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Project Initiation query

5 replies [Last post]
Wed, 2009-05-20 07:52
Rey Moe
User offline. Last seen 15 years 26 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 25 Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Groups: Civil Engineering
Hi all,

I would love to get some help. This is my first time project management job and I would like to know basically know how to commence this project successfully. I would a little background. The project is being done in Barbados, West Indies.

I was put in charge of managing the construction of a warehouse project (approx $4 mil BDS). I was only recently employed by the client to oversee the construction. Currently, the civil and structural engineering consultants have been the lead consultants on the project. They have prepared a sufficient package of drawings, prepared specification documents, prepared the conditions of contract document, initiated the tender process and issued a tender evaluation report and recommended a contractor for the job. Another concern that the contract that they have prepared gives him quite a bit of decision-making authority on the project, and therefore eliminates my decision-making authority.
What can I do to resolve that?

I have to be honest and say that i dont have a clue about how to start up the process so any good advice would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,
Rey

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Replies

Thu, 2009-05-21 15:01
#1
Samer Zawaydeh
User offline. Last seen 5 years 38 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 3 Aug 2008
Posts: 1664
Groups: Civil Engineering, Regional Representatives
Dear Rey,

Contracts under FIDIC balance the Risks betweent the two parties. It would be a good idea to review the RED BOOK.

Construction Manager have the overall responsibility as per the Response Matrix in their Contract with the Owner.

Review the Contracts and make sure that the scope is complete, and the time and cost are managed properly.

With kind regards,

Samer
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Thu, 2009-05-21 09:26
#2
R. Catalan
User offline. Last seen 12 years 39 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Posts: 314
Groups: None
Dear Rey,

Below are the order of precedence after the Client has decided to award the Contract. Could be different in other projects.

1) Issue Letter of Award
2) Issue NTP
3) The Client might go for a press release (marketing strategy)
4) Ask the Contractor to send letter regarding the Authorized Rep.
5) Send the Contractor a Kick-off letter stating the date for the Pre-Construction Meeting, attach the meeting agenda.
6) Meeting agenda shall include all contractual, administrative and procedural requirements.
7) Request for Look-ahead / Mob Schedule while waiting for the submission of Contractor’s Baseline Schedule
8) Send them a letter for Schedule of Weekly Meetings
9) Execute meetings ie. Schedule, QA/QC...

Will try to add more in my next post.

Hope the above will help.

Best regards,
R. Catalan

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Thu, 2009-05-21 07:07
#3
Rey Moe
User offline. Last seen 15 years 26 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 25 Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Groups: Civil Engineering
Samer,

Thanks for your swift reply.

The design is basically complete. All the packages that you stated have been designed already and drawings and specifications have gone out to tender. About 6 contractors have submitted bids for the job and the engineering consultant has sent in their tender evaluation report.

At this stage, I have to carefully review their report and examine the bids for myself before selecting a contractor for the job. My queries are mainly about the execution stage of the project - eg. letter of intent; meeting with agents of statutory agencies; requesting bonds, insurances, or similar; other documents required from contractor or consultants;etc.

Thanks again for the response

Rey
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Wed, 2009-05-20 23:49
#4
Zubair Taha
User offline. Last seen 15 years 31 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Jun 2007
Posts: 11
Groups: None
Well,
Packaging Strategy -
i supose the packaging strategy has important role that will be for the Design as well as Construction.

Time = Schedule = Programme
form strat to finish enveloping all the packages

Cost = Estimated Budget
tracking the cost from initail stage of the project for all the Packages (Design & Construction), preparing cost reports and variances .
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Wed, 2009-05-20 16:02
#5
Samer Zawaydeh
User offline. Last seen 5 years 38 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 3 Aug 2008
Posts: 1664
Groups: Civil Engineering, Regional Representatives
Dear Ray,

We will take it one step at a time. You have a design stage that you need to complete, then you have a construction stage that you need to start and end successfully.

Scope:
1st make sure that you assign the design of the remaing packages:

Electro mechanical
Finishes
Interior Decoration
Steel Structure
Kitchens
Landscape
and any other design works that is necessary to complete the works.

Time
2nd you will need to know when the complete design contract documents are ready and how much time you need for evaluation and decision on the Contractor. The less contractors the less time you need to spend in coordination and the more expensive the project becomes.

Make sure that the end date is selected carefully.

Cost
Once the design packages are tendered, you can select contractors and start your works.

This is the basic for the pre-construction stage. If you have a specific question, please let me know.

Best Regards,

Samer
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