Scope of Services  |   Planning Systems  |  Typical Assignments

Equipment is an essential component of any building, determining space layout and design. For example, in institutions such as hospitals, fixed and movable equipment accounts for 25 to 30 percent of the total building cost. Early, comprehensive planning of move-in and start-up of operations can avoid major service disruptions in new facilities. For these reasons RMC believes that equipment planning and commissioning should be a fundamental part of the planning and design process.

RMC equipment planning specialists offer extensive experience in the areas of equipment coordination and procurement. Early involvement of equipment planning specialists provides a number of distinct advantages. Staff satisfaction is increased. Users (e.g., administrators, technicians and program delivery staff) are allowed more opportunity for input into the choice of equipment types and location.

A realistic equipment budget is determined early. Decisions relative to equipment quality and sophistication can then match the budget, assisting the owner in overall financial planning throughout the project.

Accurate information on equipment size and location is made available to the architects early in the design process, minimizing the risk of later changes and delays.

Practical, operational information is introduced to ensure an effective design of the hospital and to permit ongoing cost trade-off decisions.

RMC has developed a tested, comprehensive computerized equipment planning capability that generates outputs ranging from generic listings by room and department, through budgeting and specifications, to tendering, inventory control and preventive maintenance.

• The overall objectives of our equipment planning service are to provide a precise and comprehensive definition of the equipment requirements of a project, and to coordinate the procurement and installation of the equipment in conjunction with the construction program, permitting full operation at occupancy. Specifically, these objectives include:
  
  
• identify range and sophistication of equipment (type, quality and quantity) required to achieve the activities and operations identified in the functional program;
  
  
• evaluate the condition of existing equipment (nature, quality, capability, life expectancy and deficiencies);
  
  
• establish a procurement schedule related to the priorities of operational needs and the construction/occupancy schedule;
• prepare budgets by category and for the total equipment;
  
  
• identify potential specialty items, delivery lead times and procurement problems; and
  
  
• prepare specifications for equipment and general performance specifications for specialty items requiring custom design.

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Scope of Services

A comprehensive work program for equipment planning services includes the following major items:

• preparing a complete inventory of new and existing equipment required for the project, both in the construction and owner's budget;
  
  
• working closely with the administration, staff and users to ensure equipment needs are satisfied, relative to the approved level of programs and services;
  
  
• determining the scope of work required for the installation of the equipment and a related budget;
  
  
• coordinating with architects and engineers to ensure the correct and adequate building design occurs relative to the equipment and operational activity;
  
  
• preparing relevant design details for locating and selecting final items of equipment;
  
  
• preparing procurement documentation (drawings and specifications) to permit acquisition of equipment, either through a purchasing procedure or through the general contractor;
  
  
• sourcing equipment suppliers;
  
  
• processing or ordering/tendering and recommending on successful bidders;
  
  
• checking deliveries and condition of equipment and initiating claim procedures where necessary;
  
  
• supervising installation of equipment at site and making periodic visits to manufacturer's plant if required;
  
  
• ensuring that all applicable warranties, replacement parts, maintenance manuals, service agreements, etc., are provided; and coordinating all moving and relocation activities and actual occupancy.

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Planning Systems

An equipment coordination program must have maximum input from the end users to be effective. A major strength in RMC's approach is the involvement of users in all phases of the planning and decision making process.

To assist in the ongoing interaction between RMC's equipment planners and the clients' representatives, RMC has developed a fully computerized equipment coordination and maintenance program, consisting of six distinct but interconnected components.

Commissioning System brings together policies, procedures, programs, operational systems and methods, staffing, supplies, training, equipment testing, start-up and move-in. It ensures that the building is ready to be put to its intended use

Computerized Group Department Activity System defines, lists and sorts the various groups, departments and activities that make up the program delivery and organization structure of the institution.

Computerized Equipment Planning System provides current equipment lists for over 120 typical departments and 2,200 individual rooms for institutions such as hospitals, and includes data such as size, weight, mounting and costs. The program enables selective sorting of the total equipment list by different classifications or criteria.

Computerized Supply Planning System consists of a complete listing and specification of all supplies normally purchased out of the operational budget of an institution.

Computerized Equipment and Supply Purchasing System consists of complete specifications, tendering, tender analysis, purchasing and installation information of equipment and supplies.

Computerized Equipment Management System provides an integrated equipment management service, including updated inventory, preventive maintenance, work and cost summaries.

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Typical Assignments

Our staff members have provided equipment consulting to the following projects:

• As part of the Poland World Bank Health Services Project dealing with the restructuring of Poland's Health Care Services, RMC provided advice to the Polish Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and directed all aspects of planning and procurement of medical equipment for 3 selected regions of Poland in 6 health care priorities (cardiology, oncology, traumatology, perinatology, psychiatry, and mother & child health).
  
  
• For the Ontario Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation, prepared generic lists of equipment and furniture on a space-by-space basis (11,400 USM total area) as part of the Facilities Program of Requirements for the new Niagara Falls Office Complex. RMC also prepared layout drawings for all atypical spaces identifying the location of each item of furniture, equipment and related building system (electrical, mechanical and structural) requirements.
  
  
• As part of the Bahamas Health Care Project, prepared detailed room-by-room equipment lists and outline specifications for two new hospitals, a 551-bed referral and teaching facility in Nassau, and a 105-bed referral hospital in Freeport. Related RMC work also included the production of room data sheets and layouts, as well as the evaluation of existing equipment.
  
  
• Having previously completed the functional program, RMC was reappointed to provide equipment consulting to the Wetaskiwin General and Auxiliary Hospital and Nursing Home, a 215-bed multilevel care facility. Working closely with user committees, RMC prepared detailed equipment lists and specifications for all out-of-contract fixed and movable equipment, reviewed architectural drawings, prepared specifications and tender documents, and monitored equipment installation.
  
  
• For Dalhousie University Dental School, Halifax, Nova Scotia, provided services to a new 224-chair dental school with extensive research facilities. Evaluated and specified new and existing equipment, provided cubicle and laboratory designs, and completed budgeting.
  
  
• For James Bay General Hospital, Mossonee, Ontario, planned and specified all hospital equipment for two 17-bed hospitals on the coast of James Bay.
  
  
• Evaluated and listed all existing equipment for the University of Manitoba Dental School in Winnipeg, a 60 chair school (with 6 x-ray cubicles and 4 surgery cubicles). Also prepared alternative layouts for the laboratories, teaching cubicles and research facilities.
  
  
• Reviewed functional program and block diagrams, and established capital equipment budget for the 200-bed Good Samaritan Auxiliary Hospital and also for Stanton Yellowknife Hospital, Northwest Territories, a 135-bed facility.
  
  
• Provided comprehensive equipment coordination and purchasing services for the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alberta, a 465-bed regional hospital. Project included room-by-room listings; budget preparation and presentation; specification, tendering, purchasing and installation of all hospital equipment, except dietary and laundry.
  
  
• For the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, provided facility programming, equipment layouts and service specifications for the CSR and surgical suite, including general surgery, neurosurgery, plastic and cardiovascular surgery, urology, orthopaedic surgery and ENT.
  
  
• Provided equipment advisory services for Lac La Biche General Hospital in Alberta, a 75-bed acute care and 25-bed long term care hospital, including room-by-room listing of equipment, budget, assistance in writing specifications and tendering.
  
  
• Developed a new facility, coordinating most of the activities of the Alberta Research Council, including laboratory and support services for chemistry, geology, groundwater, solar wind energy, oil sands, transportation, gasoline and oil testing, coal and Bitumen microbiology. Project included facility programming, new and existing equipment coordination and specification, laboratory design, service requirements and budget forecasts.
  
  
• Completed inventory of all capital equipment for the 800-bed Edmonton General Hospital, including bar coding, listing, describing and documenting serial numbers, part numbers, name of manufacturer, location, age, cost and maintenance record.
  
  
• Performed equipment specification and budget for a special (intensive) care unit at Yorkton Union Hospital in Saskatchewan, as part of a major review of existing operations, future needs and development plans.
  
  
• For Workers' Compensation Board, Regina, Saskatchewan, provided equipment planning for a new rehabilitation facility including functional program analysis, room-by-room equipment listings, budget specifications and preparation, associated liaison with architects, detailed room layouts and identification of mechanical and electrical requirements.
  
  
• For Nigerian Technical Colleges, after preparing programming and designing new medical and science laboratories, RMC coordinated, evaluated and specified equipment for chemistry, pharmacy, physics, biology, microbiology, biochemistry, botany, haematology, bacteriology and clinical chemistry.

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