Overview

The NYC Health + Hospitals (HHC) is the largest public health care system in the United States with 11 hospitals currently at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the surge in COVID-19 patients and the strain it put on existing hospitals within New York City’s five boroughs, HHC needed to respond immediately by creating temporary relief in the form of hospitals to handle the overflow of patients caused by the pandemic. LiRo-Hill is assisting HHC with providing emergency response services on renovating 70,000 sf of vacant space and turning it into the 120-bed ICU Unit at North Central Bronx Hospital. LiRo-Hill was part of the team that completed the first floor of new patient beds within 45 days. This occasion was celebrated by a ribbon cutting ceremony held on May 5th.

About the Project

LiRo-Hill’s services on this emergency response project include environmental services, construction management, and coordination of multiple construction management teams and subcontractors, including FEMA documentation for reimbursement.

Project Challenges & Solutions

LiRo’s scope of work includes but is not limited to the following:

• Provide 24/7 support for project gate monitoring, collect and maintain contractor and consultant sign-in/ sign-out sheets, coordinate with contractors to ensure all staff have signed- in/ signed-out. After all sheets have been completed and collected, acquire sign off from HHC representative on site. Catalog all daily shift sheets for transfer to FEMA consultants for use. Record breakdown of project manpower per shift per contractor.
• Support project hazardous material removal. Sample all work areas as they relate to demolition work for various phases of construction. Provide project team with reports for all areas sampled for ACM and LBP. Work with contractor to file ACP5 and ACP7 notifications. Provide hazardous material project monitoring and air sampling as required for related work.
• Provide 24/7 support for project site safety. Review all contractors’ health and safety plans. Ensure that all on site tasks are being performed with documented job hazard analysis in place. Work with facility to ensure all aspects of the Infectious Control Risk Assessments are in place and up to par with hospital and industry standards. Make certain site is orderly, debris is removed at the end of each shift, and that activities are being conducted in accordance with site logistics plan. Make sure protection for tenants, pedestrians and others non-construction workers are in place as per applicable protection and security plans. Ensure all work activities are covered by Weekly Safety Plan, JHA is present for all work activities, designated competent person is present and personnel requiring certificates or licenses are present as indicated in JHA or SWP. Equipment maintenance logs are present and up to date as indicated in JHA or SWP. Make sure contractor personnel are wearing PPE in accordance with JHA. Prepare safety inspection report. Issue unsafe observance notices to contractor as needed.
• Manage the activities of LiRo-Hill’s FEMA consultant in the processing of the contractors payment requisition. Provide all required documentation as required to assure that all FEMA requirements are met. This includes but is not limited to daily sign-in/ sign-out sheets, all product and material invoices which are reviewed by Jacobs, all contractor daily reports and meeting minutes.
• Work in tandem with Jacobs Senior PM to coordinate all aspects of the construction process including but not limited to, coordinate with project expeditor to ensure all aspects of the permitting process are in place and are not delayed. Ensure expeditor has everything that is needed in order to file permit applications in a timely fashion. Coordinate with facility on a daily basis to ensure they are involved in all shut down and impairments to hospital systems. Work with facility on all scope related items to ensure all aspects of necessary emergency work are captured. Coordinate with A/ E team and assist in providing as built conditions in the field to ensure the timely release of drawings and details. Walk with D.O.B to ensure all aspects of work are in compliance with D.O.B requirements. Work with contractors on a daily basis to ensure all aspects of their respective work are moving efficiently and effectively to ensure project success. Attend all daily meeting to update team on status of work and plans for continued progress.

Outcome

This project is part of HHCs’ strategy to expand capacity system-wide to accommodate the surge in patients with COVID-19 by working to open 3,000 additional ICU beds by May 1.