The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington is taking a closer look at Construction Management Agent (CMa) services as a strategic tool to enhance project delivery, reduce risk, and support the agency's growing construction demands across the National Capital Region.

During a recent Owner’s Forum hosted by the Construction Management Association of America National Capital Chapter (CMAA NCC) on April 24, 2025, NAVFAC Washington leaders met with more than 30 industry stakeholders. The event brought together program and construction management professionals, general contractors, and public-sector owners to explore how CMa services could be more broadly integrated into federal construction efforts.

Capt. Atiim Senthill, operations officer at NAVFAC Washington, described the forum as “extremely beneficial,” pointing to the potential of CMa services to streamline federal construction delivery. “The CMa market is somewhat untapped when it comes to NAVFAC Washington,” he said. “The goal on any project is on-time delivery, on budget, quality construction and safely executed.”

CMa services offer an alternative model to traditional project oversight, especially relevant as NAVFAC Washington faces mounting workloads. Thomas Cox, director of Planning, Design and Construction and chief engineer at NAVFAC Washington, underscored the necessity of evolving approaches to keep pace. “We have to look to other methods to help us perform our Project Oversight roles and responsibilities,” Cox said.

The agency is currently evaluating several avenues to deploy CMa support, such as assigning consultants on a project-by-project basis or establishing a more flexible indefinite quantity contract (IDIQ) that could be leveraged by Public Works Departments and Resident Officers in Charge of Construction across the NAVFAC Washington area of responsibility.

A key topic of the forum was the distinction between traditional staff augmentation and full-service CMa consulting. The latter provides deeper subject matter expertise and embeds industry best practices throughout a project’s lifecycle — from pre-construction planning to final closeout. According to participants, the real value of the CMa model lies in proactive risk management and long-term cost savings.

“The value of the CMa service is maximized when the CMa is engaged from the early planning of projects and through the full development lifecycle,” said Philios Angelides, who served as the forum’s moderator and is a CMAA NCC board advisor. “Some examples shared related to ROI for these services have mentioned ratios of nearly 1:1,000.”

In practical terms, the return on investment (ROI) of using a CMa can manifest through early problem detection, streamlined communications, mitigation of scope changes, and reduced claims — all of which ultimately improve schedule adherence and construction quality.

NAVFAC Washington is responsible for planning, constructing, and maintaining a wide array of facilities and infrastructure supporting Navy, Marine Corps, and Joint installations throughout the National Capital Region. The agency’s responsibilities range from real property management and environmental engineering to utilities and energy services.

As its mission grows in complexity, NAVFAC Washington’s openness to adopting construction management innovations like CMa services signals a potential shift in how the federal government partners with industry to deliver resilient, cost-effective infrastructure.

The April forum is expected to lay the groundwork for continued collaboration between NAVFAC and the private sector, with the goal of identifying pilot projects where CMa consultation can be tested in real-world scenarios. The outcome could mark a significant evolution in how NAVFAC delivers on its mission — ensuring military readiness through efficient, high-quality facility construction.

Originally reported by Natasha Waldron in Dvids.