Case Study

Question 1

How did you demonstrate value for money?

Answer 1

Value for money arises from when expenditure is deemed to solve a problem. The problem at hand was having a neutral space for the individual organisations within the Euston Partnership to work together. Beyond this, quality was required to meet the price, maximum use was required and it was win-win (HS2 could get the funding for the space, and the end users a space to use).

Question 2

How did you decide on this contract? Were there any alternatives?

Question 3

How did select the contractors from a framework?

Question 4

Would you ever approach a contractor ahead of sending the tender documents?

Question 5

How might you establish the contractors capabilities before selecting them to be included in the tender process?

Question 6

How were delay damages calculated?

Question 7

If a client came to you and requested £50k a week in delay damages, what would you advise?

Question 8

What is a suitable turning circle and passage dimension?

Answer 8

1500mm

Question 9

What height should kitchen units be under Part M?

Answer 9

Wall units should be fitted 350mm above standard worktop height

Question 10

What specific considerations would you give if installing a recess under a sink?

Answer 10

Ensuring it is 700mm high and insulated.

Question 11

How else was accessibility considered in the CAT B fit out?

Answer 11

Fridge installed under the counter, slip resistance was excellent, the LRV of walls and floor was considered for contrast.

Question 12

What is the process of a compensation event?

Question 13

Were the works already complete, why would the contactor wait until the furniture is delivered to certify completion?

Question 14

What would an accessible door width be?

Answer 14

External - 1000mm
Internal - depending on width of approach and if the building is existing or not 750mm - 825mm

Question 15

Did you consider how the cupboard doors are operated?

Answer 15

The client preferred the spec of the doors installed as the handles were low which was more accessible for those in chairs. I advised this may present challenges for people with poor dexterity, to which they said they would instruct a replacement / installation of larger handles if the need arose.

Question 16

What light reflectance value did you consider?

Answer 16

Under BS8300, I ensured the floor finishes and the wall finishes had a points difference of 30 or more. In the teapoint this was 53 vs 85. It was 20 vs 85 in the carpeted areas.

Question 17

You mention the Press Conference. What was the Press Conference about?

Answer 17

The press conference was discussing the unveiling of the New Euston station design.

Question 18

You mention entering the early warning into the early warning register, why did you do that?

Answer 18

Under NEC 3, it is actually known as the risk register but referred here by its new name early warning register for clarity. I

Question 19

You refer to the ‘Client’ in your case study, who do you mean by this?

Answer 19

Under NEC 3 the person paying for the works is known as the ‘employer’ but for ease of reference I have referred to them by their new term, Client.

Question 20

Why did you recommend Option A over Option B?

Answer 20

I explained to the client that whilst Option B offered some advantages such as being a more accurate tendering mechanism, they would be taking more risk for the suitability of the bill of quanities document. As the design was not 100% complete, I reccomended Option A to be more suitable.

Question 21

By certifying take over, what was the contractor entitled to?

Answer 21

A compensation event under 60.1 (15) - both by extension of the completion date as well as expenses incurred.

Question 22

Why is the completion date important?

Answer 22

As the contractor is then exposed to delay damages.

Question 23

Would the contractor ever be allowed to be paid back delay damages?

Answer 23

If there was an agreement that Completion Date should have moved and that either less delay damages should have been paid or none at all (through an unconfirmed compensation event).

The contractor would also be entitled to interest on monies paid.

Question 24

Contractually, how is the employer able to takeover the works?

Answer 24

By certifying completion, either partially or fully.

Question 25

What happens if the employer chooses to takeover the works, despite the contractor not having achieved completion?

Answer 25

This is still a compensation event, and therefore any increased time or cost is recoverable from the employer.

Question 26

You mention Option 4 of your second key issue would have no impact to the final account, why is that?

Answer 26

No direct implications for a compensation event

Question 27

Why did you choose to use an approved inspector over the Local Authority

Answer 27

They had more availability to attend site and could provide consultation services during the design process.

Question 28

You say you met the client care competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 28

• Worked with their in-house teams
• Repeat instruction

Question 29

You say you met the communication and negotiation competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 29

• Assisted in the information exchange of different members of the project team
• Prepared the Project Execution Plan detailing key stakeholders, communication hierarchies and change control processes and communication tracker

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Question 30

You say you met the conflict avoidance competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 30

When the furniture was not delivered on time, the client accused the contractor of not placing the order in time which lead to the increased delivery timescales. I organised a risk-reduction meeting to get all parties to a table to discuss how the situation had risen, re-outline the responsibilities and resolve the issue with solutions

Question 31

You say you met the health and safety competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 31

I assisted with the CDM responsibilities including lead designer and PD
When proposing the Takeover and works acceleration, I made note of F10 notification and that it may require updating
I ensured the statutory asbestos responsibilities were adhered to

Question 32

You say you met the inclusive environments competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 32

• I advised the client of their responsibilities under Equality Act
• When adhering to their responsibilities, I designed in accordance with the statutory and best practice documentation of Part M and BS8300.
• I advised them of the protected characteristics and who it is that should be considered in the design as to not discriminate under the Equality Act

Question 33

You say you met the contract administration competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 33

I successfully administerted the project through RIBA 0-6 as Project Manager and actioned contractual mechanisms such as defect notifications, and takeover

Question 34

You say you met the design and specification competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 34

• I advised the client on the scope of the design in accordance with their responsibilities of the lease, e.g. specified demountable partitioning fixed to the solid floor and the suspended ceiling
• I advised the client on how the design would satisfy the requirements of BS8300. Additionally I upgraded finishes for maintenance and slip resistance due to the nature of the area.
• I liaised with subconsultants and clients team to ensure the enabling works were sufficient for their install, such as the patressing of a demountable partition.
• I advised the client on the results of the RD survey and how this impacted the design
• I ensured the design met occupancy requirements of the HSE and BCO.

Question 35

You say you met the inspection competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 35

• I undertook my project manager and supervisor inspections in line with the opening up of works and progress meetings
• During my inspections I captured photographic evidence of works to be issued along side commentary for records

Question 36

You say you met the legal and regulatory competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 36

• I liaised with building control during the design stage and to get building control approval following the works
• I advised the client of the responsibilities under CAR 2012
• I advised the client of the responsibilities under CDM (eg involvement of a PD as more than one contractor was involved)

Question 37

You say you met the development and project briefs competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 37

• I was involved in RIBA 0-6 and advised the client of the deliverables at each stage
• I prepared a PEP that reflected the clients brief and got this approved
• I prepared a bronze/silver/gold option to help the client and end user identify their design essentials and what could be value engineered.

Question 38

You say you met the works progress and quality management competency in your case study, how did you do this?

Answer 38

• As NEC supervisor, I assessed the quality of the build inline with the drawings, Regulation 7 and BRE guides
• As NEC supervisor, I raised defects notifications to instruct the contractor to rectify works where required.

Question 39

You mention CAT A and CAT B, what is this referring to?

Answer 39

• Shell and Core (Lobbies, Lift shafts, Concrete and metal frame, Structural elements)
• CAT A (Lighting, Air conditioning, Toilets, Raised access flooring, Grid ceilings, Basic fire detection systems)
• CAT A+ - (Meeting rooms and breakout spaces, fitted kitchens, power, IT infrastructure, WCs)
• CAT B (Partitions and doors, floor finishes, specialist lighting and facilities, cafés, tea points and kitchen areas, furniture, branded material and décor)

Question 40

You mention named supplier. Where was this information included?

Answer 40

It was included in the scope.

Question 41

What happens at Handover?

Answer 41

• Contrator released from delay damage liabilities
• Half of the retention is released back to the contractor
• The defects liability period starts

Question 42

What happens at Handover?

Answer 42

• Contrator released from delay damage liabilities
• Half of the retention is released back to the contractor
• The defects liability period starts

Question 43

Did you refer to any other HSE guidance regarding occupancy?

Answer 43

Regarding WCs, as there was anticipated to be a max of 50 occupants at any time, this required 3 wcs and 3 wash basins

Question 44

Can you name a rule of conduct and how it was applied to your case study?

Question 45

Can you name another rule of conduct and how it was applied to your case study?