A First-of-Its-Kind Delivery: Overcoming Complex Obstacles Ahead of Schedule

Challenge

The State of Tennessee’s first Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract at the Design Development (DD) stage introduced unfamiliar processes and high stakes from day one. Delivering a GMP at this stage required Flintco to bridge documentation gaps between design phases while keeping the project on schedule and within budget.

Early construction revealed unexpected obstacles: hydro excavation along Milton Wilson Road uncovered an 8-inch pressurized gas line directly in the planned storm drainage path. The team faced the challenge of rerouting infrastructure around the gas line, existing streetlight circuits, and sidewalk grading, all while managing overhead power lines that spanned the active work zone. Compounding these construction challenges, the project was funded with federal COVID-19 relief funds, requiring heightened documentation and audit-ready transparency at every step.

Solution

Flintco partnered closely with the owner to establish workflow protocols. This included resolving details related to window alignment, waterproofing systems, and building facade elements to ensure constructability and quality while maintaining schedule and budget.

When the gas line conflict was discovered, the team collaborated with designers and the earthwork contractor to establish an alternative routing that avoided service disruptions. Hydro excavation continued with precision, installing inlets above the gas line and threading drainage pipes around underground conflicts. For overhead power hazards, Flintco developed detailed lift plans positioning cranes safely to eliminate contact risks, maintaining these procedures for months until the lines could be removed. Every phase of work was thoroughly documented to ensure compliance with federal standards and maintain audit readiness throughout construction.

Results

Flintco proposed an 18-month schedule at bid and delivered the State of Tennessee’s first DD-stage GMP contract safely, on budget, and six months ahead of the owner’s original two-year expectation. The team met this aggressive timeline while navigating mid-construction utility redesigns, overhead power hazards, and underground conflicts—achieving zero safety incidents across all high-risk activities. Of the three Tennessee projects executed using the state’s new DD-stage GMP approach, Flintco led in speed, quality, and owner satisfaction, setting a new benchmark for future projects. The team’s documented processes now provide a proven framework for successfully delivering GMP contracts at the Design Development stage.