Design and Constructability Review
We believe that timely and efficient delivery of a construction project with minimal disruption from construction change orders and disputes depends heavily on the completeness and accuracy of the contract plans and specifications.
Navigator CS’s efforts in assisting clients in that regard include comprehensive review of the design documents to determine how clearly and accurately they reflect the intended scope of work. That includes a review of the quality of the design – meaning the technical correctness and completeness of the design, as well as the biddability and constructability of the design. With this review, we strive to eliminate ambiguities and inconsistencies in the documents and fill in any scope-gap or otherwise missing information that would likely lead to construction change orders, disruption of the schedule or even disputes and adversary relationships between the various project stakeholders during construction.
A significant element of the review is the evaluation of the management and administrative related requirements of the contract that establish proper protocols for managing the project and that any potential risks are identified and mitigated. This effort is just as important to the technical aspect of the constructability review. A critical part of Navigator’s review is the evaluation of project control requirements including CPM scheduling, Earned Value monitoring and reporting and quality assurance procedures. In addition, we routinely examine Value Engineering Incentives, labor relations language and certified payroll, disputes avoidance and resolution procedures, project documentation and reporting requirements and submittal processing protocols.
We also have experience with the multiple types of contract vehicles. Considering that experience and our understanding of these various procurement options, we can also assist our clients in selecting the most appropriate contract type, bid packaging, and procurement options including single vs. multiple contracts, design-build vs. design-bid-build, fast-track etc. depending on the particular needs of the project. The various factors that help determine the approach include timing, completeness of scope definition, cost, schedule, risk, owner’s experience, etc., all of which play into constructability and have a profound effect on the likely success of the project.
Within this area we provide the following distinct services:
- Design Plan Coordination: Ensuring that all elements of the work are completely addressed by the various function experts involved with the design.
- Construction Phasing/Staging: Review of any phasing and/or staging requirements to ensure that necessary considerations are built into the contract documents to meet project/program delivery and site constraint requirements.
- Project Controls Requirements: What project controls, such as scheduling and enterprise-level project management applications are required, do they fit the needs of the project, Owner’s expertise and how will they be utilized?
- QA/QC Requirements: What are the requirements for a formalized Quality Assurance/Quality Control program, are they the right level, are responsibilities clearly defined, how will it be implemented, etc.?
- Procedures for Contract Administration: Who has what responsibilities for contract administration for Owner and Contractor, is the interface requirement defined clearly and what are the procedures?
- State-of-the-Art Practices: Do contract documents require state of the art elements as part of project? Is that necessary? Are there potentially negative consequences that can be avoided?
- Disputes Avoidance/Resolution Procedures: Does the contract establish a formal process and is it clear and appropriate for this project?