Appendix J: Design Advisory Board Draft Guidelines
Construction Project Review Criteria
Category 1. NO REVIEW -- Projects Exempt from Board Review: • Any Projects with a Total Capital Construction Cost less than $500,000 regardless of fund source, except for line-item construction projects earmarked by the Congress • Federal Lands Highway Program (FLHP) Park Road Projects that are categorized “3R” • GSA Leases and Build-to-Suit Projects, except visitor centers or projects referred by the Comptroller • Leases on NPS-Owned Buildings that involve total capital construction less than $500,000 by the lessee • Housing Projects using the prototype catalog designs or pre-manufactured housing with capital construction costs that do not exceed 110 percent of the NPS Housing Cost Model (adapted from the Tri-Services Military Cost Model) • Vehicle or Vessel Replacements, if replacements are commercially available and are standard “off-the-shelf” variety • Concession Improvement Fund Projects (capital improvement projects using set-aside funds specified in concession contracts) that involve total capital construction less than $500,000 by the concessioner Category 1. NO REVIEW -- Required Documentation: A brief project description should be provided to Construction Program Management (CPM) staff via email if there is any question about the applicability of the exemption criteria; CPM staff will provide a written response.
Category 2. PROJECT REVIEW -- Submission of a Review Package Required: • Any Projects Over $500,000, regardless of fund source, that involve new capital construction or replacement; expand the size and/or capacity by more than 10 percent; or change the function of a facility • All Line-Item Construction Projects • All FLHP Park Road Projects that involve new construction or are categorized “4R” • Housing Projects using the prototype catalog designs or pre-manufactured housing with capital construction costs that are between 110 percent and 125 percent of the NPS Housing Cost Model require review by the WASO Housing Office and the Associate Director for Park Planning, Facilities, and Lands • Housing Projects using original designs • Housing Projects using the prototype catalog designs or pre-manufactured housing with capital construction costs exceeding 110 percent of the NPS Housing Cost Model • All Partnership or Donated Funds Projects that involve total capital construction over $500,000 will be reviewed at the conceptual stage and may be reviewed a second time at the end of pre-design work. Conceptual review should occur before the NPS has committed to the project in an interagency, cooperative, lease, concession contract, or other partnership agreement or, in the case of donated funds, before the Director has approved a fund-raising agreement.
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Category 2. PROJECT REVIEW -- Required Review Package Documentation: A full review package as outlined in the project review checklist must be submitted electronically to the Construction Program Management staff for all the project types listed in Category 2, except housing projects with capital construction costs between 110 percent and 125 percent of the NPS Housing Cost Model. These housing projects must submit a Director’s Approval Form and a summary of the NPS Housing Cost Model for the project to the WASO Housing Office for review by Housing Office staff and the Associate Director for Park Planning, Facilities and Lands. Category 2. PROJECT REVIEW -- Presentation Thresholds: A. No Formal Presentation (unless a DAB Project Review Committee recommendation is appealed) ◊ Pass-Through Funding Projects (i.e. funds to be managed by a non-NPS organization for work on a facility not owned, or to-be-owned, by the NPS) ◊ FLHP Park Road Projects categorized “4R” ◊ Projects with a Net Cost Less Than $5 Million that are within budget, scope, and schedule except visitor centers; National Historic Landmarks; projects requiring an EIS; projects using new or unproven technology and/or design solutions (See B. below) ◊ Projects with a Net Cost Less Than $5 Million that are using a prototype design or a design approach similar to other projects already reviewed by the Board B. Formal Presentation May Be Required ◊ Projects that have experienced significant changes in budget, scope, and/or schedule ◊ Projects with a Net Cost Greater than $5 Million ◊ Conceptual Review of Partnership Projects with a Net Cost Greater than $500,000 (to be done in conjunction with DO-21 review prior to Director’s approval of a fundraising agreement or prior to execution of an interagency agreement, lease, concession contract, or other partnership agreement) ◊ Pre-Design Review of Partnership Projects with a Net Cost Greater than $5 million ◊ All Visitor Facility Projects, regardless of cost or name (visitor center or center preceded by another adjective such as cultural, heritage, education, learning, discovery, transit, etc.) ◊ National Historic Landmark Projects with a Net Cost Greater than $1 million ◊ Line-Item Construction Projects with a Net Cost Greater than $1 million that require an environmental impact statement ◊ All Line-Item Construction Congressional Earmark Projects except pass-through funding or funds designated solely for planning purposes ◊ Projects Using New or Unproven Technology and/or Design Solutions ◊ Projects Referred by the DAB Project Review Committee, or chosen for random audit by either the Board or the Committee
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