In 2019, Planate embarked on a new initiative to provide turn-key design-propose-build services for our client in support of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Preparedness Program (CP2). Under CP2, DTRA provides training and equipment to build the capabilities of Partner Nations to respond to Weapons of Mass Destruction incidents. Planate is a proud partner supporting this important worldwide mission.
Under this contract, Planate provides full-spectrum planning, design, contracting, and construction management services for a facility project in Ukraine supporting the State Emergency Service. Due to the remote location of this project, Planate established a distributed management approach. This approach maximizes the use of existing Planate employees in Eastern Europe, while also acquiring a reliable local Architecture-Engineer (A-E) firm and General Contractor (GC) to execute the work and ensure compliance with respective national building codes and other governmental requirements. Establishing this distributed team eliminated the need to deploy a resident design engineer and construction manager to the site, thus substantially reducing project overhead costs. Project coordination for all phases was largely conducted virtually through daily email correspondence, recurring project status reports, and regular virtual teleconferences.
When COVID-19 erupted in Spring 2020, the project was deep into the design phase. Because the design was executed via a local A-E with the ability to work from home, the design progress was relatively unhampered despite government-imposed travel restrictions, lockdowns, quarantines, and business closures. In fact, the designs, GC pre-qualification, GC selection, and contract award for the project were all successfully accomplished during the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Planate’s communication tools made this project pandemic-proof. The project is now under construction and steaming toward successful completion. With COVID restrictions now lifting, Planate’s European staff have been able to conduct regular site visits to validate construction progress, verify quality and safety controls, and inspect project records. Our service delivery excellence despite significant challenges can be measured in the comments of our client:
“Planate has been a critical enabler for this project. Planate’s ability to flex and adapt to the changing conditions is truly remarkable. I cannot imagine pursuing these efforts without support from Planate’s experts in construction and project management.”
– Deputy Program Manager
