When Every Second Counts: Job Order Contracting (JOC) for Emergency 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. In this post, we’ll look at several examples of why JOC is an effective vehicle for emergency construction projects.

County of Monterey Flood Debris Clean Up

Rainstorms pummeled the County of Monterey, breaching levees outside the Pajaro community. Rampant flooding devastated the area, engulfing homes, businesses and vehicles. Before the flooding completely receded, county officials, law enforcement, members of the California Office of Emergency Services and Gordian representatives were on site to assess the damage. They quickly went to work collaborating on a course of action.

Given that time was of the essence, county leaders opted to respond to the crisis with Gordian’s Job Order Contracting. This was a natural choice for two reasons. One reason is that the County of Monterey and Gordian have had a long, successful partnership dating back to 2013. The other is that JOC is predicated on preset, verified construction costs, eliminating the price spikes typically associated with emergency construction.  

As Monterey County Interim Chief of Facilities Florence Kabwasa-Green explained, the work in Pajaro, “Confirmed the benefits of having pre-existing competitively bid contractors and the means and methods in place to respond to emergency events.”

Teamwork was key to successful clean-up efforts in Pajaro. Local officials, Gordian representatives, area contractor R.F. Koerber, Inc. and other stakeholders developed daily proposals for each phase of the project and held twice-daily strategy meetings to respond to real-time conditions. Accurate Price Proposals were crucial, as they served as the basis for FEMA reimbursements for the work.  

Turning to Job Order Contracting for this emergency construction work enabled the County of Monterey to respond to the Pajaro flood with speed and flexibility. In all, they hauled almost 4,000 tons of debris from the community. More importantly, they quickly made it safe for people to return to their homes. This project was such a showcase of collaboration and dedication that Gordian honored the County of Monterey and R.F. Koerber with a 2023 Award of Merit in Job Order Contracting. 

But this was not the first time county leaders turned to Gordian JOC for disaster recovery and response.

Download this eBook for more on how JOC can minimize the financial impact of emergency construction.

Job Order Contracting Helps Aids County Wildfire Recovery

In August of 2020, the County of Monterey found itself in a most harrowing situation: Confronted with not one, but two wildfires. Flames first erupted outside Carmel Valley before a larger fire broke out approximately 40 miles southward, at Dolan Canyon. Gordian’s Job Order Contracting was instrumental in responding to and recovering from the fires.  

After 17 days and the heroic efforts of a multi-agency team of firefighters, the Carmel Fire was finally extinguished, though not before it consumed 6,905 acres of private and county land. As the flames subsided, extensive recovery and restoration work began. Granite Construction, the awarded contractor, cleared roads and ditches of burn debris, removed and replaced guardrails and road signs, and dug and repaired drainage systems running under the roads. Granite Construction also restored road shoulders to prevent erosion and took measures to ward off mudslides on the charred hills near the roadways.  

The emergency scope of work for the Dolan Fire was more straightforward and more pressing: The contractor’s team would remove downed trees blocking roadways that led to the still-burning fire, so firefighting crews could continue their struggle to contain it. This vital work paid off: By mid-November, the blaze was 98% contained. Winter rainfall doused the rest.

Georgia Department of Agriculture Completes Emergency Stabilization

Not every emergency construction project stems from a natural disaster or extreme weather event. For instance, a roof inspection at the Atlanta Farmers Market turned up failing concrete block in a critical load-bearing wall. The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), which owns and operates the market, acted quickly to preserve the safety of employees, vendors and the public.

GDA accessed a Gordian Job Order Contract via Georgia’s statewide JOC program. Known as Cooperative JOC (ezIQC® in some areas), these construction-ready shared contracts accelerate the delivery process, putting boots on the ground in a matter of days.

Place Services, Inc., a local contractor, and Gordian collaborated quickly to install temporary shoring and scaffolding to immediately prevent the roof from collapsing. These structures were left in place throughout the project to ensure the safety of all. Over time, the scope of the project changed to include restoring cracked beams and columns, reinforcing concrete block and securing brick veneer. This emergency construction project finished approximately four months after it began and cost around $400,000. Given the extraordinary circumstances involved, the collaborative efforts of the team and the project’s benefits to the community, the Atlanta Farmers Market repairs won a 2022 Award of Merit in Job Order Contracting.

New Jersey City Installs Emergency Generator

Emergency responses are made all the more effective by preventative measures. That’s why leaders at the City of Perth-Amboy (NJ) Public Works Department turned to Cooperative JOC to install an emergency generator with $250,000 in FEMA funding. The awarded contractor figured out a way to complete the project, despite cramped conditions.

Whether they need to respond quickly to today’s disaster or prepare for tomorrow’s, organizations across North America are using Gordian’s Job Order Contracting for emergency construction.