General
Mandatory Design Imperatives and supporting Guidelines which designers must continually consider and incorporate throughout the duration of a project.
General Management Plan (GMP)
A legislatively required plan, that usually guides park management for 15-20 years. The purpose of the plan is to ensure that each park has a clearly defined direction for decision making with regard to resource preservation and visitor use. It is developed in consultation with servicewide program managers, interested parties, and the general public, and is coupled with an EIS. The GMP outlines the basic strategy for managing park resources, visitor use, and interpretation. The GMP is the primary vehicle for determining the general treatment of cultural resources in a park.
General Wage Determination
Contains prevailing wage rates for the types of construction designated in the determination, and is used in contracts performed within a specified geographical area. General wage determinations contain no expiration date and remain valid until modified, superseded, or canceled by a notice in the Federal Register by the Department of Labor. Once incorporated in a contract, a general wage determination normally remains effective for the life of the contract. (FAR 22.404-1(a))
Geologic Resources
Features produced from the physical history of the earth, or processes such as exfoliation, erosion and sedimentation, glaciation, karst or shoreline processes, seismic, and volcanic activities.
GMP - General Management Plan
Government Contract
Any agreement or modification thereof between a Government contracting agency and any person for the furnishing of supplies or services, or for the use of real or personal property including lease arrangements. The term does not include:
- Agreements in which the parties stand in the relationship of employer and employee, and
- Contracts for the sale of real and personal property by the Government. (FAR 22.801)
Government Costs
In value engineering, those agency costs that result directly from developing and implementing the value engineering change proposal (VECP), such as any net increases in the cost of testing, operations, maintenance, and logistics support. The term does not include the normal administrative costs of processing the VECP or any increase in instant contract cost or price resulting from negative instant contract savings. (FAR 48.001)
Government Delay of Work
Delays and interruptions in the contract work caused by the acts, or failures to act, of the Contracting Officer. The Government Delay of Work clause provides for the administrative settlement of contractor claims that arise from any delay caused by the Government. (FAR 42.1304(a))
Government Furnished Material
Government property that may be incorporated into or attached to a deliverable end item or that may be consumed or expended in performing a contract. Property includes assemblies, components, parts, raw and processed materials, and small tools and supplies. (FAR 45.101 and 45.301)
Government Furnished Permits (GF Permits)
Obtained by National Park Service (NPS), usually through the Architect/Engineer (A/E) or a consultant, during the design process (Predesign (PD) through Construction Documents (CD)) and are usually concerned with impacts to resources protected by federal law. However, GF permits can include other permits that are obtained for the convenience of the Government during design. GF permits are "furnished" to the Contractor in the Request for Proposal (RFP) and as part of the final contract documents. The Contractor must comply with GF permit provisions. Examples of typical GF permits: Clean Water Act (CWA) 404 dredge and fill permit, CWA Water Quality Certification (often state administered), Highway Right-of-Way Permit, etc.
Government Furnished Property
Property in the possession of, or directly acquired by, the Government and subsequently made available to the contractor. (FAR 45.101)
Government General Conditions Factor
Government General Conditions Factor is the cost of doing work for the United States Government and the National Park Service (NPS) and is not included in Standard General Conditions. Many of these government costs can be attributed to increased administrative and quality requirements, along with the legal requirements that the NPS protect cultural and natural resources while allowing the public access.
Government Performance Results Act of 1993 (GPRA)
An Act to provide for the establishment of strategic planning and performance measurement in the Federal Government (the Act).
Government Property
All property owned by or leased to the Government or acquired by the Government under the terms of the contract. It includes both Government furnished property and contractor-acquired property. (FAR 45.101)
GPRA - Government Performance Results Act of 1993
Grade
- The profile of the center of the roadway or its rate of ascent or descent.
- To shape or reshape an earth road by means of cutting or filling.
- To arrange according to size.
- Elevation.
Grade Intersection
An intersection where all roadways join or cross at the same level.
Grade Separation
A structure that provides for highway traffic to pass over or under another highway or the tracks of a railroad.
Green Book
An AASHTO publication of the standard geometric highway design practices.
Gross Construction Costs
Gross construction costs for a project include net construction costs plus:
- Construction Supervision: The NPS contracts Construction Supervision/Inspection Services to Construction Management firms. For Line Item Construction projects, 8 percent of Net Construction is used.
- Construction Contingencies: For Line Item Construction Projects, the NPS adds a contingency of 10 percent of Net Construction Costs to cover modification expenses.
Gross Square Footage for Buildings
Gross Square Footage is defined as the sum of floor areas within the outside faces of the exterior walls for all building levels which have floor spaces. Covered walkways, open roofed-over areas that are paved, porches and similar spaces will have the architectural area multiplied by an area factor of 0.50.
Ground Cover
Herbaceous vegetation and low-growing woody plants that form an earth cover.
Guardrail
A protective cable or rail device placed along the roadway edge for the purpose of redirecting vehicles that have left the roadway at a point of hazard.
Guideline vs. Template (suggested vs. required)
A guideline is a suggested outline of how a task is to be performed or formatted, whereas a template is a required National Park Service (NPS) format, usually electronic, that shall be used by the contractor as a contract deliverable.
Gutter
A paved and generally shallow waterway provided for carrying surface drainage.
