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C-Site Investigation Team Roles/Responsibilities and Worksheet

Roles/Responsibilities GSA Outsource
Team Leader

The Team Leader can be from any discipline, for example, real estate, asset management, or project management, as long as he or she has a thorough knowledge of the site selection process, real estate transactions, and the Uniform Relocation Act. Some of these duties also can be accomplished by other GSA staff and consultants. The Team Leader can allocate distribution of responsibilities.
  • Has knowledge of Uniform Relocation Act, complex real estate transactions, and condemnation.
  • Plans, coordinates, leads, and assigns team responsibilities.
  • Prepares and publishes newspaper advertisements soliciting site(s) and donation of site(s).
  • Opens and records all offers received.
  • Prepares a synopsis of all offered sites.
  • Leads team to identify and inspect unoffered sites that are deemed to be suitable for consideration.
  • Photographs all sites, interviews offerors, and answers acquisition and relocation questions.
  • Arranges meetings with local municipalities; guides team in analyzing sites; and gathers all reports, correspondence, and data for inclusion in the Site Investigation Report (SIR).
  • Compiles the data and writes the SIR.
  • Acts as primary contact with property owners regarding the site investigation.
  • Gathers data for relocation estimate and preliminary survey of site.
  • Serves as single point of contact for the Communications Plan.
  
Asset/Portfolio Manager
  • Ensures that site selection maintains Prospectus integrity (i.e., size, delineated area, cost).
  • Ensures NEPA and NHPA Section 106 compliance.
  • Obtains floodplain/wetland status.
  • Conducts initial research on land use and local plan compatibility (Comprehensive Plan, Master Plan, Redevelopment Districts, ordinances, special plans, etc.) with the proposed action. \
  • Follows up with local planning and other applicable
    departments.
 		  
Communications Specialist
  • Works with Team Leader to develop Communications Plan for project.
  • Assists in outreach to community and stakeholders.
  • Drafts communications for release to the public and the media.
  • Assists Team Leader with development and release of all external and internal communications.
 		  
Local GSA Regional Officer/Urban Development Specialist

This person may have a different title, but will be a virtual part of the Urban Development Center.
  • Provides team input and guidance regarding the coordination with local communities and stakeholders.
  • Identifies local entities that can bring alternate sites and solutions to bear on the site selection process.
  • Coordinates meetings with local municipalities, development organizations, and other stakeholders for the purpose of design charrettes and so forth.
 		  
Project Manager
  • Facilitates resolution of issues and problems through the GSA Central Office, ARA, and local managers.
  • Ensures that appropriate funds and human resources are available to support the team.
  • Acts as customer agency liaison with Regional Account Manager.
  • Works with Asset Manager to determine delineated area and agency-specific selection criteria.
  • Advises team on overall project schedule and when site
    selection impacts design award and demolition.
  • Integrates all program schedules into overall Project Management Plan.
  • Answers design and construction questions and concerns of offerors and local stakeholders.
 		  
Regional Counsel

This is a team support member who is called upon as needed for legal advice and typically does not accompany the team on site investigation trips.
  • Assures compliance with all environmental and acquisition laws and advises the team on legal questions that may arise regarding aspects of acquiring the property. Consults with the team on complicated title issues and condemnation aspects of site selection.
  • Reviews NEPA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or Record of Decision (ROD) to ensure compliance with environmental laws before site is officially selected.
  • Reviews agent’s authorizations for legal sufficiency and reviews offers.
  • Participates in the development and review of Memorandums of Agreement with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). Consults on content of other documents, as requested.
 		  
Regional Environmental Quality Advisor
  • Provides technical advice to the team.
  • Manages and reviews all GSA NEPA analysis.
  • Acts as primary contact for NEPA activities and oversees NEPA process for projects in the Region.
 		  
Regional Historic Preservation Officer
  • Determines need for archaeological/cultural resource studies.
  • Communicates and coordinates with SHPO and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
  • Reviews consultants’ reports and summarizes results and recommendations.
  • Acts as the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) for consultants’ contracts.
  • Participates in and/or leads public meetings regarding the
    cultural resources impacted by the project, for example, historic buildings or districts, archaeological resources.
 		  
Regional Realty Representative or Designee

This person participates as customer agency liaison on site-specific lease construction site investigations. He or she also leases and assigns space in federal buildings.
  • Receives information for review and comment on federal construction sites.
  • Coordinates with customer to establish preferred delineated area in accordance with the Prospectus (if applicable).
  • Coordinates with customer to establish agency-specific selection criteria.
  • Prepares and negotiates the assignable options.
  • Assists in analyzing site alternatives.
 
 		  
Customer Agency Representative

This person can make site decisions for the customer agency and accompany the team on the investigation and inspection of sites. Some agencies may prefer to receive information for review, comment, and approval of a recommended site.

Participates in both the analyzing and ranking sites.
 		  
Architect/Engineer
  • Prepares Building Program Assessment.
  • Manages subsurface/geological information and studies. Obtains floodplain and seismic data for alternate sites and ensures that site costs include provisions for each if necessary.
  • Evaluates utilities/energy availability, capacity.
  • Reviews zoning information, conducts Building and Zoning Code reviews.
  • Develops Master Plan.
  • Prepares site plans (proposed building footprint, parking, setbacks) for short-listed sites.
  • Develops drawings of site’s existing conditions/
    improvements.
  • Checks information on streets/traffic, topography,
    demolition/clearing of site.
  • Ensures that sustainable design criteria are considered in the site selection, as well as in the feasibility/site drawings.
 
 
Real Estate Appraiser
  • Gathers ownership information for unoffered sites.
  • Gathers tax information and comparable sales data.
  • Develops preliminary estimate of value for top three (3) sites.
  • Acts as COTR for fee appraiser contract.
 
 
Real Estate Due Diligence Consultant
  • Prepares Building Condition Assessment or Building Evaluation Report (BER) if applicable.
  • Prepares time line for capital improvements.
  • Prepares Building and Zoning Code reviews.
 
 
Security Assessment Specialist
  • Verifies all federal security requirements.
  • Ensures that proper security design criteria, setbacks, and so forth are incorporated into site plans and Feasibility Studies.
  • Provides crime statistics and special security studies as required.
  • Inspects sites with the team and assists in analyzing the security risks and costs associated with each site.
 
 
Archaeological Consultant
  • Assists the Regional Historic Preservation Officer with archaeological/cultural resource studies.
  
 
 
Civil Engineering Consultant
  • This person may perform some of the tasks listed under Architect/Engineer. Conducts land survey.
  • Conducts special studies for storm water runoff/
    retention and so forth.
  • Conducts site planning, master planning, and land use
    planning in concert with Architect.
  
 
Construction Consultant
  • Provides detailed cost estimating.
  • Ensures constructability.
  • Provides these services on a limited-scope basis. (This task is distinct from site design. The design contract should not be awarded until the site is identified.)
  
 
 
Environmental Due Diligence Consultant

Most regions use an umbrella environmental services contract.
  • Conducts NEPA study.
  • Conducts Phases I, II, and III Environmental Site Assessments, as required.
  • Assists with NHPA, archaeological, and cultural resource
    studies, as required.
  
 
 
Financial Consultant

Assists in determining project’s financial viability.

  
 
 
Geotechnical (Soils) Engineering Consultant
  • Prepares soil bearing analysis and report.
  • Prepares hydrology/geology reports.
  
 
Real Estate Broker/Consultant
  • Assists in locating sites and providing demographic
    information.
  • Assists in title search, market research, and trends analysis.
  • Functions as Site Investigation Advisor.
  
 
 
Traffic Engineer

Most regions use an umbrella environmental services contract.

Conducts traffic study and provides consulting services.

  
 
 

Using the Team Roles/Responsibilities Worksheet

The Team Leader uses the worksheet to develop a complete roster of GSA team and contractor roles/expertise and to identify the appropriate level of responsibility for each team member for each step of their involvement in the project. This exercise provides information to manage individual and team member activities, support efficient coordination across the team, and keep the activities moving smoothly and on schedule.

To complete the worksheet, select the appropriate roster of GSA team members and contractors for the project (adding or deleting roles as required). The descriptions of team roles and responsibilities on the previous pages may be helpful. Next, identify the level of responsibility for each step of their involvement. Finally, share the completed worksheet with all GSA team members and contractors.

The six levels of project responsibility are listed below.

  1. Authorizes and/or actuates
  2. Approves
  3. Performs
  4. Recommends and/or reviews and counsels
  5. Must be notified or consulted
  6. Receives documentation

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CONTACTS

William Landers
(817) 978-6159


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