Seminar Scheduled to Discuss New Procurement System for Small, Multi-Trade Construction Jobs

The City of Naperville is excited to announce it is creating a Job Order Contracting (JOC) program to benefit the city and several of its intergovernmental partners.

This innovative method of handling small, simple and common construction projects is fiscally responsible and allows for more efficient completion of construction jobs. An informational seminar for interested contractors and subcontractors is scheduled for Thursday, January 13 from 7 to 9 a.m. in Council Chambers of the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.

"One of the most exciting elements of JOC is that we are creating this program to be a joint purchase between the city, Naperville Community Unit School District 203, Indian Prairie School District 204 and the Naperville Park District," Chief Procurement Officer Michael Bevis said. "These groups have the option to participate in getting better deals for taxpayers on construction services. JOCs let work get done faster and cheaper while still allowing maximum flexibility to organizations."

JOC, a program developed by the Gordian Group and in use throughout the country, can be used by the city to complete large numbers of smaller, multi-trade construction jobs throughout the duration of one single, competitively bid contract. Through this program, one general contractor will be available as an option to the city for construction jobs costing less than $100,000. Instead of having the city bid individually on contracts for these small jobs, the one contractor would be available to handle the work. Projects costing more than $100,000 would still be bid individually, and there is no obligation to use the selected contractor for any project, even one less than $100,000.

"The Park District has been focused on identifying operational efficiencies that help us to be even better stewards of the community's resources," explained Naperville Park District Executive Director Ray McGury. "A partnership like the JOC is an important step for the community and it will help the district continue to make progress in enhancing its overall efficiency."

The award recommendation for the selected JOC contractor will be presented to the Naperville City Council for approval later this spring. Contractors and subcontractors interested in attending the seminar and who have questions should contact Procurement Specialist Jan Fischer at (630) 420-6062.

"Naperville School District 203 supports the city in their efforts to find new ways to potentially reduce costs and improve efficiencies," stated Dave Zager, Chief Financial Officer for Naperville District 203. "Job Order Contracting gives us another option to consider in cases where the project falls below Board of Education policy limits requiring a formal bidding process and the process meets with the Project Labor Agreement the district has in place with the unions."

For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us. Sign up to receive the latest news on the City of Naperville's projects and initiatives via e-mail at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.