Design and Build Procurement Strategy - Coursework Example

Coventry Faculty of Engineering and Computing Design and Build Procurement Strategy Project Report {Engineering and Computing Building} Saturday, December 04, 2010 An exploration of the core elements that underlies designing, building construction and architecture. The principles of construction are enforced in an attempt to achieve success in delivering a historical building. In an attempt to focus on amortization of the overall cost involved in design-tender, an employment of a design-build project delivery system would most likely ensure a more feasible procurement strategy. The delivery would introduce a combination of design, permit and construction schedule identified in a traditional environment over a process that would inspire further trust in subcontracting with on-site personnel; engineers and architects. A construction-led design-build process saves time as the construction firm allows designs which they are technically capable of achieving, thus, the multiparty effort cancels out any need for retraining. A design-build firm will strive to bring together design and construction professionals in a collaborative environment. The task of: Creating construction documents (working drawings and specifications) Acquiring building permits Actually constructing the building are completed in an overlapping like fashion. In effect construction begins with the building still being designed There is a direct contractual link between the architect, clients and main contractor, and should there be subcontractors, they would have a direct relationship with the main contractor. Due to the weight of the project, partnering or strategic alliances are in order; these forms include (PPPs) Public Private Partnering or the Private Finance Initiative (PFIs) as necessary to eradicate the competition and adversarial practices within the industry. We are faced with a complex net of contracts and other legal obligations. To be successful, each would be considered in broad detail. The design team is able to include innovations on-site as a result of the collaboration. The interaction between the construction team and the design team offers enhancement to the project as a whole. The teams enable construction to be carried out faster. Careful considerations are taken in ensuring the teams are motivated to carry out the task. In contemporary building, most of the on-site construction involves little cutting and fitting as the components are already manufactured in multiples of a standard module (10 cm/4 standard in the U.S.); the main involvement on-site includes a lot of assembling. The design would always conform to the requirements of the owner without negligence to state laws and building codes. The contractor, architect, and engineer are legally responsible for any deficiencies in the construction or design even after the local authorities have expressed their acceptance until a few years Construction surveying involves the guidance and supervision of engineering surveying dealing with lay outs and building. Several methods are used by engineers to establish control points. Information is gathered on the points to facilitate the design process. Buildings normally employ the use of topographic survey; the survey provides maps and very helpful information including horizontal location information and elevation, the design relies on the accuracy of such data. Based on research and experience, a construction management (CM) would be carried out in a systematic approach that involves the efficient use and control of time, cost and also quality of the construction project. There is no such thing as a comprehensive management theory but there are a few theories on construction management. The focus however is the planning and control of resources within the framework of a project notwithstanding, the FOUR Ms of construction; Manpower, Machines, Materials and Money. Management at a project level integrates design, construction and procurement in one process. To allow the maximum value for money requirement, the quantity surveyor should implement a financial discipline in the areas of budget, alternate design option costing, cash flow predictions, and management variations including potential disputes and on-time final account settlements as well as final cost forecasting. The involvement of the QSes allow effective budget setting without which the entire construction consultancy would be compromised, in addition, the expert advice on financing enjoyed cannot be lowly esteemed from inception to commissioning and maintenance after completion. Building surveying (BS) would ensure the safety of the building in accordance with law and building regulations. Ensure the building surveyor is registered and has appropriate insurance. The surveyors would be responsible for the accessibility, energy efficiency and safety of the building as stated above, their impact on the design, planning and functionality of the building is visible. As such, they would inspect and detect the problems associated with the design issues. The BS role is undertaken from the foundation through to the completion of the construction. In order to avoid problems with the law a BS cannot be overemphasized. Although it might involve cost to employ all these roles, yet without it the long run cost might be worse. A well managed project would satisfy the cost reduction requirement. Their work usually favours the owner as there is little or no self interest involve. At the presence of these experts, the resources are used efficiently. Failure to employ the three roles (BS, CM & QS) would be elucidated in catastrophe. There would be various forms of proposals, terms and conditions, general conditions, special conditions and similar documents for review. The university must be prepared to evaluate, revise and/or present contract documents. In preparing the contract documents, there is the need to understand the risk-shifting provisions: 1. Claims/Notice. Contract documents specify the process for asserting and responding to claims and the deadline to do so must be understood. Failure to comply with the notice is fatal for the underlying claim. 2. Governing Law. Parties debate on which state laws that govern the underlying agreement. Understanding the applied state law s necessary 3. Dispute Resolution. Arbitration may not always be the appropriate process for disputes. Parties should consider the venue for dispute resolution. There should be a mediator that would aid the resolution process. 4. Liquidated Damages. Great care should be taken in drafting and reviewing a liquidated damages provision, especially in developing the amount. 5. Indemnification. The contract documents should contain an express indemnity provision on which the parties have agreed to. Where a party financially protects another against an anticipated lost. The indemnified party should be clearly stated. 6. Insurance. A clear understanding on the types and amounts of insurance available is expedient. Your broker would ensure compliance with the insurance requirements Although the proponents of design-build contracting proposes a number of advantages including time efficiency, reduced cost, improved quality and the likes, yet we cannot deny the unfortunate change in the way key stakeholders compete. Detractors assume the collaboration reduces competition, more so however is the restrictions placed on smaller firms by their own financial constraints. Smaller firms are unable to fulfill the bulky financial requirements needed to complete the construction. Larger firms do not only have the capital advantage but mostly always benefit from the favoritism, they possess an unfair advantage. There is also the elimination of the low bid contractor selection criteria, this does not work wonders for the initial cost. Contractors and designer teams are to be seen as separate disciplines that require extensive knowledge, respect and time; design-build contracting undermines the entirely separate professions. One entity is contracted to perform both design and construction task, this would ensure more control but yet offer room for conflicts between the two profession as neither would prefer to belittle themselves. For instance, a constructor-led design-build may prefer to utilise his authority to the contractual claim and might enjoy lording over the designer team, architects and engineers usually deem themselves greater than contractors. The prejudice delays the collaboration. Designs may be unimaginative from cost prioritized over quality, in the attempt to reduce cost, there would be unfortunate compromises, and this may have significant impact on the final output. Each of the professionals would demand their due without any considerations to the project, especially where there are subcontracts issued by the lead design-builder. This type of contracting may not be suited for refurbishment To broaden our considerations for debate and selection, we may further consider a design-tender. Coventry University would need to contract two separate entities, the designer and the constructor. This procurement differs significantly from the preceding and comprises three focal phases, the first being the design phase. An architect or engineer may be retained to perform the task of creating construction documents (working drawings and specifications) and tender documents proffered for consideration. The designs would eventually be used In the construction. The tender Is in two forms ‘open’ and ‘select’ where there are no restrictions; any constructor may participate with the subsequent making room for pre-selected constructors respectively. In response to the disagreements and dialogues that may arise during the tender, the architect may issue addenda. Any necessary documents needed and any such building permits are obtained from the jurisdictional authorities of concern during the inception. Subcontracting may also be necessary, where the BS would offer recommendations for safety and efficiency. With this form of design, the interest of the owner is held in high esteem, the designer ensures the task of moving in his interest. Competition is used to improve the pricing and general quality for the owner. Coventry University (Building Elemental Cost ) Group Elements Ratio Qty/GFA Elements Cost/ unit GFA % Trade Cost Qty Unit Rate Amount A 10 A 100 A 1000 A 2000 Foundation Standard Special Slab on Grade 0.11 0.11 6000 SPA 5.07 50, 000 34,000 0.90 0.56 0.34 1.2% 6000 FS 3.05 20,000 B 10 B 100 B 1000 Basement Construction Excavation Walls 0.05 0.07 2667 3840 CY SF 10.18 12.55 76,492 27,162 1.40 0.50 0.90 1.9% C 10 C 100 C 1000 Super structure Ceiling Floor 10.18 12.59 3450 4567 SF SF 12.08 6.71 27162 48330 10.74 11.37 12.53 16.4% G 10 G 100 G 1000 G 2000 Special Construction Structures Integrated Fields Special systems Cost Estimation Design and build cost £ 17.8m for 14,867 m2 gross internal floor area £ 1196/ m2 including design fees Construction period 72 weeks Masterman, J 2002, Introduction to Building and Procurement System, 2nd ed, Taylor and Francis Allen, E 1998,’ A basic reference on construction systems and materials’, Fundamentals of Building Construction : Materials and Methods, 3rd ed, Wiley Ching, & Francis, D 2000, ‘A practical manual for beginners’, Building Construction Illustrated, 3rd ed, Wiley Harris, & Cyril M 2000, ‘Comprehensive reference to terms used in building construction’, Dictionary of Architecture and Construction, 3rd ed, McGraw-Hill Hawkes, N 1990,’ The origin, design, and construction of the worlds most ambitious structures. Includes photographs, working diagrams, cutaway drawings, and etchings’, Structures, Macmillan Hutchings, & Jonathan F 1997, ‘Reference work on major U.S, national codes’, National Building Codes Handbook, McGraw-Hill Merritt, & Frederick S, & Jonathan, T 2000, Building Design Construction Handbook, 6th ed, McGraw-Hill Read More