National Institute of Building Sciences, 1090 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005-4905

C -- CASE STUDIES TEST OF NEW SEISMIC REHABILITATION GUIDELINES, FEMA 273/274 DUE 111797 POC Tom Hollenbach or Larry Anderson (202) 289-7800 The Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) is seeking design professionals from across the nation to analyze an assortment of mostly federal buildings at locations throughout the United States. Those selected will provide seismic rehabilitation designs for approximately 40 seismically deficient buildings using the recently developed NEHRP Guidelines for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings, FEMA 273, and its Commentary, FEMA 274 (together referred to as the Guidelines.) The Guidelines, completed in September 1997, reflect the current state of knowledge in seismic engineering practice. They include many innovations such as advanced engineering analysis procedures and a new approach to performance involving varying levels and acceptance criteria. The design professionals will earn fees for their work and also gain valuable knowledge and experience in the application of the Guidelines technology. Recognizing the latter, BSSC will favor consultants who offer to donate a portion of their effort to this project. The design professionals chosen to participate will have the support of experts well versed in the Guidelines, who will help them to apply the Guidelines and assess their progress. The consultants' experiences in using the Guidelines for the rehabilitation design of one or more assigned case study buildings will assist BSSC in answering the following questions: * Can the Guidelines be understood and applied by practicing design professionals of varying levels of experience? * Do the Guidelines result in rational designs generated in a reasonable and logical way? * What are the costs involved in seismically rehabilitating various types of buildings to the optional levels of performance both above and below the "basic safety objective" of the Guidelines? * Is the "basic safety objective" equivalent to, less stringent than, or more stringent than current practice for new construction? Any firm interested in participating should send an expression of interest with resumes of key personnel and experience data to BSSC. Experience in seismic rehabilitation is not a requirement, but diverse experience in structural engineering is necessary. Responsive replies will include a description of: * The firm's expertise in seismic design (firms with varying degrees of expertise are being sought), * The construction system or systems the firm is most interested in studying for this project (Please describe using terms such as steel braced frame, masonry, or concrete shear walls, etc.), * The building code that controls the majority of the firm's practice, and * How the firm determines cost estimates for projects. Expressions of interest must be submitted no later than November 17, 1997, to BSSC, 1090 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20005-4905. They may be faxed to (202) 289-1092 or e-mailed to thollenbach@nibs.org. Responses may not exceed six pages in length. Firms responding to this solicitation for expressions of interest that are identified as interested and qualified (at both basic and expert levels) will be invited to submit more detailed statements of their qualifications that can be used by BSSC in matching firms to one or more case study buildings. For further information, contact Tom Hollenbach at the BSSC at (202) 289-7800. Single copies of the Guidelines may be obtained by writing or calling the address and phone numbers noted above. (0300)

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