Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Poplar Island: Last time I blogged I had a conundrum on suitable temporary coffer dam configurations for the installation of the proposed dual purpose inlet / spillway structure. The proposed solution seems to make better use of equipment and resources and avoids re-mobilization of manpower and equipment. There are other potential benefits in so far as one of the temporary structures may be able to provide another dual purpose by acting as a ‘check dam’ for later stages of the project but I need to research this a little more first.

I have begun the stakeholder engagement to see if the proposed structure could have any wider benefits to the other users (such as the Ports Authority, University of Maryland or the Environmental Protection Agency) as I have seen testing stations precariously jerry-rigged to similar structures around the island. I basically want to see if we can incorporate something into the design that will make life easier for others. The initial response has been one of outright flabbergast. Apparently people don’t normally think outside of their bubble and the invitation to have input has so far been well received…..though I may live to regret it and start sticking to my own bubble as a result!

My current puzzle is to figure a way to make stop-log structures stop leaking without introducing bulk heads or spending any money…..this will be a fun one. [Richard – I’m sure you’ve puzzled over this in a previous life, perhaps during a long pause in a bell-ringing session – any thoughts or guidance will be gratefully received (bell ringing or otherwise)].

Stop-log structures used at Poplar

Building 45 Seismic analysis: Having been totally flummoxed by random circular references in the codes I have finally made some headway. The problem is that it’s not just the building codes that count, it is also subject to additional requirements because it is a federal building….which also references more design guides but in a way that only serves to complicate the issue. I have since discovered that because of this they have had to produce a ‘codemaster’ booklet just to help us poor mortals actually put pen to paper instead spending a lifetime reading in circles. I have undertaken a pretty extensive desk study and created the framework for the report to hang off of as well as generating a field check list for the survey itself to make sure we don’t miss anything. Thankfully the seismic analysis is based more on empirical data and observations of particular building types and their observed responses to seismic activity from previous events as opposed to having to come up with a super cone-head analysis and FEM….phew. Unfortunately the owners appear to want the moon on a stick included within their scope of works and now the whole renovation is in jeopardy unless they can trim it down somewhat.

Levee Screenings:…are long and tedious. Thankfully they spread the love on these so I won’t be stuck in damnation for too long. They are actually a really good way of learning from the experts, some of the knowledge they’ve spent a lifetime building up so I won’t complain.

Occupational Health and Safety Audit: Me and my big mouth. Having done my last TMR on H&S and asking lots of H&S questions of everyone, when the shit sandwich of dealing with the baseline info for the ARMY wide review came in – guess where it fell. I did a bit of questioning with the poor soul at the next level up who was eating an even bigger sandwich, it turned out the deadlines for this were tighter than PET student with a 75% thesis submission due. Ultimately I devised a questionnaire, gathered a sample set of folks, got the data and turned it around in quick time with a whole bunch of wider recommendations to push up the chain. It’s all gone quiet again for now but the next phase will be to revise the office H&S procedures, update the risk assessments and make sure everyone is processed….perhaps I will fake a heart attack that day.

Officer Professional Development: The most recent OPD was a trip to Washington DC with the other ‘green skins’ to have a look at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the USACE HQ to see how they deal with emergencies, coordination of resources and command and control. Having comfortably making it through security to the briefing room FEMA decided that they still haven’t forgiven the Brits for that little misunderstanding in 1812 and ejected Ben and myself. Not to worry – we caught up with everyone for the USACE HQ brief where we got all the info anyway (go figure). Unfortunately I made a comparison of us being the foreign soldiers creating admin issues to the floppies at Sandhurst. I think Ben is now paranoid that the USACE lot think we’re the floppies….sorry Ben.

The OPD concluded with ‘Chem-Ops’ – the codename that was applied for us going to one of the officer’s houses and learning how to brew beer….all educational. Ben and I added to the educational theme by delivering a presentation on the history of the Corps, key achievements, current day and future……while they drank beer. I found that this makes an audience much more forgiving and would like to propose that this is how we should undertake the senior officer de-briefs in phase 4.

Other News:

I’m quietly confident that my long term light-rail stalker has moved to Canada – I feel safer already, but I appear to have picked up a stalker from the IT department now and am convinced he’s even more dangerous. I’m considering tracking down George in Canada to tell him all is forgiven….or better still – hook him up with IT stalker.

Ulli has progressed well with her horse riding and took part in her first fox hunt recently…..I didn’t ask what was for dinner that night.

…And the Baltimore Ravens have taken the Superbowl. What a game! They were…….running…..and hitting each other……and sometimes kicking the thing. I really have no idea what was going on, but if they had lost I am led to believe that Baltimore would be in flames about now. The parade is this Wednesday – so I will acquire a giant purple foam hand and show my support….and hope that nobody asks me anything about the game.

EDC Solarwall

Have been doing my utmost to corral the the USACE team to turn some submissions around in double time to help the contractor get back on schedule (To show willing and to slap them with when/if they start letting us down on submittals.) On the whole – a good response except from the Client who chinned this off all together…..well it’s their money I suppose.

Ashley Reservist Centre

Investigations on concrete issues on loading ramp led me to spot that another blob of concrete had been poured under similar conditions to the defective ramps. Spoke with ConRep on site to go and have a lo look and lo-and-behold we have other defects there too. The can of worms gets bigger. Other rising issues include continued lack of prep inspections and potential issues with a roof truss hanger system.

Officer Professional Development (OPD)

A demo of the debris clearance vessels  used by the Corps to maintain waterways came across as a very good excuse for a jolly on the Potomac, cruising around Washington DC in the sunshine…..very nice. This was immediately followed by….

Media Training

Having stepped off the boat onto dry land I was accosted by the media team asking for an on the spot interview in relation to a scenario we were given earlier that morning. A plane had crashed into one of the bridges on the river and carnage ensued (This actually happened about 30 years ago). Not to worry – I told them that the passengers were all entitled to a full refund, all survivors would get a free boat trip on the Corps vessels and that conveniently the boats could deal with the dead folk using the big buckets on the front of the vessels….Thankfully, Colonel Anderson was laughing when all of this got played back at district….

…I have subsequently volunteered to go speak in schools at career days. First one is on Friday 1st June. They didn’t even ask for CRB checks!

In other news…

Col Foley visit admin developing well – thanks to the PEW clerks he is no longer staying in Harrisburg. (He would have had too much attention from the six-fingered cousins – so now we just have to protect him from the drug dealers and serial killers of Baltimore, but at least it’s a better quality of scroat. Also – I get to send him the DVD box set of ‘The Wire’ to use as my ground brief and orientation.)

‘Eat. Spit. Be Happy’ that’s what it says on my bag of sunflower seeds……so I’m off to do some spittin’

McFry – Out

EDC SOLARWALL

As everyone is on time codes around here, they get protective over them and I had to kick the authorising office to release funding for our ConRep here on site to book his time to. I get a distinct feeling that if this had not happened then we would find ourselves locking horns further down the line trying to justify the hours. Thankfully HRH The Queen has not asked for a time code and my time remains free of charge to USACE unless I can come up with a cunning plan to make some money out here…..

During the weekly meeting I enquired about the findings of the investigation of the existing wall construction and the contractor made an almighty slip up in blabbing about extra costs and the conversation quickly turned into a regain when they realised the Client was listening in. The phrase – “please stop talking you’re scaring scaring the government” really made my day. The contractor was invited to consolidate his (collective) thoughts on how best to approach us with cost variations instead of just banding ideas around in an open forum. Have heard nothing back as yet, but having reviewed the documentation it looks like the cost will be materials based. This highlights the beauty of the ‘option’ system of bidding within a government environment. It allows a bid price to be put in with several options, meaning that whatever level is actually approved can be spent and in instances such as this, the options can be tweaked to make sure you still get the best value for money without the whole project falling through.

I have also been coordinating potentially useful information for the contractor to use when compiling his method statements (de-conflicting site specifics and coordinating with facility managers and trying to pre-empt what they will need.) This is in the hope that subsequent submittals will be approved without the need for further comment and keep the timeline on track.

Reviewed design submittals – approved with comments back to contractor.

ECIP Project – Bldg 732 / 760

Attended kick off meeting for the installation of Solarwall on 2 other buildings on the depot. These are in concept phase and Rob Duke is involved from the E&M side of life.

School Visits

Have volunteered to take part in the outreach programme to go and promote science and engineering in the local schools. My first assignment is a careers day at a Baltimore Middle School – 12 – 14 yr olds, due to take place on 1 June. Further events will be planned provided I don’t get arrested at the first event.

Ashley Reservist Centre

Undertook further investigation and data collection for use in TMR1. Suicide level increasing.

And in other news….

This feature is temporarily cancelled due to lack of interest….

McFry – Out.

Hobbit 108 asked for some adfditional info on this stuff. I have been given a link to a web site that follows live data from a building that has this installed. It may offer a semi hardon to those inclined that way, but not for me. Rob Duke may be doing a TMR on something like this as he’s getting involved in some actual design (design being…step 1 – fit solar wall – step 2 – enjoy.) I also have some other docs for you to have a look at but haven’t yet figured out how to put pdf’s on here.

https://www.hobolink.com/p/19ce52151e42cc6c8fa66fdca93b35db

Laters.

Covers Period 30 April – May 4:

The best week so far at work! Plenty of variety and a chance to get the boots dirty, thus avoiding paper cuts in the office.

EDC SloarWall

At the end of the previous week the contractor had sent me a Risk Assessment (Called an Accident Hazard Analysis AHA over here). Essentially this was pipss poor and far too generic. I bounced it back to them with comments along the lines of ‘take this seriously or I’ll cancel your investigation’. This resulted in them sending ther H&S guy to supervise the task and conduct the relevant briefs and incorporating the issues that I had raised. Even so – our COn-Rep picked their guys up for lack of high-vis clothing, baseball caps under helmets, impropper ise of helmets, not using fall arestors when on the platform. Each of these issues were addressed on site before work continued but it was a constant bug-bear. The contractor has left with a much clearer perspective on the standards that the Corps requires. I have followed this up by sending the chapter and verse out to all parties who are expected to produce the AHA’s. In this respect we demand 100% commitment and complience – or they get 0% work completed at their expense…….I look forward to the inevitable repeat prescription on this.

Have been able to get the tech guys to be less vague about how they intend to deal with the roof ducting – as this overlaps two projects and had not been clearly defined as to where the responsibility on this project ended and the next one began. I was uncomfortable with the initial response as although everyone was happy to carry on working, it left contractual vagueries – and we all love those.

Ashley Reservist Centre.

Issues over defects on a loading ramp have come to a head and I have been giver catre-blanche to go and sort it out. This is going to be the basis for TMR 1 for me as there are opporetunities for technical analysis and research as well as contractual issues to solve. I booked the hotel etc and set off to spend 24 hoursd on site to investigate the defects, interview the contractors and gather evidence.

Breaking down the issues this is a historical birds nest of problems which will take a while to consider and provide appropriate solutions, but the best thing I was able to do was to apply the ‘big levers’ principle as preeched by the Moran and the Farmer. Cutting away all the chaff allows me to find the lever that allows the issue to be resolved and for work to continue. Bottom line solution is that the contractor will undertake spectrographic testing of the placed concrete to prove ifit was up to specification. This then triggers a decision point. If the concrete is up to standard, they recommend and submit remedial actions for us to authorise (at their cost). If it is sub-standard I will work with them to prove the extent of the sub-optimal concrete and the questionable areas will be removed and replaced (at their cost). Simples – but there are a plethora of other issues that also need to be resolved, some of them diplomatically, some of them bluntly. Other issues that need to be resolved are:

– Contractor’s Quality Control procedure has been historically lacking and is still not up to speed.
– USACE Quality assurance procedures are not being followed and need resolution.
– Materials testing documentation is not clear enough to give contractor the level of assurance he needs.
– USACE ConRep is not working cooperatively with the contractor…and vice-versa.
– Deficiency reporting procedure is not working or being applied appropriately.
– Communication on site is inadequate and will continue to cause further delays and disputes.
– Areas of the specification do not comply with the working drawings. Essentially we have 2 song sheets and each party is using whichever suits them best.

From here a quick and dirty report will be produced to get the ball rolling on the resolution. I will then drill into the detail and generate two versions of the findings. One for consumption within USACE and one for the contractor to see. Wrap all of this together and hopefully a TMR will fall out of the other end.

DDSP ECIP Buildings 732 / 760

Used our ninja APMP qualification and skills to review and comment on the proposed PMP for the energy efficiency projects for which I will be Project Engineer.

And in Other News

Enjoyed a site visit to the Mechanicsburg Reservist Centre project which appears to be running on fumes as far as funding goes……they said no blasting as well and look where that got them.

This week’s road kill includes deer, blackbird, hedgehog and possum…although the possum may have been pretending.

We enjoyed our first ever Cinco de Mayo celebrations / Kentucky Derby day. We attended a party where I now see that the theme was meant to be Kentucky Derby (i.e. posh hats and day at the races atire)……I went with the Mexican theme instead. And when we were in the fancy dress shop I saw the coolest Iron-man mask and simply had to have it. So to keep in the theme (or what I thought was the theme) I went as Iron-Man dressed as a mexican (with grigo moustache attached to the mask). In the group photos from the party there is one character that looks decidedly out of place.

Commercials on TV continue to horify me. Apparently your kids can get premature wrinkles. So if you really care about your kid’s future, you owe it to them to treat them with child friendly botox.

Does anyone have the Word template for JSP 101 that I can install? I’m sick of trying to wrestle with Bill Gates about this paragraph alignment!

Is there a link I can download it from?

McFry

PS – The motor Vehicle Authority boils my piss!

General

Have been offered the chance to do a 1-week project management course (PMP in the title)….and have politely declined.

Am now in the systems for DR Checks, PROJNET and RMS…….now I have to figure out what all that means. Am conducting some online training for which USACE makes excellent use of youtube! Very professional too.

EDC Solar Wall

Have rejected Contractor’s requests to design based on assumption (it’s the sort of thing I do on projects for John and his black magic soil mechanics – so you can’t shit a shitter). Have insisted on a survey and at every step they seem to upset the Client by making assumtions that they can just turn up and dismantle a mission critical distribution centre at will. Have coordinated accordingly and spoken several times ‘off line’ to help keep the parish at peace. I detected initial resistance to stumping up the costs for the investigation but a phone call to the CEO about bidding on a multi-million dollar project and then offering the most minimal of investigations after award has resolved the issue….especially seeing as there are more projects up for grabs.

Have refused requests for submittals to be delivered on a bi-weekly basis for review. This is based on issues observed on the Ashley project where this happened early on and caused delays that became contentios as to who caused them. Technically they were overdue from USACE, but technically the Contractor sat on them too and when the bulk arrived there was no prioritisation…. Just pay for the extra stamps and have done with it.

Have learned that I will be involved in two more solar wall projects that are currently at design stage.

HQ Project

The USACE geo geeks have tried to tackle the issue of blasting with the Client by delivering a presentation on how safe it is. I added my own experience on how far we can make steel girders fly when using ‘P for plenty’. The key pointr we found was that everyone from th eClient’s team knows that there is no blasting under any circumstances….they just don’t know why…or even if it’s written down anywhere. My thoughts are that it will be approved.

Other items that came to light are that a sewer running through the proposed site is to be replaced as part of the project (but only under the footprint of the building). The Client has admitted that it is currently in a state of disrepair, damaged and leaking. Then they wanted to know what assurances they have that blasting will not worsen the sewer and how they prove or disprove that the Contractor will or will not be liable. He then joked that either way he would prove it to be their fault. My comments were that actually USACE would have to act to protect the contractor in those circumstances. They then mentioned that they have aspirations to repair the sewer. I will tactfully pry and enquire as to why they aren’t pushing to do some joined up engineering and schedule the repairs to coincide with the HQ project, reducing risk, potentially lowering costs and providing better value.

Ashley Reservist Centre

The issue of the concrete pours and quality assurance / control are becoming critical. Have been authorised to travel to site and book overnight stays if necessary to get amongst the problem and find the best way to proceed. This is going to be a case of balencing the effect on delays and cost with the residual risk retained by the Corps. Simple solution = tear it all out and start again = delays + Costs + contractor potentially making a huge loss and going bust = more delay + re-letting etc etc. Alternative solution = allow more testing and verification + fix the QC / QA problems + minimise re-builds + minimise delays = potential for future failures of the concrete to be on the USACE flick. How ill the intrepid hero fair? Will they find a solution? Who invented liquid soap? Tune in next time for the continuing adventures of Herge’s Tin Tin and the Reservist Centre of Contractual Doom.

In Other News

Botox for kids advertised on TV…….only in America.

Have added rackoon, porcupine, turkey vulture, hare and possibly an aardvark (only 30% sure on that one) to the road kill identification register. Rackoon seems most durable to date.

Mr Country Man continues to have life kick the crap out of him. Mentioned this to the lady in the garage who suggested that playing it backwards has an amazing effect. His wife comes back, the dog is resurrected, he wins the lottery and lives happily ever after.

Have great day y’all.

McFry