---
title: What A Week! | From Paper to Policy, DGS Adopts UniFormat
description: Pennsylvania’s DGS just adopted Uniformat-based design criteria—mirroring Conspectus’ Evolving Specifications approach.
---

[Deliberate Words Podcast | conspectusinc.com ](https://www.conspectusinc.com/deliberate-words-podcast)

# [What A Week! | From Paper to Policy, DGS Adopts UniFormat](https://www.conspectusinc.com/deliberate-words-podcast/from-paper-to-policy)

 Written by [Elias Saltz, Steve Gantner, David Stutzman](https://www.conspectusinc.com/deliberate-words-podcast/author/elias-saltz-steve-gantner-david-stutzman) | October 6, 2025 at 4:34 PM

 

 

**Dave Stutzman** and **Elias Saltz** unpack a full-circle moment for Conspectus and the broader specification community — how the **Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS)** has officially adopted a **UniFormat-based Project Design Criteria** requirement, seemingly inspired by Conspectus’ paper *Evolving Specifications*.

**The Surprise from DGS**

Dave shares the backstory: after presenting to DGS in 2024 about Uniformat and sharing *Evolving Specifications*, he recently discovered that DGS now mandates architects to submit **Project Design Criteria documents organized by Uniformat** — language and structure closely mirroring the Conspectus approach.

**UniFormat™** **as the Common Language**

Dave and Elias dive into why this is a smart move:

- UniFormat aligns perfectly with **Revit/BIM assemblies** and **estimators’ frameworks**, creating one-to-one consistency between model, description, and cost.
- The system encourages **early, structured documentation** that can evolve throughout the design process, leading to **better-informed cost analysis** and **decision management**.

**Alternates, Value Engineering, and Smarter Budgeting**

DGS’s policy also introduces a structured method for **alternates**, requiring three cost-reduction options at 5% each. Dave critiques the rigidity of forcing alternates in order, suggesting a more strategic approach:

> “Why not price viable options early, balance the budget, and eliminate the need for alternates altogether?”

He references **independent estimator Marcine Taylor**, who once delivered a hospital project within 2% of her eight-year-old estimate — proof that disciplined, early cost alignment works.

**The Role of Conceptual Estimators**

Elias and Dave stress that **subcontractors** often price what’s drawn, while **conceptual estimators** price what’s *needed*. Engaging estimators from the start helps owners and architects make realistic budget decisions — and reduces the endless value-engineering loop.

**From Design Criteria to OPR**

The hosts envision DGS’s design criteria as a **proto-Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)** — a living foundation for scope, cost, and performance. Over time, this could evolve into a powerful database for cost benchmarking and assembly-level decisions across project types.

**A Win for Clarity and Collaboration**

Ultimately, DGS’s adoption of UniFormat isn’t just a technical change — it’s a validation of transparent, data-driven specification practices.

Dave applauds the department for “formally adopting a process that defines intent and criteria early — not as a throwaway outline, but as the backbone of design documentation.”

Conspectus already delivers this kind of document daily — and we’re ready to help bring that experience directly to DGS projects.

**Key Takeaway**

Early alignment between **design**, **cost**, and **intent** eliminates chaos later.  
Uniformat isn’t just a framework — it’s a roadmap to smarter, more predictable building outcomes.

 

[View full post](https://www.conspectusinc.com/deliberate-words-podcast/from-paper-to-policy)

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