Case Study Flashcards

1
Q

Why did you use the JCT SBC Without Quantities?

A

Design was not detailed enough for a quantified contract

Provides a lump sum Contract

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2
Q

What are the negatives of using a JCT without quantities

A

Not as much detail to value variations as there would be with a quantified Contract

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3
Q

What are the benefits of a concrete frame structure?

A

Fire resistant
Low maintenance costs
Flexible

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4
Q

What issues did you face as a result of the works being nearby to a occupied residential units and what did you do to mitigate?

A

Complaints from local neighbours due to noisy working
Noisy works between Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Saturdays 8am to 1pm

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5
Q

Why did you advise your client to use the traditional single stage procurement method?

A
  1. Sufficient time in the programme to enable this option
  2. Cost certainty
  3. Client retained control of the design
  4. Competitive Pricing
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6
Q

Why did you include Contractor Design Portion?

A

External Terrace Works + Co-ordination of services
Design was not in enough detail to tender these works at tender stage, therefore put the design element of these works onto the Contractor to manage

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7
Q

What is Contractors Design Portion?

A
  1. Where items of work are designed by the Contractor (usually on traditional contracts)
  2. Contractor assumes design responsibility for those works
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8
Q

How do we ascertain the CPD has been carried out correctly?

A

Performance specification is provided at tender stage, which the contractor provides proposals in response to this.
Proposals will be reviewed by the design team and either accepted, commented or rejected.

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9
Q

What is a Cat-B Fit-Out?

A

A Cat B fit out is the term used to describe a fully operational workplace that has been designed to a client’s unique specifications to make it their own.
* Partitions and doors
* Floor finishes
* Specialist lighting and facilities
* Cafés, tea points and kitchen areas
* Furniture
* Branded material and décor

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10
Q

Where can I find the definition of a Cat-B Fit-Out

A
  1. British Council for Offices - Guide to fit-out
  2. Most fit-out contractors websites
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11
Q

What did you have to do to negotiate landlord contributions?

A
  1. Agree contribution for carpet and floor boxes - £150k
  2. Value works associated with removing works from basebuild scope and including works within fit-out scope = £400k
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12
Q

There was a significant increase from CSA to FA. How did you deal with that?

A

Project Contingency = £500k
Landlord Contribution = £550k
Total = £1,050,000.00

Increase in from CSA to FA = £950k

I monitored the cost increase by producing monthly cost reports and presenting to my client. I also implemented a change control procedure to monitor each variation

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13
Q

What works were omitted from the basebuild works and included within the fit-out?

A
  1. Fit-out of the toilets, cycle storage and showers
  2. MEP works
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14
Q

What were some of the key variations, which increased the costs of the works?

A
  1. Construction Issue Drawings - £100k
  2. Desk + Room Booking System - £30k
  3. Additional Pattressing Requirements - £30k
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15
Q

What is a Steering Committee?

A

The Steering Committee’s role is to provide advice, ensure delivery of the project outputs and the achievement of project outcomes

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16
Q

What is a contingency?

A

Allowance for the unknown risks associated with a project

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17
Q

Why was 5% chosen?

A

During the early stages it was 10%, however as the design developed the contingency was reduced to 5%

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18
Q

Key Issue 1 (sensor taps/auto doors - tell me one thing that you did your review on?

A

I liaised with the Contractor and sub-contractors to understand the cost impact + programme impact of the changes

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19
Q

What is value engineering?

A

An exercise that involves most of the project team as the project develops. It is about taking a wider view and looking at the selection of materials and processes to see if a more cost-effective solution exists, that achieve the same design intent.

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20
Q

How does VE differ from VM?

A

a. VM is a method of highlighting possible opportunities to create value within a project and subsequently managing those solutions to ensure value is continuously delivered.

Whereas VE is a method used to eliminate any unnecessary costs, in order to achieve value for money on a project. VE methods and techniques can be used throughout the life cycle of a project, from strategic definition (very early design) to handover and close out.

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21
Q

How does partial possession work?

A

Handing over part of the site before official completion. NOT PRE AGREED

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22
Q

What is float in relation to programme?

A

The amount of time a task can be delayed without impacting the overall programme

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23
Q

What is deferment of possession?

A

Entitle the client to defer giving the contractor possession of the site for a period of up to six weeks unless a shorter period was stipulated in the contract particulars (it is probably unwise to reduce the period). This provision enables the client to defer possession without being in breach of contract.

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24
Q

Deferment of possession - what did the contractor have to do?

A

Notice of Delay - The Contractor shall notify the Employer as soon as the likely effect of a Relevant Matter on regular progress or the likely nature and extent of any loss and/or expense arising from a deferment of possession becomes (or should have become) reasonably apparent to him

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25
Q

Was the contractor entitled to any money & how was that calculated?

A

Loss & Expense – calculated by using rates from their prelims
– Prolongation Costs
– Finance Charges
– Disruption
– Cost of compiling claim

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26
Q

What is impediment by employer?

A

Relevant Event/Matter - Whereby the employer impedes the Contract Works

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27
Q

Name three Relevant Events?

A
  1. Architect/Contract Administrator’s instructions
  2. Fore Majeure
  3. Any impediment, prevention or default, whether by act or omission, by the Employer
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28
Q

Name three Relevant Matters?

A
  1. Architect/Contract Administrator’s instructions
  2. Any impediment, prevention or default, whether by act or omission, by the Employer
  3. Variations
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29
Q

How can Overheads + Profit be calculated?

A
  1. Hudson Formula - (Head Office overheads + profit) ÷ 100 x contract sum ÷ period in weeks x delay in weeks
  2. Emden Formula - (Overheads & profit / 100) x (contract sum x period of delay / contract period)
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30
Q

What do you understand by client care?

A

Continuous process or concept of understanding the clients requirements, suggestions, complaints etc. and analysing to find a solution.
- Defining the client brief
- Quality assurance procedures
- Client feedback meetings

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31
Q

Why is client care important?

A
  1. To retain existing clients
  2. Reduce likelihood of conflict
  3. Maintain strong reputation within the industry
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32
Q

How do you conduct yourself with a new client?

A
  1. Well mannered
  2. Well presented
  3. Respectful
  4. Friendly and enthusiastic
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33
Q

What is your company’s procedure for receiving client feedback?

A

My company has a Exception Experience Questionnaire which the client completes to provide feedback on the project

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34
Q

What are the different ways you communicate?

A
  1. Oral Communication
    - Phone Calls
    - Meetings
    - Presentations
  2. Written/Graphical Communication
    - Letters
    - Emails
    - Reports
35
Q

Advantages + Disadvantages of written communication?

A

Advantages
- Record of communication
- Good way to formalise plans/agreements

Disadvantage
- You don’t know when the recipient has read the information
- Language may not be familiar to one of the parties

36
Q

Name the types of body language and briefly explain?

A
  1. Passive - Defeated, over-apologetic, no eye contact
  2. Assertive - Relaxed, open and balanced, firm but friendly
  3. Aggressive - Tense, invading space, loud
37
Q

What are the benefits of using graphs?

A
  1. Gives the reader an idea of the complete data at a single glance
  2. Helps summarise large amounts of data
38
Q

What is the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974?

A

Act of parliament that sets out the management of health and safety in the workplace

39
Q

Name some examples within the Health & Safety at Work Act?

A
  1. Provide a safe place for work
  2. Provide safe equipment
  3. Ensure staff are properly trained
  4. Carry out risk assessments
  5. Provide proper facilities
  6. Appoint a competent person to oversee health and safety
40
Q

What is the Surveying Safely guide?

A

Produced by the RICS - Sets out basic, good practice principles for the management of health and safety for RICS-regulated firms and RICS members.

41
Q

What are your personal responsibilities from the Surveying Safely guide?

A
  1. Report actual or perceived health & safety breaches in good time
  2. Carry out a personal risk assessment and report any perceived, potential, or actual risks to your employer
  3. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  4. Undertake staff training
42
Q

What is the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015

A

Regulation the governs the way construction projects are planned within the UK

43
Q

What is the aim of CDM?

A
  1. sensibly plan the work so the risks involved are managed from start to finish
  2. have the right people for the right job at the right time
  3. cooperate and coordinate your work with others
  4. have the right information about the risks and how they are being managed
  5. communicate this information effectively to those who need to know
  6. consult and engage with workers about the risks and how they are being managed
44
Q

What is a F10 under the CDM Regulations?

A

Notification of a construction project to the HSE

45
Q

Who is responsible for issuing the F10?

A

Client, with assistance from Principle Designer

46
Q

When is a construction project ‘notifiable’?

A
  1. last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point on the project or
  2. exceed 500 person days
47
Q

What is the agenda of a site induction?

A
  1. Senior management commitment to health and safety;
  2. Outline of the project;
  3. Management of the project;
  4. First-aid arrangements;
  5. Accident and incident reporting arrangements;
  6. Arrangements for briefing workers on an ongoing basis, e.g. toolbox talks;
  7. Arrangements for consulting the workforce on health and safety matters;
  8. Individual worker’s responsibility for health and safety
48
Q

What is The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme?

A

Type of accreditation that proves a business’s health and safety processes meet excellent standards

49
Q

What examples of supporting evidence would be submitted for CHAS?

A
  1. Health and safety policies
  2. Evidence of risk assessments and method statements
  3. Records of on-site health and safety inspections
  4. Insurance documents
  5. Proof of training and certification
50
Q

What is the Health & Safety Executive (HSE)?

A

UK government agency responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in Great Britain

51
Q

What is a profit & loss statement?

A

A profit and loss (or income) statement lists your sales and expenses. It tells you how much profit you’re making, or how much you’re losing. You usually complete a profit and loss statement every month, quarter, or year

52
Q

What is included within a Profit & Loss statement?

A

A P&L statement shows a company’s revenue minus expenses for running the business, such as rent, cost of goods, freight, and payroll

53
Q

What is a balance sheet?

A

Snapshot of a company’s financial position at a given point in time. Reports on the following;
1. Assets
2. Liabilities
3. Ownership equity

54
Q

What is an organizational cashflow?

A

Tool used to manage finances by tracking the cash flow for an organization

55
Q

What is an operational business plan?

A

An operational business plan is a written document that describes the nature of the business, the sales and the marketing strategy which is optimal for success. It provides the vision, directions, and goals for the organisation

56
Q

What are the three pillars of dispute resolution?

A
  1. Negotiation
  2. Mediation
  3. Adjudication
57
Q

What is GDPR?

A

General Data Protection Regulation - designed to harmonize data privacy laws across Europe, to protect and empower all EU citizens data privacy and to reshape the way organisations across the region approach data privacy
Introduced - May 2018

58
Q

What is the Tuckman’s Team Theory?

A

Theory focused on the way in which a team tackles a task from inception to completion

59
Q

What is Approved Doc M?

A

Access to and use of buildings – ensures buildings are accessible, not only to disabled people, or those with limited mobility but also to people who use prams etc.

60
Q

Succinctly tell me what a site waste management plan is and works?

A
  1. Required on any project over £300k, sets out how resources will be managed, and waste controlled at all stages during a construction project.
  2. Who will be responsible for resource management
  3. What types of waste will be generated
  4. How the waste will be managed – will it be reduced, reused, or recycled
  5. Which contractors will be used to ensure the waste is correctly recycled or disposed of responsibly and legally
  6. How the quantity of waste generated by the project will be measured
61
Q

What is the difference between framework and partnering?

A

Strategic Partnering: Strategic Partnering describes long term alliances that span across multiple projects.

Framework Agreements: Framework Agreements establish specific terms for several individual projects usually within a similar category, a supplier will be selected from a number of prime contractors.

62
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of negotiated tenders?

A

Advantanges
1. Client has flexibility in terms of choosing their preferred contractor.
2. Time and cost savings involved in removing the tendering process.
3. It can allow early supplier involvement.

Disadvantages
1. There are fewer options for the client to choose between and so there may be less innovation.
2. The costs may be driven up by the lack of competitive bidding.
3. There is a heavy reliance on trust between the parties.

63
Q

What is the RIBA Plan of Works?

A

The RIBA Plan of Work organises the process of briefing, designing, constructing, and operating building projects into eight stages and explains the stage outcomes, core tasks and information exchanges required at each stage.

64
Q

What are the RIBA Stages?

A
  • Stage 0 – Strategic Definition
  • Stage 1 – Preparation and Briefing
  • Stage 2 – Concept Design
  • Stage 3 – Spatial Coordination
  • Stage 4 – Technical Design
  • Stage 5 – Manufacturing and Construction
  • Stage 6 – Handover
  • Stage 7 – In use
65
Q

What are the three most common forms of asbestos?

A
  • Chrysotile (white asbestos)
  • Amosite (brown asbestos)
  • Crocidolite (blue asbestos)
66
Q

What RIBA Stages would you prepare a Cost Plan?

A

Formal Cost Plan 1 - RIBA Stage 2
Formal Cost Plan 2 - RIBA Stage 3
Formal Cost Plan 3 - RIBA Stage 4

67
Q

What is the structure of NRM1?

A

NRM1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works

Part 1: General

Part 2: Measurement rules for order of cost estimating

Part 3: Measurement rules for cost planning

Part 4:Tabulated rules of measurement for elemental cost planning

Appendices

68
Q

Tell me one thing you learnt from the RICS Guidance Note - Cost Reporting?

A

All financial allowances in the budget should be exclusive of VAT

69
Q

What did you do to implement a change control procedure on Cubico?

A
  1. Any change to the ER’s over £10k to be approved at board level
  2. Implemented change control forms for approval by employer’s representative
70
Q

What are the methods of measurement for a Cost Plan?

A
  1. Functional Unit
  2. Floor Area
  3. Elemental
71
Q

What is the difference between JCT & NEC Contracts?

A

JCT – Contract Administrator
NEC – Project Manager

NEC typically used for infrastructure projects

72
Q

How does Acceleration work?

A

Process of speeding up the work of a contractor so that a particular activity, or the project as a whole, can be completed before the date required under the contract

73
Q

What is the difference between development appraisal and residual valuation?

A

Development appraisal is a financial appraisal of a development. It is normally used to calculate either the residual site value or the residual development profit, but it can be used to calculate other outputs

Residual valuation is the process of valuing land with development potential.

74
Q

What are the payment timelines with a JCT Contract?

A

The due date, which triggers the payment cycle for all interim payments, is now 7 days after the Interim Valuation Date.

Payment Notice/Certificate is 5 days from due date

The final date for payment is 14 days from the due date, with pay less notices still needing to be served no later than 5 days before the final date for payment.

75
Q

Who is the president of the RICS?

A

Clement Lau

76
Q

High profile football match invite – What did you do?

A

Politely decline, as this could constitute a bribe and could be used against me in the future tenders to influence a decision

77
Q

How does the APC CPD policy differ to chartered surveyors?

A

APC – 48 hours annually (24 formal + 24 informal)

MRICS – 20 hours annually (10 formal + 10 informal)

78
Q

What are some of the red flag indicators in relation to money laundering?

A
  1. Evasive/secretive client
  2. Client with criminal associations
  3. Someone who wants to make large cash payments
79
Q

How would you set up your own RICS regulated firm?

A
  1. Email application to the RICS in accordance with the Rules for Registration
  2. State if I were to handle client money
  3. Tell RICS the service I would offer
  4. Have professional indemnity insurance and run off cover
  5. Have a complains handling procedure in place
  6. Nominate a contact officer
  7. Ensure a minimum of 25% of the firms principals are MRICS
80
Q

How much can you accept in cash from a client to pay an invoice?

A

10,000 euros

81
Q

What information does an RICS regulated firm have to provide in their annual return?

A
  1. Type of business and staffing details
  2. Statutory regulated activities, such as for financial services
  3. Nature of clients
  4. CHP + record
  5. PII certificate
  6. Whether holding client money
82
Q

What are the five RICS rules?

A
  1. Respect – Treat others with respect
  2. Responsibility – Take responsibility for my actions
  3. Integrity – Be honest and act with integrity
  4. Competency - maintain their professional competence
  5. Service – Provide good quality and due diligent service
83
Q

What is the RICS motto?

A

“Est modus in rebus” (which translates into English as: “There is measure in all things”)