Thus, jails built according to state or ACA standards are likely to cost more per square foot than those built without such compliance. Standardization of design may reduce costs Several states have sought to reduce construction costs by standardizing a jail design for replication in different sites. This approach may involve paying an architect for a specific design with some accommodation for replication of that design at other sites. In addition, negotiations with contractors and suppliers may be involved on a multi-site basis. Such standardization is possible in those localities where the state can influence the counties to adopt a universal design.
Poor design is most often attributable to lower competency of the architectural team.
Of course, the reporting of jail costs does not include a rating of design adequacy. Construction management may be included as a construction cost Construction management is an important function occurring during the preconstruction and construction phases of building a new jail. Construction management acts as the county's expert for cost control and reduction, compliance with design requirements, and adherence to the construction schedule. This management may include a variety of important functions, such as the bidding of services of the many subcontractors, such as the electrical and mechanical contractors, scheduling their work, and performing frequent on-site inspections to ensure that the architectural design is followed and that quality is satisfactory. Some medium and large counties have an engineering department that provides construction management but others have eliminated those capabilities as part of the campaign to reduce the size of government.