outlined in their own documentation.