Preconstruction and
Construction Management Services
Preconstruction
Our approach to pre-construction services is very proactive.
At the onset of every potential relationship, we strive to present not only our
ability, but our sincere desire to completely satisfy the interests of each Team
member. We initiate thorough communications with both the Owner and Architect to
promote a thorough understanding by all parties of scheduling constraints,
budget requirements, and quality concerns. Our lead in developing a true
“Partnering” relationship amongst the development team has proven success to
deliver total satisfaction of every party involved in the Project. Some of the
key services we provide to deliver effective pre-construction are as follows:
Constructability & Systems Review
- Together with the design team, we review preliminary design of structural
systems as well as mechanical/electrical systems and network with
subcontractors, vendors, and colleagues to insure the most cost effective
systems and designs are considered.
Scheduling - We start
the development process by completing a timeline schedule for the Team to
follow and maintain with respect to time constraints of completion of
drawings, permitting, and final cost estimating.
Contract Document Coordination
- We take the lead in coordinating all Contract Documents within design team.
We review all progress drawings and obtain subcontractor input as to potential
conflicts, operational concerns, and cost effectiveness. We promote the use of
industry recognized AIA Document forms for our Contracts with Clients and
prefer to negotiate and enter into a “Guaranteed Maximum Price” form of
Agreement. This form allows for shared savings of Project Costs between the
Client and Contractor. It also establishes an “open book” project
administration wherein the Client is constantly aware of actual costs. We are
committed to open communications and “no-surprises” - the GMP form of contract
establishes a more trusting relationship between the Client and Contractor as
nothing is hidden.
Coordination of Permitting Process
- We administer the permitting process and establish relationships with Local
Authorities to insure all submittals and applications are completed not only
correctly, but as complete as possible and at the earliest time to insure
efficiency in the review and approval process.
Communications & Meetings
- We take the lead in facilitating all planning and status meetings. All
communications are accurately recorded and distributed to all team members in
a clean and concise format to insure all critical action matters are well
communicated.
Bid Package Preparation & Budget Pricing
- When we are committed to be part of a Development Team at the conceptual
phase, we develop the budget through 3-phase pricing. First, when conceptual
drawings are completed, we distribute the drawings together with an outline
project/scope to qualified Subcontractors to review and budget alternate
methods, products, and systems. This initial exercise not only provides a good
indicator for whether or not the conceptual design is in line with the Owner’s
budget, it also triggers subcontractor interest and many alternate ideas for
the design team to consider. We again solicit competitive proposals from
pre-qualified subcontractors when the Documents are 50% complete. Finally,
when permit documents are complete, we issue complete bid packages to all
subcontractors for a best and final pricing. We have an “open-book” policy
with all clients as to how we establish our budgets, what the bid-package
scopes are and all subcontractor proposals we receive. When all competitive
prices are received, we summarize all divisions of work in a detailed budget
summary for the Owner and present the same with a complete summary of any and
all qualifications to the scope of work.
No Surprises - We
pride ourselves in the completeness and accurateness of not only how we
develop the budget, but also how we communicate the process. When our Prime
Contract is negotiated and executed, we are confident our clients know exactly
what we are providing and we fully understand their expectations.
Construction Management
Services
Our approach to construction services is a consistent
continuation of the services we provide throughout the development of the design
and budget. Our continual emphasis to provide accurate and timely communications
is a further follow-up of our commitment to complete construction on time,
within budget, and with “No surprises”. Some of the key services we insure
effective completion of construction are as follows:
Cost Control & Accounting
- Our cost control management begins with accurately communicating the budget
and how it is broken down. All project construction costs will be coded and
processed against the budgets they were intended. We complete monthly cost
projections of all budgets to insure all areas of concern are closely
monitored. Our accounting records are open for the Owner’s review at any time.
Project Administration and Scheduling
- Our efforts to establish and maintain open and accurate communications does
not stop with the designer and Owner. We conduct kickoff meetings with every
trade prior to their starting work to insure their field supervision and our
field supervision fully understand not only their scope and responsibilities
to each other, but also Project rules and overall goals. We continue
communications with all trades by conducting formal weekly progress meetings
wherein key matters critical to our successful Project delivery are discussed,
recorded and distributed in weekly meeting minutes. We focus on the current
progress schedule, submittal requirements status, changes, coordination, and
general information needed. We update our progress schedule and a minimum of
monthly and manually review progress at these meetings.
In addition to our subcontractor meetings, we promote
continual communications with our Owners by conducting a monthly progress
meeting. We prepare a monthly status report which generally includes:
- a narrative of work completed and planned for the next
month,
- a copy of our latest Progress Schedule update,
- our monthly payment request,
- a summary report of all administrative items such as
submittals, information requests, and changes, and
- progress aerial photos.
Quality Control & Safety
- We insist on safe work policies from all trades. We conduct weekly toolbox
meeting with all workmen and establish project safety incentive programs to
reward the entire Job site for safe work and no loss time accidents. Safety
begins with Project order and cleanup. We initiate job-site rules to insure
daily cleanup by all trades is completed and all materials are staged orderly
and safely. We take great pride when receiving compliments from our Clients
that our projects “are too clean and orderly” to be a construction site. We
understand our Clients desires to periodically inspect the work in place and
we never want a Client at risk due to an unsafe condition at the workplace.
Our superintendents and field management are extremely quality
conscious. All inspections and manufacturer certification requirements are
documented and on file at the Job site. We establish various checklists with
trades to insure work is completed in a first class manner and accepted prior to
their leaving the site. Punch lists are ongoing throughout construction to
insure work is completed correctly prior to getting concealed.
