Going Big: Job Order Contracting (JOC) for Large-Scale Construction

Job Order Contracting (JOC) is an efficient and flexible construction procurement method that enables organizations to complete many projects with one competitively awarded contract. Responsible for tens of thousands of projects and $4 billion in construction volume every year, Gordian’s Job Order Contracting solutions are the go-to delivery method for various types of work. Historically, JOC has been associated with routine, operational work that often comes at lower costs. Those days are over. Let’s look at a few examples where JOC was used for large-scale construction.

City of Victorville Builds Unique Campus to Deliver Services

With a $28 million grant from the state of California in hand, City of Victorville leaders embarked on a noble journey to build a campus of facilities providing wraparound services to the unhoused. The cornerstone of the work completed by the city’s Homelessness Solutions Task Force, the goal of the Victorville Wellness Center is to offer housing that offers privacy and personal space for individuals, couples and families with children, provides meals and medical care, and has space for job training and adult learning opportunities, ultimately giving this vulnerable population a chance to alter the trajectory of their lives.

One term of the grant was that money had to be expended within eight months of award, a quick turn for such a large-scale project. City officials turned to Gordian’s Cooperative JOC to ensure the work was scoped and purchased ahead of the deadline.  

Cooperative JOC (known as ezIQC® in some areas) is the same as standalone, customized Job Order Contracts in several important ways. It allows for many projects to be completed with one contract. Prices are verified and preset. Work is managed on a powerful program management software. But there are some key differences.  

The most obvious is that with Cooperative JOC one organization (often a purchasing cooperative or a group purchasing organization) holds the contract and other entities access it. This unique structure comes with two downstream effects. The first is that contractors are vetted and ultimately awarded by the contract holder and Gordian. Also, preset prices are accurate for the region, but not for the local area as they are with a custom JOC contract. However, with all details ironed out, Cooperative JOC has the benefit of putting contractors on the ground within days. This speed was vital to the success of the Victorville Wellness Center project.  

Angeles Contractor, Inc. Completed work in phases, beginning with grounding and leveling before getting the buildings up and running. The City of Victorville expended grant funds within the allotted time frame and work finished in October of 2023. Today, the city has an innovative and humane campus to help the unhoused get back on their feet. The project made such a positive impact on the community, it took home Gordian’s 2023 Award of Excellence in Job Order Contracting, and honor that celebrates exceptional uses of JOC.

Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) Upgrades Scoreboards Statewide

When it comes to sports, facilities can – pardon the pun – level the playing field. Top-notch athletic programs maintain modern, reliable assets so players and coaches can focus on honing their craft. For high school programs, athletic facilities are highly visible; there’s no hiding substandard spaces from parents and fans.  

In 2023, the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) set aside funding to install new shot clocks and scoreboards in every high school gym across the state, 38 schools in total. This is an ambitious goal anywhere, but especially in Hawaii, where schools are located on different islands. To ensure the work was coordinated well and completed in advance of the following basketball season, HIDOE turned to Gordian’s Job Order Contracting. 

Work began in January of 2024, and awarded contractor Nan, Inc. aimed to install one shot clock a week. Nan met this aggressive timeline, even though doing so meant coordinating material and equipment shipments to keep the $3.1 million project moving.  

Worked wrapped in June, and now all 38 of Hawaii’s high school gyms have modern equipment that meets national standards, improving game play and elevating the spectator experience. The new shot clocks and scoreboards provide accurate timing, properly functioning horns for time outs and substitutions, and bright lights. Referees have noted improvements in game management and smoother game play. Most importantly, these communities have athletic facilities they can be proud of.

City of Miami Restores Historic Flagler Street

In May of 2021, the City of Miami broke ground on the Flagler Street Beautification and Reconstruction Project. Five years in the making, the $24 million project aims to remake a historic street in a vibrant retail district into a festival-style boulevard that would grow into a tourist destination. Given the existing delays, city leaders wanted to get moving as quickly as possible. That’s why they opted to complete the work using Gordian’s Cooperative JOC, a project delivery method with which the city has experienced incredible success.  

While the work is ongoing, the City of Miami has big plans for the Flagler Street revival. When the project is all said and done, tourists and locals will enjoy a wide, curbless street, expanded sidewalks with large shade trees and more upgrades for hosting community gatherings, festivals, art fairs and other events.