Why Should You Attend the Best Value Conference?
For almost 18 years the Performance Based Studies Research Group, founded by Dr. Dean Kashiwagi, has been testing and refining a Best Value Business Model which has now been utilized over 975 times to improve the performance of projects and entire organizations. In environments of "cost" consciousness and lean times, it is even more critical to learn these concepts, tools, and processes that have been proven to perform across diverse industries. The Best Value Conference will show you how to use this leadership based model to decrease risk, stress, cost and management requirements, and to transform your business into a more efficient atmosphere.
Facility Managers & Owners
Need for a Best Value Environment
With the down turn of the economy and cut in government funding owners and facility managers are asking themselves similar questions “How do I decrease costs and management while increasing my quality and value?” Best Value Performance Information Procurement system (PIPS) offers owners, managers and buyers a unique option: Pay less, receive better service at a higher value, from an expert vendor.
Participants will learn the following concepts, among others:
- Changing a bureaucracy into a Best Value environment.
- Minimizing internal politics
- Optimizing the delivery of services
- Creating accountability
- Improving communication between procurement & technical end users.
Case Study:
Changing the General Services Administration (GSA) Region 6
General Services Administration (GSA) is the major supplier of products and communications for U.S. government offices. In 2009, the GSA, Region 6 partnered with ASU to assist in increasing the efficiency of the GSA, and increasing the performance of their outsourced services
Calculated Savings 1st Year Results (2009-2010)
| Metrics | 9 BV Projects | 32 Projects | Calculated Savings |
| Budget | 6% below | 4.5% below | $225,000 |
| Average Change Order Rate |
4% | 7.1% | $465,000/yr. |
Results of Best Value projects, compared to non-Best Value:
- Reduced - total # of change orders in projects by 6% (difference of approximately $1M dollars)
- Reduced - total # of project delays by 60% (difference of approximately 1,000 days)
- Decreased - total # of Construction Management (CM) functions by 50% (approximately $60,000 Savings)
- Increased - Project Manager (PM) Satisfaction by 50%
Vendors & Contractors
High Performing Contractors Can Win and Control in the Low-Bid Market
Many contractors are struggling for work and are dissatisfied with the low bid system. Many feel the best value award is not possible with current regulatory laws. Various efforts are focused fully on abolishing the low-bid awards through adjustments in local policy and procurement rulings.
Dr. Dean Kashiwagi, Director of the Performance Based Studies Research Group (PBSRG), has solved the issues with the low-bid award. His solution does not require a change of laws or owner policy. It requires a contractor to change their way of thinking: a paradigm shift from a reactive to a pro-active approach. Contractors that utilize Best Value concepts are able to maximize profit and minimize risk. Dr. Kashiwagi will rollout this methodology at the 2012 Best Value Conference.
This innovative practice places the destiny of a project in the hands of the highest performing contractor and not the lowest bid.
Wattle & Daub Contractors, a high performing contractor, has been testing this new approach with the PBSRG and is pleasantly surprised at the results. Thom Tisthammer of Wattle & Daub will be presenting, along with Dr. Kashiwagi, the methodology and all forms needed for this new approach.
Certified Best Value Contractors
At the conference owners will be encouraged to form best value advisory groups of contractors with documented performance and knowledge of best value practices. This documented performance will show their understanding and capability within a best value environment. This will help clients regulate and sustain best value processes.
Owners will be educated to seek contractors who have the Best Value Certification (Certified to run Best Value PIPS or PIRMS projects) and show how these contractors will influence the selection of contractors in the future. It will allow owners to see if the contractors can measure and control their project deviations and think in the best interest of the client.
In order to receive Best Value Certification, contractors should attend each day of the conference and sign up for the certification exam that will be administered at the end.
* Train the Trainer *
One of the most difficult tasks for clients and contractors is to train their own best value trainer. If you sign up for the "Train the Trainer" program at this year's conference, you will not only receive special training, but you will have personal access to Dr. Dean Kashiwagi, the founder of the PBSRG, for the rest of the year.
The requirement to be in this program is to pass the certification exam before attending the conference. The program will be a breakout session, and will only include advanced best value trainers. It will go for three of the four days, and will contain quizzes, exercises, presentations, and an exam. There is no additional cost for this program, but it will be capped at 50 attendees, so sign up now to secure your spot:
If you would like to sign-up for the "train the trainer" program, just check the corresponding box on the conference registration form. Your certification will be verified at that time.
Continuing Education Units (CEU's)
Upon your request, when the conference is complete you will receive a certificate for participation and education, good for 24 CEU credits. Contact Abe Kashiwagi for more information.
Testimonials
From Facility Managers & Owners:
“Best Value has opened my eyes to a simple, logical, and efficient way of handling projects. This is the beginning to an entire paradigm change for myself and the GSA.”
- Jeff Meyer, Project Manager, General Services Administration R6
"The best value model is a 360 degree approach to effecting cultural change, managing political acceptance and attracting high performance vendors for the best price."
- John Morrison, AIA, State Construction Administrator, Oklahoma Department of Central Services
"Best Value is simplistic, systematic, and it holds everybody accountable. And it shifts risk to the right place…the vendor."
- Mark Little, State Purchasing Manager, State of Idaho
From Vendors & Contractors:
“A huge benefit of Best Value is we are not being reactive to the client. As an expert in our industry, we're telling the customer what we're going to do for them, how we're going to do it, how we're going to measure ourselves, and it's predictable. It eliminates all the risks and all the unknowns, and it allows us to cleanly and clearly prove to a customer the value we are bringing.”
- Rick Ranft, Director of Compliance and Standards, Canon Business Solutions
“I've attended the conference for 4 years now and it has been extremely valuable to me. First you learn the theory and the fundamentals but then you get to meet people in the industries to find out how they're using it and what has worked well for them and learn from other people's lessons.“
- Blair McNeil, Construction Executive, M.A. Mortenson Construction
In Partnership With
