Key Construction Terms
- The (owner) defined
- The contractor monthly payment application defined
- The Schedule of Values defined
Design: The Architect Role and the Architect Agreement
- The design planning process: CDs
- SDs and DDs
- Main components of an architectural agreement
- Contract administration services
- Reasonable compensation/reimbursable expenses for the architect
- Contract exhibits: hourly rate schedule
- Project team list, interior design
- Design risk and the fast-track process
- Value engineering defined and when VE begins
- Auditing the architect monthly invoice
Construction Contract Documents
- Understanding key terms and conditions in the construction agreement
- Specifications: quantity and quality of materials Key terms and conditions in the General
- Supplementary or Special Conditions agreements
- The project manual
- Exhibits to the agreements
- Including hourly labor rates and unit prices
Types of Construction Contracts and Associated Risks
- How the owner and the contractor negotiate construction cost risk
- Lump sum (or fixed cost) defined; associated risks for the owner and contractor
- Guaranteed maximum price defined; associated risks for the owner and contractor
- Time and material defined; associated risks for the owner and contractor
- Cost-plus defined; associated risks for the owner and contractor
- Unit price defined; associated risks for the owner and contractor
- Design/build defined; associated risks for the owner and contractor
The Bidding and Award Process
- Request for proposal v. negotiated or sole sourced contracts
- Bid analysis and lowest bid syndrome
- Taking alternates and allowances into consideration
- Bid rigging and what to look for
Controlling the Construction Process
- Typical construction organization charts
- The estimating takeoff
- Scheduling/key milestones and final completion
- Detailed v. high level monthly reporting
- Key components of a superior monthly financial report
- Key indicators that may signify potential field issues or cost overruns
- Other field reports and CIP accounting reports
- Request for Information (RFI) Log and the Architect responsiveness
Change Management
- Change order defined
- Why change orders occur and why they are risky business
- Change order acronyms
- Change order reporting and how to ensure that management knows what is going on
- Controlling and testing change orders
- Change order risk thresholds and when auditors should take note
- Other contract changes: addendums, modifications
- Amendments and work, authorizations
The Payment Process
- Reviewing the contractors monthly payment application
- Retention, percentage of completion and lien releases
- Schedule of values and the 17 CSI divisions
- Checking for mathematical accuracy
Other Construction Risks
- Market risks
- Insurance risks
- Surety and bond risks
- Financial risks
The Closeout Process
- Punch list
- Warranties/guarantees
- Final lien releases
- The need for as built drawings
- A closeout checklist
Claims
- Types of contractor claims
- Types of owner claims
Types of Construction Audits
- When to kick start an audit
- Control and financial reviews
- Change management (change order) review
- Forensic reviews other audits