Municipal Outsourcing & Compliance
Doraville Building
Department Services
A specialized proposal for Professional Plan Review and Turn-Key Inspection Services for the City of Doraville.
Firm Description: NOVA Engineering & Environmental
- Foundational Expertise: NOVA Engineering and Environmental, LLC (NOVA) was established in 1996 with a primary focus on providing high-quality, responsive engineering and environmental consulting services. Over the nearly three decades since its inception, the firm has grown from a specialized startup into a multi-disciplinary industry leader with over 500 professionals operating across the Southeastern United States and beyond. NOVA’s core mission is to provide clients with the technical expertise and practical solutions necessary to navigate the complexities of modern construction, environmental regulations, and municipal governance. The firm has successfully managed hundreds of public-sector contracts, ensuring that the critical "science you build on" is accurate and reliable for municipal infrastructure.
- Regional Hub Infrastructure: The firm’s headquarters, located in Kennesaw, Georgia, serves as the hub for a network of regional offices that provide localized expertise with the backing of a robust corporate infrastructure. As an industry leader, NOVA is recognized for its ability to integrate diverse service lines, including geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, construction materials testing and inspection (CMT), and municipal outsourcing services. This integrated approach allows NOVA to serve as a single-source provider for complex infrastructure and development projects. Their geographical spread across Georgia ensures that they can provide rapid response times to the City of Doraville, with local staff who are intimately familiar with regional geological conditions and state-specific code requirements.
- Integrated Service Portfolio: NOVA's geotechnical division specializes in sub-surface investigations and foundation analysis, while the environmental team manages everything from Phase I ESAs to complex remediation projects. In the municipal sector, NOVA has carved out a significant niche as a preferred partner for cities like Doraville, Dunwoody, and Westlake, providing comprehensive building department services that range from plan review to code enforcement. The firm’s culture is built on a foundation of professional integrity and technical excellence. By offering a multi-disciplinary team, NOVA can address cross-departmental challenges, such as ensuring that environmental remediation plans are perfectly synchronized with building permit approvals and structural inspections.
- Employee-Owned Accountability: As an organization with hundreds of employee-owners, there is a deep-seated commitment to project success and client satisfaction. This ownership mindset translates into a higher level of accountability and a proactive approach to problem-solving in the field. NOVA’s technicians and engineers are trained to not only identify issues but to provide viable engineering solutions that keep projects on schedule and within budget. Every team member in the Doraville Building Department would act not just as a contractor, but as a stakeholder in the city's long-term safety and prosperity. This dedication to "The Science You Build On" ensures that every project is supported by data-driven insights and rigorous quality assurance protocols.
- Team Collaborative Approach: In the context of municipal partnerships, NOVA stands out for its "Team Collaborative" approach. They understand that acting as the Building Official for a city requires more than just technical knowledge; it requires a commitment to community development and transparent public service. By embedding their professionals within the local government structure, NOVA helps cities streamline their permitting processes, improve turnaround times for plan reviews, and ensure that all new construction meets the highest safety and code compliance standards. Their involvement in RFP 24-001 is a testament to their reputation for reliability and their ability to function as a seamless extension of city staff, providing high-touch service to residents, developers, and local businesses alike.
- Proven Public Sector Performance: NOVA's history is marked by successful long-term partnerships with governmental entities at the local, state, and federal levels. Their experience includes managing massive capital improvement programs and provide on-call engineering services for major metropolitan areas. This deep experience in the public sector means they are well-versed in the specific legal and fiscal requirements of municipal contracting, such as public records transparency, audit trails, and strict adherence to procurement policies. For Doraville, this translates to a reduced risk profile and a higher degree of professional confidence in the management of the city's most critical development functions.
Scope of Services
- Turn-Key Building Department Management: The scope of services defined under RFP 24-001 encompasses a full-service, turn-key solution for the management and operation of the City’s Building Department. NOVA is tasked with providing the personnel, technical expertise, and administrative support necessary to handle all aspects of the building permit lifecycle, from the initial pre-application meeting to the final issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. The primary objective is to ensure that all development within the City of Doraville complies with the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) and local municipal ordinances. This management includes the coordination of specialized sub-consultants where required and the implementation of departmental policies that favor both safety and efficiency.
- Professional Plan Review Services: A core component of the scope is Professional Plan Review Services. NOVA provides a team of ICC-certified plan examiners who are responsible for the comprehensive review of all construction documents submitted for permitting. This includes a detailed analysis of structural designs, mechanical systems, electrical layouts, plumbing configurations, and fire/life safety systems. The plan review process is designed to identify potential code violations or safety concerns before construction begins, thereby reducing the risk of costly field corrections. NOVA commits to rigorous turnaround times, ensuring that residential and commercial projects move through the pipeline without unnecessary bureaucratic delays, while maintaining a 100% compliance rate with the International Building Code (IBC).
- Comprehensive Field Inspection Services: NOVA provides multi-discipline inspectors to construction sites across the city. These inspectors verify that construction is performed in accordance with the approved plans and applicable codes. The scope covers all phases, including foundation and footing inspections, framing and structural inspections, and "rough-in" and "final" inspections for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. NOVA’s inspectors are trained to communicate clearly with contractors on-site, providing technical guidance to resolve issues while maintaining a strict adherence to safety standards. Every inspection is documented with digital reports including photo evidence, which are immediately accessible to both the city and the applicant.
- Provision of City Building Official: The scope includes the provision of a City Building Official who serves as the administrative head of the department. This individual exercises the authority to interpret codes, issue permits, and make final determinations on compliance issues. The Building Official is responsible for the overall management of the department’s staff and budget, ensuring that service levels are maintained and that the department operates in a fiscally responsible manner. This role involves significant coordination with other city departments, including Planning and Zoning and Public Works, to ensure that the city's master plan and engineering standards are consistently applied across all private developments.
- Code Enforcement and Nuisance Abatement: NOVA’s professionals are responsible for identifying and addressing violations of municipal ordinances that affect the health, safety, and welfare of the community. This includes monitoring for unpermitted construction, addressing dilapidated properties, and enforcing zoning regulations. The approach to code enforcement is centered on achieving voluntary compliance through education and outreach, but it also includes the authority to issue citations and represent the City in municipal court when necessary. The goal is to maintain property values and community aesthetics through the firm and fair application of local regulations, ensuring that Doraville remains a desirable place to live and work.
- Customer Service and Administrative Support: NOVA provides the personnel to staff the City’s building department counter, assisting the public with permit applications, fee calculations, and general inquiries. This public-facing role is critical for fostering a positive relationship between the city and the development community. NOVA also manages the department’s records, ensuring that all permits, plans, and inspection reports are properly archived and accessible for public records requests, thereby ensuring transparency in governance. Administrative staff are trained to navigate the City's specific software systems and to provide guidance to applicants on the complex maze of state and local regulatory requirements.
- Electronic Plan Review Implementation: The scope includes the utilization of advanced electronic plan review software to facilitate a transparent and efficient workflow. This allows applicants to track the status of their submittals in real-time and provides a clear, auditable trail of comments and approvals. The integration of digital tools reduces paper waste and accelerates the approval process, which is a key performance indicator for the City of Doraville’s development goals. NOVA will provide training to city staff and the local development community on how to best utilize these digital platforms to maximize efficiency and reduce "time-to-market" for new developments.
- Emergency Services and Disaster Response: In the event of a natural disaster or significant emergency, NOVA’s team is available to perform rapid damage assessments of buildings and infrastructure. This service is essential for determining the safety of structures and facilitating the recovery process. The firm’s experience in disaster response ensures that the City of Doraville has access to the expertise needed to manage large-scale emergencies and protect the public from hazardous conditions. This includes the implementation of "Post-Disaster Safety Evaluation" protocols as defined by ATC-45 and other industry standards to ensure that residents can safely return to their homes as quickly as possible.
- Technical Advisor to City Leadership: NOVA serves as a technical advisor to the City Manager and the City Council on matters related to building safety and code adoption. This includes reporting on development trends, recommending updates to local ordinances to keep pace with evolving construction technologies, and participating in public meetings to explain complex technical requirements to residents and stakeholders. This advisory role ensures that city leadership is well-informed on the technical aspects of community development and can make strategic decisions based on professional engineering and code analysis.
- Reporting and Performance Metrics: All activities are synthesized into formal monthly performance reports for the City of Doraville. NOVA tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) such as plan review turnaround times, inspection results, and revenue collection to ensure the department meets or exceeds the service standards established in the RFP. This data-driven approach allows for continuous improvement in department operations and provides the City Council with a transparent view of the Building Department's impact on local economic development and public safety.
Technical Standard: ICC Code Compliance
The International Code Council (ICC) develops the model codes used across the US. NOVA's scope ensures that every structural, electrical, and mechanical element in Doraville is verified against these rigorous global safety standards to prevent building failure and ensure life safety.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
Firm Experience & Capabilities: Assessment of NOVA's historical performance in managing similar municipal building departments and their ability to scale resources based on the City's development volume.
Staff Qualifications: A review of the specific certifications (ICC, PE, MCP) held by the inspectors and plan reviewers dedicated to the Doraville contract.
Technical Methodology: Evaluation of the proposed digital workflow for plan reviews and the system for ensuring 24-hour response times for field inspections.
Contract Value
Fee Retention Ratio
80 / 20 Split
Basis of Compensation
The contract is structured as a revenue-sharing model where the firm retains 80% of building permit fees as compensation for all personnel and operational costs, while the City retains 20% for oversight and administrative support.
Glossary & Regulations
ICC Special Inspection
The International Building Code (IBC) requires "Special Inspections" for critical structural elements to ensure they are installed according to approved plans by qualified third parties.
O.C.G.A. Compliance
Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The governing law that mandates state-wide building codes and procedural requirements for local municipalities.
HB 461
A Georgia House Bill regulating how cities must calculate and account for building permit fees, ensuring they are only used to support building department functions.
NOVA ENGINEERING
Proposal: RFP 24-001