The Department of General Services (DGS) Capital Improvements Program supports the planning, design, construction, renovation, and replacement of facilities required by the operating departments of the County government. In addition, the program provides for the scheduled replacement of roofs, internal systems (such as air conditioning), and other components in all buildings owned by the County government.In addition to general government projects directly under the supervision of DGS, the department conducts site selection and design/construction coordination for facility-related projects required by other County departments: including Libraries, Recreation, Fire/Rescue, Police, Correction and Rehabilitation, and Transportation. These projects make use...

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

The Department of General Services (DGS) Capital Improvements Program supports the planning, design, construction, renovation, and replacement of facilities required by the operating departments of the County government. In addition, the program provides for the scheduled replacement of roofs, internal systems (such as air conditioning), and other components in all buildings owned by the County government.

In addition to general government projects directly under the supervision of DGS, the department conducts site selection and design/construction coordination for facility-related projects required by other County departments: including Libraries, Recreation, Fire/Rescue, Police, Correction and Rehabilitation, and Transportation. These projects make use of DGS design and construction management expertise and are discussed in sections of the CIP covering the specific programs of the other departments.

The DGS Capital Program continues to reflect an emphasis on systemic replacement programs. Significant expenditures include heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC) systems and roof replacement, as they are the two most expensive components of a building. Projects such as Energy Conservation: MCG (Montgomery County Government) and Energy Systems Modernization are investments in lower operating costs through improved and more efficient lighting and other energy-consuming systems.

In addition to systems replacement and improvement programs, DGS builds, repairs, and renovates structures used by County agencies. When operating departments propose renovations to their buildings (such as libraries or fire stations) for improved operational use, DGS also assesses the condition of the physical plant and building systems. Generally, if a decision is made to renovate a specific facility, all work will be included within the project. If less than a full-scale renovation is needed, work required for roofs, HVAC, electrical systems, and modifications to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be budgeted within the respective systemic projects.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Continue to replace aging County building roof systems, parking lots, HVAC and electrical systems, and elevator systems.
• Increase funding for Energy Conservation: MCG project using utility incentives from the Pepco/Exelon merger.
• Add new Facility Planning: MCG studies, including: Alternate Emergency Communications Center, Chevy Chase Library Redevelopment, Clarksburg Library, and North County Transit Depot.
• Complete the renovations of the Council Office Building and Rockville Core projects (Grey Courthouse) in FY21.
• Increase funding in the Public Safety System Modernization project to acquire desktop radio consoles for the Alternative Emergency Communications Center to simplify and streamline operations by having the same equipment at both the Emergency Communications Center and the Alternative Communications Center, and to purchase messaging and responder location solutions for subscriber radios to improve the accuracy of personnel locations and reporting times for incident responses. All 22 radio site locations were finalized in 2019 and the County plans to award the contract for the Public Safety Modernization records management system (RMS) in 2020 and the implementation will be completed approximately 18 months from the contract award.

PROGRAM CONTACTS

Contact Angela Dizelos of the Department of General Services at 240.777.6028 or Naeem Mia of the Office of Management and Budget at 240.777.2786 for more information regarding the County Offices and Other Improvements capital budget.

CAPITAL PROGRAM REVIEW

The recommended FY21-26 CIP for DGS includes 20 capital projects totaling $208.0 million. This represents a $64.3 million, or 23.6 percent decrease from the $272.3 million included in the amended FY19-24 program. The cost decrease is due primarily to the completion or substantial completion of three projects: the Council Office Building Renovation, Council Office Building Garage Renovation, and Rockville Core.

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