After studies found that municipal building projects in New York City took far longer and were more costly than similar projects in the private sector, city officials will unveil a plan to reform the bidding process, Crain’s New York reported.
The revamped process is expected to produce a more streamlined process up front with fewer layers of approval and fewer design alterations midstream. Watchdog groups found that major project delays occur during the planning process, before construction begins.
One egregious example was a 400-square-foot park bathroom that cost $2 million and took eight years to build. The city hopes to implement the new rules by 2020.
One new feature would be the creation of a dedicated pot of funding for change orders. City officials hope that the reforms will increase competition and attract more bidders, including minority- and women-owned businesses.
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