Transitioning from conceptual design to construction performance specification

Paul Jeffers; Mark Warner; Simon Craig; Robert Hubbard; Heather Marshall

doi:10.1117/12.924501

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25 September 2012 Transitioning from conceptual design to construction performance specification

Paul Jeffers, Mark Warner, Simon Craig, Robert Hubbard, Heather Marshall

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Proceedings Volume 8449, Modeling, Systems Engineering, and Project Management for Astronomy V; 84490B (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924501
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

On successful completion of a conceptual design review by a funding agency or customer, there is a transition phase before construction contracts can be placed. The nature of this transition phase depends on the Project's approach to construction and the particular subsystem being considered. There are generically two approaches; project retention of design authority and issuance of build to print contracts, or issuance of subsystem performance specifications with controlled interfaces. This paper relates to the latter where a proof of concept (conceptual or reference design) is translated into performance based sub-system specifications for competitive tender. This translation is not a straightforward process and there are a number of different issues to consider in the process. This paper deals with primarily the Telescope mount and Enclosure subsystems. The main subjects considered in this paper are: • Typical status of design at Conceptual Design Review compared with the desired status of Specifications and Interface Control Documents at Request for Quotation. • Options for capture and tracking of system requirements flow down from science / operating requirements and sub-system requirements, and functional requirements derived from reference design. • Requirements that may come specifically from the contracting approach. • Methods for effective use of reference design work without compromising a performance based specification. • Management of project team's expectation relating to design. • Effects on cost estimates from reference design to actual. This paper is based on experience and lessons learned through this process on both the VISTA and the ATST projects.

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Paul Jeffers, Mark Warner, Simon Craig, Robert Hubbard, and Heather Marshall "Transitioning from conceptual design to construction performance specification", Proc. SPIE 8449, Modeling, Systems Engineering, and Project Management for Astronomy V, 84490B (25 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924501

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