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As described in the last edition of the Half
Year Review, once the project design and
specification work has been completed and the
most appropriate form of contract selected, the
next step is to appoint a contractor and to take
steps to ensure as far as possible that the work
is carried out to an acceptable standard and to
the specifications set out in the contract
documents.
The traditional Main Contractor route is still
the most commonly used procurement method, due
mainly to the One Point of Responsibility
advantages. In this situation the main
contractor will enter into sub contract
arrangements with those contractors or skills
which are not available within their own
company. The alternative of employing Separate
Trades is certainly possible, but demands
particular project management skills and the
additional associated costs.
To go back one step however, there are many
situations where the architect may approach
specialist contractors for advice or assistance,
prior to awarding a contract. Examples might
include the design of lead or copper roofs or
where modern technology is being considered such
as the design and installation of an underground
heat pump system to conserve energy. In these
cases, it is possible to include the specialist
companies approached within the overall
tendering procedure. The benefit of this is
ensuring that the Main Contractor has overall
responsibility for co-ordinating and programming
the areas of specialisation within the project
as a whole, even though there will be an extra
management cost as a result.
Which contractors to select for tendering? This
question is of great importance and the design
team will have to consider carefully and discuss
the options available with the client.
Many factors will come into play including:
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• Reputation
• Financial Stability
• Resources (physical, human and management)
• Scope of Work Undertaken and Specific
Experience
• Availability
The type and level of tendering competition
appropriate has also to be considered, mainly
under the general headings of open, selective or
by negotiation. A comprehensive tender analysis
will be carried out on receipt of the tenders.
Once tenders are received and the contractor
selected, the outcome in terms of quality can
therefore often be related to the application
and consideration of the selection process
described. The tenders received will reflect the
factors listed. For example, Contractor A may
hope to run the
project with a roving manager, but Contractor B
may have a full time site foreman. The
contractor has responsibility for ensuring that
the work is carried out to the standards
described and the level of their supervision
over the sub-contractors as well as the direct
labour is paramount.
These notes can only attempt to highlight some
of the factors which can assist in obtaining the
satisfactory completion of any project. It is
very much a case of horses for courses and so
the design team and the client should work
closely together in selecting the winning
formula!
Bill McConnell FRICS
Director
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Bell Ingram Design has recently secured an
appointment for the first phase of a £20 million
residential development on the site of the
former Liff Hospital, outside Dundee. The
client, Duncarse Ltd, has obtained Planning
Permission in-house, and the team at Bell Ingram
Design is now |
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working towards producing a full construction
tender package for 26 new villas, 53 townhouse
conversions and a leisure club. Work is due to
start on site in September with the first houses
being occupied late in the summer of 2006.
Iain Cram ARIAS
Director
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