The Contract Administrator (CA) plays a crucial role in the successful execution of any construction project. While the role has been practiced for centuries, its formal introduction in the field is relatively recent. This article delves into the multifaceted responsibilities, essential qualities, and key tasks of a Contract Administrator in the construction industry. Understanding the…
Category: QUANTITY SURVEYING
ESTIMATING THE OWNING AND OPERATING COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
Construction projects tend to use more and more mechanical construction methods to keep up with the present trend of mechanization of industries in the world. The cost of construction equipment could be up to around 40% of the total cost of a project. A contractor may use general and specialized types of equipment to complete…
MINIMIZING DISPUTES ARISING FROM BILL OF QUANTITIES
Disputes in Contracts in the construction industry are becoming common today. The construction disputes vary in their nature, size, and complexity. If contract documents are poorly drafted and badly managed, the results will be inevitable additional costs and additional liabilities to the Client. Before becoming disputes or recognized as disputes, the parties to the contract…
Writing Descriptions of work items in the Bill of Quantity
The essential of a description in a bill of quantities is that it should satisfy the requirements laid down in the Standard Method of Measurement – SMM. Technically, if any description fails to do, it can be considered incorrect. The various clauses in the SMM indicate the essentials of the description. But more information should…
Bid Evaluation – Domestic Preference
According to NPA* Guidelines / Sri Lanka Domestic preference is given to local contractors, to encourage the local contractors. Eligibility for Domestic Preference Application of the Preference Domestic Preference Category I – Bids offered by bidders eligible for domestic preference. Category II – Bids offered by others. *NPA – National Procurement Agency.
Decision to tender in construction contract
The decision to tender for a particular contract is mainly the responsibility of the senior management of the contracting firm. There are three possible stages during the estimating and tendering process where this decision must be made. The first is during the pre-selection stage if a pre-selection is carried out. This decision would be based…
Pre-Qualification – for Construction Contracts
Construction contracts are normally awarded to a qualified bidder who is having: – Appropriate capabilities; and – Other resources. This can be achieved in two ways: a) To verify whether the selected bidder possesses the required qualifications and experience before the contract award (post qualification); b) To ensure that bids are submitted only by firms…
The implication of the public procurement system to the economic growth and development of a country
Economists distinguish between growth, by which they mean more of the same – more goods and services; and development, growth with structural and technological change. An important feature of the development is seen when goods and services enter into markets. For example, when people have meals away from home and pay for restaurant services, the restaurant sector grows up…
VALUE FOR MONEY IN PROCUREMENT
Value for money is an audit examination designed to determine whether the organization in question is performing economically, efficiently, and effectively in its use of resources, operating procedures, and in pursuit of objectives. In the private sector, the economy, effectiveness, and efficiency of their services or products are reflected in the Balance Sheet and in…
Conditions of Contract – in Works Contracts
Definition of a Contract The term contract can be defined as an agreement that is enforceable by law. Works contracts are different from other contracts. Some of the special features of civil engineering works are:- 1. One-off projects – never the same, e.g. location, time. 2. Labour is transient and recruited on an ad-hoc basis….
BIDDING DOCUMENT for Works contracts
Purpose of the bidding document The most significant purposes of the Bidding Document are: i) To instruct bidders on the procedure for submission of bids (steps, what to do, when, etc.); ii) To describe works to be procured (specifications / BOQ, etc.); iii) To inform the bidders of criteria for evaluation (price & non-price factors);…
Service Contracts
Definition of a service contract A contract for pecuniary interest concluded in writing between a service provider and a contracting authority, i.e. client. Definition of a service A service is a work that is not part of an organization’s core business, i.e. its main function, but which needs to be provided to carry out the…