Fully Locally-Funded Public University Projects

Fully locally-funded definition: A project for which the funding is derived from the resources of the local Awarding Authority/Owner, including but not limited to federal and local funds, grants and donations (no state bond issue funds such as PSCA are involved).

Fully locally-funded public university projects are administered by DCM's Plan Review Division and Project Inspection Division, and are not administered by DCM's Contract Administration Division.

Plan Review Submittals, Pre-Construction Conferences, Inspections, and Fees

Plans and specifications of all four-year public University projects must be submitted to DCM for review, regardless of estimated construction cost.
All four-year public University projects require a DCM pre-construction conference and DCM inspections, regardless of estimated construction cost.

• Four-year public University projects estimated over $750,000.00:
  • A plan review can commence upon DCM's receipt of all required items including a completed B-1: Transmittal form (see Manual of Procedures - Chapter 3: Submittal Requirements & Procedures for Plan Review, plan review submittal highlights, and User Fees webpage). DCM cannot issue a Project Comment Letter unless any required Plan Review Fee has been paid. DCM's approval of the final submittal must be obtained, as well as DCM's approval of submittals of any Required Actions noted on the Project Comment Letter issued by DCM for the final submittal review must be obtained, prior to receipt of bids.
  • If the project involves a storm shelter, see DCM Bulletin #23-03: Updated Guidance on Mandatory Storm Shelters in New Buildings of Public Universities (Act 2012-554) dated 11/23/22, and note that the following three documents must be included in the project manual submitted for final plan review: DCM Form B-15: Owner’s Statement of Responsibility for Tornado Storm Shelter (Hurricane Shelter Where Applicable), DCM Form C-17: Contractor’s Statement of Responsibility for Construction of Tornado Storm Shelter (Hurricane Shelter Where Applicable), and DCM Form B-14: Certification of Structural Observations. Submittal instructions for completed DCM Forms C-17 and B-14 are provided at the bottom of the Forms.
  • The pre-construction conference can be scheduled after the Permit Fee payment is received. Benchmarks must then be met for required inspections listed in the Pre-Construction Conference Checklist including periodic and special inspections when applicable, final inspections, and year-end inspections.
  • The Certificate of Substantial Completion PowerForm must be used for such projects; initiate the Certificate PowerForm after Substantial Completion is declared Accepted at a Final Inspection meeting and you have received the DCM Inspector's Final Inspection report. Do not initiate the Certificate PowerForm prior to those two events.
• Fully locally-funded Four-year public University projects for capital improvement, or alterations, additions, repair, or maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems or any alterations, additions, repair, or maintenance of a roof, with both an estimated cost of $750,000.00 or Less and a contract awarded on or after 10/01/22:
  • Determination of whether or not a project is in the $750,000.00 or Less classification is based on the total estimated cost of the entire project including all phases and bid packages. $750K or Less projects with a contract awarded on or after 10/01/22 do not owe Plan Review Fees; such projects are still subject to DCM plan reviews which can commence upon DCM's receipt of all required items including a completed B-1: Transmittal form (see Manual of Procedures - Chapter 3: Submittal Requirements & Procedures for Plan Review, and plan review submittal highlights). DCM's Project Comment Letter for the Final submittal must be obtained, prior to receipt of bids.
  • If the project involves a storm shelter, see DCM Bulletin #23-03: Updated Guidance on Mandatory Storm Shelters in New Buildings of Public Universities (Act 2012-554) dated 11/23/22, and note that the following three documents must be included in the project manual submitted for final plan review: DCM Form B-15: Owner’s Statement of Responsibility for Tornado Storm Shelter (Hurricane Shelter Where Applicable), DCM Form C-17: Contractor’s Statement of Responsibility for Construction of Tornado Storm Shelter (Hurricane Shelter Where Applicable), and DCM Form B-14: Certification of Structural Observations. Submittal instructions for completed DCM Forms C-17 and B-14 are provided at the bottom of the Forms.
  • If total of bids received for all phases and bid packages does not exceed $750,000.00, then a Permit Fee is not owed; such projects are still subject to DCM pre-construction conferences and inspections. The pre-construction conference can be scheduled once the Project Comment Letter is issued for the Final Plan Review. Benchmarks must then be met for required inspections listed in the Pre-Construction Conference Checklist including periodic and special inspections when applicable, final inspections, and year-end inspections. Note: If total of bids received for all phases and bid packages exceeds $750,000.00, then a Permit Fee is owed.
  • The Certificate of Substantial Completion PowerForm must be used for such projects; initiate the Certificate PowerForm after Substantial Completion is declared Accepted at a Final Inspection meeting and you have received the DCM Inspector's Final Inspection report. Do not initiate the Certificate PowerForm prior to those two events.

Contract Documents, and Sales and Use Tax

• Fully locally-funded public university projects use contract documents as deemed appropriate by the Owner. If a University would like to discuss with DCM any aspects of university contract documents, please contact DCM Director Lee Desmond, lee.desmond@rpm.alabama.gov.
• Partially or fully Public School and College Authority (PSCA)-funded university projects are administered by DCM's Contract Administration Division, Plan Review Division and Project Inspection Division. PSCA forms must be used during PSCA-funded projects and submitted to DCM; see DCM's PSCA webpage for guidance on such projects.
• A Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption for a Government Entity Project administered by the Alabama Department of Revenue must be acquired separately by the Owner, General Contractor and Subcontractors per Act 2013-205 for each project.

Special Circumstances

• Emergency Projects
• Public Works Projects Costing $100,000.00 or Less
• Construction Self-Performance Projects
• Manufactured Buildings Projects

Schoolhouses are within DCM's Jurisdiction; Definition per Alabama Administrative Code 355-12-1.04

"Schoolhouses: Any building or other structure erected or acquired by the public schools of Alabama and also shall mean any private building in which 25 or more persons are congregated regularly for the purpose of instruction in any branch of knowledge."